This Day In History 7 Av/August 11

7 Av

In 3339/422 B.C.E., Nevuzaradan and his soldiers broke into the Beis Hamikdash compound, where they feasted and committed acts of vandalism until the afternoon of Tishah B’Av, when they set the Beis Hamikdash aflame.

In 5151/1391, the Jews of Valencia, Spain, were massacred.

In 5252/1492, Spanish officials convened and finalized the expulsion decree against the Jews.

In 5701/1941, Nazi minister Hermann Goering officially ordered mass executions of Jews.

Yahrtzeiten

5134/1374, Harav Menachem ben Harav Zerach, zt”l, mechaber of Tzeidah Laderech

5635/1875, Harav Sinai Sapir, zt”l, mechaber of Olas Chodesh and Minchas Ani

5670/1910, Harav Moshe Greenwald of Chust, zt”l, the Arugas Habosem

5680/1920, Harav Yaakov of Yavlona, zt”l

5686/1926, Harav Simchah Bunim Ehrenfeld of Mattersdorf, zt”l, mechaber of Maaneh Simchah

5703/1943, Harav Elazar Rosenfeld of Ushpitzin, Hy”d

5760/2000, Harav Shalom Noach Berzovsky, zt”l, the Nesivos Shalom of Slonim

5555/1795

Harav Yissachar Dov Ber of Zlotchov, zy”a, mechaber of Bas Eini and Mevaser Tzedek

Harav Yissachar Dov Ber was the son of Harav Aryeh Leibish, and a descendant of Harav Naftali Katz, the Semichas Chachamim. He was the son-in-law of Harav Tzvi Hirsh Peretz of Levertov.

After settling in Levertov, Rav Yissachar Ber joined the group of famed Chassidim, including Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who were also sons-in-law of the Peretz family, originally from Spain.

Influenced by a cousin, Harav Aryeh Leibish Peretz, Rav Yissachar Ber and Rav Levi Yitzchak would journey to the court of the Maggid of Mezeritch and, after his petirah, to Rav Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov.

Some time later, Rav Yissachar Ber was appointed Rav of Zlotchov.

In 5554/1794, Rav Yissachar Ber started on his way to Eretz Yisrael, arriving there in 5555/1795. He settled in Tzfas, as instructed in a letter from Rav Avraham of Kalisk to the Chassidim in Europe.

Rav Yissachar Ber was niftar on 7 Av of that same year, and is buried near the Alshich in Tzfas. Among his talmidim was Rav Chaim of Chernowitz, the Be’er Mayim Chaim.

Rav Yissachar Ber wrote Mevaser Tzedek on the Torah, in which he quotes the divrei Torah of the fathers of the Chassidic movement: the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid, the Zlotchover Maggid, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and others; and Bas Eini, chiddushim on Gemara and halachah.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

August 11

In 1860, the nation’s first successful silver mill began operation near Virginia City, Nevada.

In 1909, the steamship SS Arapahoe became the first ship in North America to issue an S.O.S. distress signal, off North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras.

In 1962, Andrian Nikolayev became the Soviet Union’s third cosmonaut in space as he was launched on a 94-hour flight.

In 1975, the United States vetoed the proposed admission of North and South Vietnam to the United Nations, following the Security Council’s refusal to consider South Korea’s application.

In 1997, President Bill Clinton made the first use of the historic line-item veto, rejecting three items in spending and tax bills. (However, the U.S. Supreme Court later struck down the veto as unconstitutional.)