This Day in History – 6 Elul/September 6

6 Elul

In 5700/1940, Italian planes bombed Tel Aviv, killing 117, Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5414/1654, Harav Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller, the Tosfos Yom Tov, zt”l

5580/1820, Harav Shabsi, zt”l, Rav of Orla and mechaber of Sheves Achim

5591/1831, Harav Moshe, zt”l, mechaber of Maharam Mintz

5643/1883, Harav Yekusiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, zy”a, the Yetev Lev of Sighet

5729/1969, Harav Yechezkel Sarna, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Chevron

5760/2000, Harav Meir Zvi Ehrentreu, zt”l, Rosh Kollel at the Manchester Yeshivah and son-in-law of Harav Yehuda Zev Segal, zt”l

5764/2004

Harav Avraham Dovid Horowitz, The Strasbourger Rav, Zt”l

Harav Avraham Dovid Horowitz was born on 22 Cheshvan 5672/1911 in Bolkhov, Galicia. His father, Harav Yehudah, zt”l, was the Rav of the town, as had been his grandfather, Rav Aharon Meir, zt”l, before him.

His maternal grandfather was Harav Pinchos Levi Horowitz, zt”l, the Kossover Dayan and mechaber of Pischa Zuta and Beis Pinchas, one of the leading talmidim of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the Gorlitzer Rebbe.

Rav Avraham Dovid was orphaned at an early age; his mother passed away when he was three, and his father when he was 9 years old. He was raised by his grandfather in Grossvardein.

Rav Avraham Dovid was a talmid muvhak of Harav Yitzchak Eizik of Ziditchov, zy”a. In Grossvardein he became close to the Ahavas Yisrael of Vizhnitz, zy”a; he later served as Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Vizhnitz in Grosswardein.

He was familiar with all facets of Torah, Shas and Poskim.

In 5694/1934 he married the daughter of Harav Eliezer Lipa Zilberman, the Ratzferter Rebbe, zy”a, and grandson of the Gorlitzer Rav, zy”a. Afterward, he sat on the Grossvardein beis din, along with Harav Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss, zt”l, the Minchas Yitzchak.

When World War II broke out, Rav Avraham Dovid was taken to the concentration camps, where he suffered many ordeals, including losing his wife and five children, Hy”d. He remained loyal to Torah and mitzvos and inspired all those around him not to lose hope.

After the war, with his uncle the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, zy”a, he worked to revive Torah life in Europe. He was appointed Rav of Landsberg and Ogsberg in Germany.

In 5707/1947, he was appointed Rav of Kehillas Adas Yisrael of Strasbourg, France. He married the daughter of Harav Yechezkel Weidman, zt”l, Rav of Sitchel.

In 5738/1978 he settled in Yerushalayim. In 5740/1980, he was appointed to the beis din of the Eidah Hachareidis. He succeeded Harav Weiss as Rav of the shul in the Badatz building at Zupnik Square.

He was mechaber a nine-volume work on the Torah called Kinyan Torah.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Sept. 6

In 1819, Thomas Blanchard patented a machine called the lathe.

In 1941, Jews in German-occupied areas were ordered to wear the Star of David with the word “Jew” inscribed.

In 2001, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it was seeking a lesser antitrust penalty and would not attempt to break up Microsoft.

In 2002, meeting outside Washington, D.C. for only the second time since 1800, Congress convened in New York to pay homage to the victims and heroes of September 11.