This Day In History 7 Tamuz/July 13

In 5701/1941, hundreds of Jews in Yurburg, Lithuania, were executed by the Nazis, Hy”d.


Yahrtzeiten

5588/1828, Harav Baruch Teumim-Frankel, Zt”l, mechaber of Baruch Taam

5743/1983, Harav Yechiel Chaim Labin of Makov-Yerushalayim, Zt”l

5752/1992, Harav Simcha Bunim Alter, Zt”l, the Lev Simcha of Gur


5739/1979, Harav Gedalia Schorr, Zt”l

Harav Gedalia Schorr was born in Istrick, Poland, a shtetl near Pszemiszl, in 5670/1910

When Reb Gedalia was 12 years old, his family immigrated to America and settled on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Later they moved to Williamsburg. Young Gedalia dedicated himself to learning with a passion which he maintained all his life.

The Rav of Lublin, Harav Meir Shapiro, Zt”l, spent months in the United States when Reb Gedalia was not quite 20. The Lubliner Rav sought out the most promising young men. Of the young Gedalia Schorr he said, “He has the most brilliant mind I have come across.”

At 20, Reb Gedalia was appointed R”M of the highest class of the fledging Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. The talmidim he taught were almost the same age as he was.

In 5698/1938, after his chasunah to Rebbetzin Shifrah (Isbee), he traveled to Kletzk to grow in Torah and avodas Hashem. There he learned under Harav Aharon Kotler, Zt”l, the Kletzker Rosh Yeshivah. Reb Gedalia remained in Kletzk for only a short time, until the outbreak of WWII made him return to America.

As the tragic situation of the Yidden in Europe became apparent, Reb Gedalia, along with Reb Elimelech (Mike) Tress, threw himself into the insurmountable task of trying to rescue as many of their brethren in Europe as they could. Reb Gedalia invested countless hours and undertook many trips to further rescue efforts, and succeeded in many of them.

In 5708/1948, Harav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, Zt”l, the legendary Menahel of Mesivta Torah Vodaath, was niftar; Reb Gedalia succeeded him. Ten years later, with the petirah of Harav Reuven Grozovsky, Zt”l, Reb Gedalia was appointed Rosh Yeshivas Torah Vodaath and Rosh Yeshivah of Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey.

Harav Schorr was niftar on 7 Tammuz 5739/1979, after giving a drashah at a talmid’s sheva brachos.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.


July 13

In 1787, the Congress of the Confederation adopted the Northwest Ordinance, which established a government in the Northwest Territory, an area corresponding to the eastern half of the present-day Midwest.

In 1977, a blackout lasting 25 hours hit the New York City area.

In 1978, Lee Iacocca was fired as president of Ford Motor Co. by chairman Henry Ford II.

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