This Day in History – 13 Av/July 29

In 5058/1298, the Jews of Wurzburg, Germany, were massacred. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5393/1633, Harav Nosson Nota Shapira, the Megaleh Amukos

5589/1829, Harav Mordechai Banet, Rav of Nikolsburg, author of Parashas Mordechai

5744/1984, Harav Yosef Greenwald, the Pupa Rav, zy”a

Harav Yosef was born on 24 Elul 5663/1903. His father was Harav Yaakov Chizkiyahu, Rav of Pupa, Hungary, the son of Harav Moshe (Arugas Habosem), Rav of Chust.

Harav Yosef’s intellect and diligence were obvious from a young age. After studying Torah under his father’s expert guidance, he began helping him run his yeshivah in Pupa, where he also delivered shiurim.

Subsequently he traveled to his uncle, Harav Eliezer Dovid, the noted Keren L’Dovid, who headed one of the largest Hungarian yeshivos in Satmar. After his chasunah to a relative, a granddaughter of the Arugas Habosem, he remained in Satmar, where he served as a Rosh Yeshivah. Eventually, he also served as a Dayan in that city.

After the petirah of the Keren L’Dovid, when Harav Yoel Teitelbaum became Rav in Satmar, Rav Yosef continued to head the yeshivah and serve as Dayan.

In 5701/1941, Rav Yosef’s father was niftar, and he was called upon to succeed him. Rav Yosef moved back to Pupa, where he established a thriving yeshivah.

In 5704/1944, thousands of Hungarian Jews were transported to Auschwitz. The Rav was miraculously saved.

Immediately after the war, despite his own severe suffering  the Rav was the first to reestablish a yeshivah, first in Pupa and later in Sombotheli.

In 5707/1947, with the Communist rise to power, the yeshivah was transferred to Antwerp. In 5711/1951, it moved to America, where the Rav established additional mosdos haTorah such as a kollel and a cheder.

In his sefarim, one catches a glimpse of his erudition and vast holiness. They are: Vaya’an Yosef, Vayechi Yosef and Kenei Bosem. Kuntras Hakdamos and Darchei Yosef were collected and published after his petirah.

The Pupa Rav was niftar on 13 Av 5744/1984, and was buried in Kiryas Pupa, Westchester.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

July 29

In 1588, the English attacked the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines, resulting in an English victory.

In 1914, transcontinental telephone service in the U.S. became operational with the first test conversation between New York and San Francisco.

In 1921, Adolf Hitler became the leader (“fuehrer”) of the National Socialist German Workers Party.

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA.