This Day in History – 8 Tishrei/October 7

8 Tishrei

In 2937, the dedication festivities celebrating the completion of the Beis Hamikdash, built by Shlomo Hamelech, commenced on this date and continued for seven days, including Yom Kippur.

Yahrtzeiten

5550/1789, Harav Baruch, zt”l, father of the Baal Hatanya.

5593/1832, Harav Noach Yaffa, Rebbe of Lechovitz, zt”l.

5616/1855, Harav Elazar Nissan Teitelbaum, Rebbe of Drohbitz, zt”l.

5691/1930, Harav Shimon Sofer, zt”l, Rav of Sandra and Paks.

5700/1939, Harav Shlomo Benzion Twersky, Rebbe of Chernobyl, zt”l.

5693/1932

Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel Rabinowitz, Rebbe of Lublin, Zy”a

Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel Rabinowitz was the son of Harav Yitzchak Yaakov of Biala, zy”a, mechaber of Divrei Binah. He was born in Ostrova in 5635/1875 when his father was living near his father-in-law, Harav Yehoshua of Ostrova.

He married the daughter of Harav Shimon Chaim Alter, zt”l, the brother of the Sfas Emes of Ger.

Following the petirah of his father, the Divrei Binah, on 23 Adar II 5665/1905, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel served as Rebbe in Chelm. Later he settled in Lublin, where he was known as the Biala Rebbe of Lublin. He was a great masmid and talmid chacham.

He was niftar in Lublin on 8 Tishrei 5693/1932.

His sons were Harav Aharon Dovid of Lentshna, Harav Shlomo, and Harav Tzvi. His son-in-law was Harav Baruch Mordechai Weinberg, son of Harav Yissachar Aryeh Leib of Slonim.

The divrei Torah of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel on Bereishis and Shemos were published under the name Yeshuos Avraham.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Oct. 7

In 1765, the ‘Stamp Act Congress’ convened in New York to draw up colonial grievances against England.

In 1777, the second Battle of Saratoga began during the American Revolution. British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered 10 days later.

In 1949, the Republic of East Germany was formed.

In 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy and Republican opponent Richard M. Nixon held the second of their broadcast debates.

In 1985, Palestinian gunmen hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean with more than 400 people aboard. The hijackers killed an elderly Jewish American tourist, Leon Klinghoffer, and threw his body overboard; they surrendered two days after taking the ship.

In 2003, California voters recalled Gov. Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger as their new governor.