This day in History – 7 Av/August 8

7 Av

In 3339, Nevuzaradan and his soldiers broke into the Beis Hamikdash compound, where they feasted and committed acts of vandalism until the afternoon of Tisha 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 Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld of Mattersdorf, zt”l, mechaber of Ma’aneh 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 Rav 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 Harav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, zy”a, 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, zy”a, and after his petirah to Harav Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, zy”a.

Sometime 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 Tzefas, as instructed in a letter of Rav Avraham of Kalisk, zy”a, to the Chassidim in Europe.

Rav Yissachar Ber was niftar on 7 Av of that same year, and was buried near the Alshich in Tzefas. Among his talmidim was Harav Chaim of Tchernowitz, zy”a, the “Beer 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, zechusam yagein aleinu: the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid, the Zlotchover Maggid, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and others and Bas Eini, chiddushim on Gemara and halachah.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

August 8

In 1876, Thomas A. Edison received a patent for his mimeograph.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed the U.S. instrument of ratification for the United Nations Charter. The Soviet Union declared war against Japan during World War II.

In 1968, the Republican national convention in Miami Beach nominated Richard Nixon for president on the first ballot.

In 1974, President Nixon, facing damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal, announced he would resign the following day.

In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the U.S. Supreme Court’s first Hispanic and third female justice.