This Day In History 9 Elul/September 12

9 Elul

In 3802/42 C.E., Agrippa I dedicated the new gate of the wall around Yerushalayim. The day is mentioned as a Yom Tov in Megillas Taanis.

In 5027/1267, the Ramban arrived in Yerushalayim after being forced to flee his native Spain.

In 5151/1391, Jews of Gerona, Spain, were massacred. Hy”d.

In 5698/1938, Jewish teachers and students were barred from all Italian schools.

Yahrtzeiten

2195/1566 B.C.E., Dan, the son of Yaakov Avinu. He was also born on this day, in 2320/1441 B.C.E.

5620/1860, Harav Shimon Zarchi, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos U’teshuvos Nachlas Shimon

5660/1900, Harav Tzadok Hakohen Rabinowitz of Lublin, the Pri Tzaddik, zt”l

5694/1934, Harav Aharon Menachem Mendel Gutterman of Radzimin, zt”l

5718/1958, Harav Yonasan Steif, zt”l, mechaber of Chadashim Gam Yeshanim

5728/1968, Harav Yitzchak Friedman of Husyatin, zt”l

5736/1976, Harav Nachum Mordechai Perlow of Novominsk, zt”l

5567/1807

Harav Yissachar Dov Kramer
of Vilna, zt”l, brother of the
Vilna Gaon

Harav Yissachar Dov Kramer, born in 5488/1728, was the son of Rav Shlomo Zalman of Vilna. His brother, Rav Eliyahu, was the famous Gaon of Vilna. Rav Yissachar married the daughter of the gvir Reb Asher Ginzberg.

Rav Yissachar was known for his familiarity and expertise in all facets of Torah. He wrote Tzuf Devash, explaining the parshiyos of the Torah according to the deeper pshat and according to the rules of dikduk. He also wrote a commentary on sefer Shmuel and sefer Melachim, and explanations on the Gemara and on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah. Minei Targima is his analysis of the roots of words in Aramaic.

Rav Yissachar was niftar on 9 Elul 5567/1807 in Vilna, at the age of 79. He was buried in the old cemetery of Vilna in the same row as his brother the Gra.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Sept. 12

In 1814, the Battle of North Point took place in Maryland during the War of 1812, as American forces slowed British troops advancing on Baltimore.

In 1914, during World War I, the First Battle of the Marne ended in an Allied victory against Germany.

In 1944, the Second Quebec Conference opened with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in attendance.

In 1995, the Belarusian military shot down a hydrogen balloon during an international race, killing its two American pilots, John Stuart-Jervis and Alan Fraenckel.