This Day in History –12 Nisan/April 1

In 2449/1312 B.C.E., the Nasi of the tribe of Naftali, Achira ben Einan, brought his korban.

In 3413/347 B.C.E., Ezra Hasofer and his followers departed from the Eihu River on their way to Yerushalayim.

Yahrtzeiten

5482/1722, Harav Aryeh Leib, Rav of Kovle and Slutzk, zt”l

5625/1865, Harav Shlomo Zalman Ulman, zt”l, mechaber of Yerios Shlomo

5761/2001, Harav Shimshon Dovid Pincus, Rav of Ofakim, zt”l

5622/1862, Harav Shmuel Heschel of Krilovitz, zt”l

Harav Shmuel Heschel was the son of Harav Meshulam Zusia Heschel of Zinkov, who was the grandson of Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, zy”a.

Reb Shmuel married the daughter of Harav Avraham Twersky of Trisk.

Reb Shmuel was appointed Rebbe in his father’s lifetime, holding court in Krilovitz (in the Podolya region), Ukraine. The local nobleman invited Reb Shmuel to his city, hoping that a Rebbe’s court would bring an influx of visiting Chassidim and thus increase his income.

He was niftar on 12 Nisan 5622/1862, and his younger brother, Harav Yechiel, became Rebbe in Krilovitz in his stead.

Reb Shmuel’s son was Harav Yitzchak Meir, who was the son-in-law of Harav Efraim of Matzov.

His father, Rav Meshulam Zusia, was niftar on 3 Elul 5624/1864, a year and a half after the petirah of Reb Shmuel.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

April 1

In 1789, the U.S. House of Representatives held its first full meeting in New York; Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania was elected the first House Speaker.

In 1865, during the Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan routed Confederate soldiers under the command of Maj. Gen. George Pickett in the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia.

In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. (Hitler was released in Dec. 1924. During his time behind bars, he wrote his autobiographical screed, Mein Kampf.)

In 1933, Nazi Germany staged a day-long national boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

In 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II. (U.S. forces succeeded in capturing the Japanese island on June 22.)

In 1954, the United States Air Force Academy was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1975, with Khmer Rouge guerrillas closing in, Cambodian President Lon Nol resigned and fled into exile, spending the rest of his life in the United States.