This Day in History – November 12/25 Cheshvan

In 5168/1407, mobs attacked the Jewish community of Cracow.

Yahrtzeiten

5549/1788, Harav Avraham, zt”l, mechaber of Maalos HaTorah and brother of the Vilna Gaon

5564/1803, Harav Yissachar Dov Groidtbart, zt”l

5588/1827, Harav Yitzchok Yoel, Rebbe of Linitz, zt”l

5599/1838, Harav Naftali, Rebbe of Lizhensk, zt”l

5710/1949, Harav Mordechai Rokeach, zt”l, the Bilgoraier Rav

5766/, Harav Eliyahu Jurkanski, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah in Mirrer Yeshivah, New York

5599/1838, Harav Naftali Weissblum of Lizhensk, Zt”l

Born in 5525/1765, Harav Naftali Weissblum was the son of Harav Elazar of Lizhensk, zy”a, oldest son of the Rebbe Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk, zt”l, mechaber of Noam Elimelech.

Rav Naftali was zocheh to know his famous grandfather, the Rebbe Reb Elimelech. Rav Elimelech was niftar on 21 Adar 5546/1786, when Reb Naftali was 21. Rav Elimelech’s son Reb Elazar, father of Reb Naftali, succeeded him as Rebbe.Although most of his father’s chassidim flocked to other talmidim of the Rav Elimelech, Rav Elazar held court in Lizhensk.

After the petirah of Rav Elazar on 25 Tammuz 5606/1806, many chassidim wanted Rav Naftali to be their Rebbe. Rav Naftali refused to accept this position. Only once a year Rav Naftali agreed to serve as Rebbe; at that time he would perform many mofsim.

Despite being a scion of such an illustrious family, Rav Naftali conducted himself with humility. He journeyed to courts of other famous Rebbes of his era, though he himself could have been a Rebbe.

Rav Naftali was especially close with the Rebbe Harav Menachem Mendel of Kossov, zy”a, the founder of the Kossov-Vizhnitz dynasty and mechaber of Ahavas Shalom.

Rav Naftali was niftar on 25 Cheshvan 5599/1838, at the age of 73. He was survived by two sons, Harav Yarrow Yitzchak of Ziditchov and Harav Meshulam Zusha of Nadvorna. Like his father, Rav Meshulam Zusha did not conduct himself as a Rebbe.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Nov. 12

In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal.

In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party.

In 1942, the World War II naval Battle of Guadalcanal began. The Allies ended up winning a major victory over Japanese forces.

In 1975, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas retired because of failing health, ending a record 36-year term.

In 1982, Yuri V. Andropov was elected to succeed the late Leonid I. Brezhnev as general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party’s Central Committee.

In 1990, Japanese Emperor Akihito formally assumed the Chrysanthemum Throne.