This Day in History – 10 Iyar/April 29

In 2449/1312 B.C.E., according to the Yalkut Shimoni, the incident of the mekoshesh eitzim occurred, in which a Jew was mechallel Shabbos in the Midbar.

In 2870/891 B.C.E., 30,000 Jews were killed. The Plishtim captured the aron and killed Chofni and Pinchas, sons of the Kohen Gadol, Eli, who himself was niftar as he heard the events of the day. (Shmuel I, 4) A taanis tzaddikim commemorates these tragic events. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 580:2)

Yahrtzeiten

5551/1791, Harav Meir Margulies, zt”l, author of Meir Nesivim

5591/1831, Harav Moshe Goldman of Zhvil, zt”l, son of Harav Yechiel Mechel of Zlotchov

5634/1874, Harav Yitzchak Eizik of Komarna, zt”l

5651/1891, Harav Hillel Lichtenstein of Kalamei, zt”l, author of Maskil el Dal

5677/1917, Harav Mordechai Landau of Strikov, zt”l

5642/1882, Harav Dovid Twersky of Tolna, zy”a

Reb Dovid of Tolna was born in 5568/1808. His father was Harav Mordechai of Chernobyl. Reb Dovid married Rebbetzin Yente Devorah, the daughter of Harav Yisrael Avraham of Tcharni-Ostraa, son of the Rebbe Reb Zusha of Anipoli, zy”a.

Reb Dovid first became a maggid in Wasilkiov; after the petirah of his father, he established his court there. In 5614/1854 he moved to Tolna, Ukraine, which was considered a friendlier environment for Jews. He remained in Tolna for the rest of his life.

Reb Dovid placed great emphasis on the role that neginah (song) has in avodas Hashem. In addition, he personally collected large sums of money for tzedakah. He helped many Yidden through his tefillos, mofsim and chachmah.

The Tolna Rebbe was niftar on Shabbos Parashas Acharei Mos–Kedoshim, on 10 Iyar 5642/1882; he was buried in Tolna. He was succeeded by his grandson, Reb Menachem Nachum, who was 13 years old at the time. His sons-in-law were Harav Nachum of Trisk, Harav Nachum of Shpikov, and Harav Chaim Meir of Berditchev.

Reb Dovid published three sefarim: Magen David, Birkas David and Kehillas David. These were recently enhanced and reprinted by Harav Yeshayah Dovid Malkiel, shlita, of Beit Shemesh.

April 29

In 1861, the Maryland House of Delegates voted 53–13 against seceding from the Union. In Montgomery, Alabama, President Jefferson Davis asked the Confederate Congress for the authority to wage war.

In 1913, Swedish-born Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, New Jersey, received a U.S. patent for a “separable fastener” — later known as the zipper.

In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp.

In 1993, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II announced that for the first time, Buckingham Palace would be opened to tourists to help raise money for repairs at fire-damaged Windsor Castle.