This Day In History 5 Elul/September 8

5 Elul

In 3334/427 B.C.E., Yechezkel Hanavi received a nevuah including the passuk, “And I will remove your heart of stone …” (Yechezkel 8–10).

In 5537/1777, the Chassidic aliyah led by Harav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Harav Avraham of Kalisk and Harav Yisrael of Polotzk, zy”a, reached Eretz Yisrael.

In 5679/1919, the Ukrainian army massacred Jews in Kiev. Hy”d.

In 5698/1938, Mussolini canceled the civil rights of Italian Jews.

Yahrtzeiten

5501/1741, Harav Ephraim of Radish, zt”l, grandson of the Maginei Shlomo

5513/1753, Harav Simchah of Horodna, zt”l, Rav of Nashoviz

5597/1837, Harav Kalman, the Chassid of Warsaw, zt”l

5608/1848, Harav Elazar Charlap, zt”l, Rav of Mezritch

5678/1918, Harav Dovid Tzvi Shlomo Biderman of Lelov-Yerushalayim, zt”l

5684/1924, Harav Nosson Levin, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos U’teshuvos Beis Nadiv

5690/1930, Harav Menachem Nosson Auerbach, zt”l, mechaber of Orach Ne’eman

5353/1593

Harav Sinai Lowi, zt”l, Rav of Nikolsburg

Harav Sinai Lowi was the son of the famed Harav Betzalel Lowi of Worms. Harav Betzalel had four sons, all Gedolei Torah in their own right: Rav Chaim, Rav of Friedberg and author of Sefer Hachaim; Rav Shimshon, Rav of Kremnitz; Rav Yehudah, the Maharal of Prague; and the aforementioned Rav Sinai. Rav Betzalel traced his lineage back to Dovid Hamelech.

Rav Sinai was an outstanding gaon, fluent in all of Shas and poskim. His first position was as Rosh Yeshivah in Prague; later he was appointed Rav of Nikolsburg, in the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic.

Rav Sinai was niftar on 5 Elul 5353/1593, and was buried in Kellen.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

In 1565, a Spanish expedition established the first permanent European settlement in North America at present-day St. Augustine, Florida.

In 1892, an early version of “The Pledge of Allegiance,” written by Francis Bellamy, appeared in “The Youth’s Companion.”

In 1941, the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forces began during World War II.

In 1951, a peace treaty with Japan was signed by 49 nations in San Francisco.