This Day in History – September 2/13 Elul

In 5455/1695, Jews of New York petitioned the governor for permission to exercise their religion in public. Permission was denied, because freedom of religion applied to Christians only.

Yahrtzeiten

5361/1601, Harav Moshe Tziprish, zt”l, author of Seder Gittin

5515/1755, Harav Yaakov Yokel Halevi Horowitz of Galona, zt”l

5636/1876, Harav Yaakov Yisrael, Rebbe of Cherkas, zt”l

5638/1878, Harav Yaakov Gezuntheit, zt”l, Rav of Warsaw and mechaber of Tiferes Yaakov

5666/1906, Harav Yehoshua Tzvi Michel Shapiro, zt”l, author of Tzitz Hakodesh

5669/1909, Harav Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai, zt”l

5669/1909, Harav Yerachmiel Moshe, Rebbe of Koshnitz, zt”l

5652/1892, Harav Avraham Yissachar Dov Rabinowitz, the Chessed L’Avraham of Radomsk, Zt”l

Harav Avraham Yissachar Dov Hakohen Rabinowitz was born on 22 Cheshvan 5604/1843 to Harav Shlomo, the Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk, zy”a.

At the bris, the Tiferes Shlomo spoke about the lofty neshamah that had just entered the world.

Reb Avraham Yissachar learned nigleh and in nistar under his father, and became very attached to him.

On 29 Adar 5626/1866, when Reb Avraham Yissachar was just 22 years old, his world darkened with the petirah of his father and Rebbe. Despite his young age he succeeded his father as Rebbe, and many Chassidim traveled to his court in Radomsk, where Rav Avraham Yissachar led them with love and warmth.

In the early years, the young Rebbe didn’t speak often in public, but with time he began to deliver lengthy discourses of divrei Torah, quoting from across the spectrum of Torah literature.

Rav Avraham Yissachar led the Chassidim for 26 years. He was niftar on 13 Elul 5652/1892 at the age of 48 and buried in the ohel of his father in Radomsk.

His sons were Harav Yechezkel, the Knesses Yechezkel, his successor as Rebbe in Radomsk; Harav Nosson Nachum, Rebbe of Krimilov; Harav Shlomo of Elkush; Harav Moshe Elimelech; and Harav Yaakov Yosef of Klabotzk, author of Emes L’Yaakov.

His sons-in-law were Harav Menachem Mendel Alter, Rav of Pavianitz; Harav Avraham Kalisch of Amshinov; and Harav Mordechai Menachem Kalisch of Otwotzk. Zechusam yagein aleinu.

Rav Avraham Yissachar’s divrei Torah were published under the title Chessed L’Avraham.

Zechuso yagein aleinu.

Sept. 2

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s forces occupied Atlanta.

In 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offered the advice, “Speak softly and carry a big stick” in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

In 1930, the first nonstop airplane flight from Europe to the U.S. was completed in 37 hours as Capt. Dieudonne Costes and Maurice Bellonte of France arrived in Valley Stream, New York, aboard their Breguet 19 biplane, which bore the symbol of a large question mark.

In 1944, during World War II, Navy pilot Lt. (jg) George Herbert Walker Bush was shot down by Japanese forces as he completed a bombing run over the Bonin Islands. Bush was rescued by the crew of the submarine USS Finback; his two crew members, however, died.

In 1945, Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II.

In 1963, Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers.

In 1969, The first automatic teller machine (ATM) to utilize magnetic-striped cards was opened to the public at Chemical Bank in New York. Called a “Docuteller,” it was developed by Donald C. Wetzel.

In 1993, the United States and Russia formally ended decades of competition in space by agreeing to a joint venture to build a space station.