This Day in History – 23 Av/July 30

23 Av

In 5665/1905, a large number of Jews were killed in a pogrom in Zhitomir, Ukraine. Hy”d. A Russian student who tried to help the Jews was also killed in the massacre.

Yahrtzeiten

5370/1610, Harav Binyamin Aharon Solnik of Podheitz, zt”l, mechaber of Mas’as Binyamin

5554/1794, Harav Dov Berish Gottlieb of Shinova, zt”l, mechaber of Yad Haketanah.

5745/1985, Harav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon, zt”l

5633/1873

Harav Dov Berish Weinberg of Przedborz, zt”l

Harav Dov Berish Weinberg was the son of Harav Tzvi Hirsh Treitel-Weinberg, a descendant of Rabbeinu Yehudah (son of the Rosh).

Reb Dov Berish married the daughter of Harav Yeshayahu Weltfried of Przedborz, zy”a, one of the leading talmidim of the Chozeh of Lublin.

A devoted chassid of Harav Yissachar Dov the Saba Kaddisha of Radoshitz, zy”a, Reb Dov Berish was zocheh to become a mechutan twice with his Rebbe as both his daughters married grandsons of the Saba Kaddisha: His daughter Sarah Kreindel married Harav Menachem Mendel Baron of Gombim, son of Harav Meir the son of Harav Yissachar Dov. (Her zivug sheini was Harav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira, the Saraf of Moglenitza, son of Harav Avi Ezra Zelig of Grenitz the son-in-law of the Kozhnitzer Maggid.) His daughter Rivka married Harav Yaakov Dovid Baron, the son of Harav Yisrael Yitzchak, the son of Harav Yissachar Dov who later succeeded his father as Radoshitzer Rebbe.

Reb Dov Berish served as Rav in a few kehillos, but due to conflicts he was forced to return to Przedborz, where he served as Dayan and Rav.

His sons were Harav Meir Zev of Przedborz, a chassid of the Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk; Harav Yisrael Alter of Oshpitzin, a chassid of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz; Harav Klonimus Kalman of Przedborz; Harav Meshulam Zusha of Gumbin; and Harav Moshe, Rav of Walbraum and mechaber of Ohel Moshe.

Some of chiddushim of Reb Dov Berish on Shas were printed in the kuntres Halach Devash, which was printed together with Ohel Moshe by his son Harav Moshe.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

July 30

In 1729, Baltimore, Md. was founded.

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces tried to take Petersburg, Va., by exploding a gunpowder-filled mine under Confederate defense lines; the attack failed.

In 1945, the Portland class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II; only 316 out of some 1,200 men survived.

In 1953, the Small Business Administration was founded.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure making “In G-d We Trust” the national motto, replacing “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of many, one”).

In 1963, the Soviet Union announced it had granted political asylum to Harold “Kim” Philby, the “third man” of a British spy ring.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill, which went into effect the following year.

In 1975, former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit; although presumed dead, his remains have never been found.

In 1980, Israel’s Knesset passed a law reaffirming all of Yerushalayim as the capital of the Jewish state.

In 1990, British Conservative Party lawmaker Ian Gow was killed in a bombing claimed by the Irish Republican Army.