This Day in History – 24 Cheshvan/October 28

24 Cheshvan

In 5701/1940, the SS Patria, with 1,900 desperate immigrants aboard, blew up and sank in Haifa port. Two hundred Jews drowned. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5524/1763, Harav Gedalya of Zalkaa, zt”l

5625/1864, Harav Chaim Yosef Brukstein of Pistin, zt”l

5663/1902, Harav Dovid Twersky of Makarov, zt”l

5668/1907, Harav Hillel Moshe Meshil Gelbstein, zt”l

5710/1949, Harav Gedalya Moshe of Zhvill, zt”l

5748/1987, Harav Refael Dovid Auerbach, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Shaar Hashamayim

5625/1864

Harav Chaim Yosef Brukstein of Pistin, zy”a 

Son of Rav Yehoshua Yitzchak, Rav Chaim Yosef was raised by the Shepole Zeide, and until the age of 15 he lived in his home. Rav Chaim Yosef later drew close to the Baal HaTanya, the Berditchever Rav, Rav Dov Ber of Uleinov, Rav Aharon of Paviltch and Rav Aharon of Zhitomer.

Rav Chaim Yosef left Russia and became a Rav in Pistn, near Kossov in Galicia, where he became close to Rav Menachem Mendel of Kossov, and later to his son, Rav Chaim of Kossov.

According to his son, Rav Chaim Yosef personally knew more than 100 tzaddikim. Rav Chaim Yosef, who suffered greatly from poor health and poverty, authored the sefer Tosfos Chaim.

Zechuso yagein aleinu.

5663/1902

Harav Dovid Twersky of Makarov, zy”a

Son of Rav Yaakov Yitzchak of Makarov, who in turn was the son of Rav Menachem Nochum of Makarov — the son of the Chernobler Maggid. Rav Dovid married his father’s first cousin, the daughter of the Trisker Maggid.

Rav Dovid was niftar in Kiev. His sons were Rav Menachem Nochum of Makarov, and Rav Nissen Yehudah Leib of Kiltz. His sons-in-law included Rav Shmuel Abba of Makarov, Rav Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Novominsk, Rav Avrohom Yaakov Panitz, and Rav Chaim Gershon Monzon.

Zechuso yagein aleinu.

October 28

In 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought during the Revolutionary War, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1858, Rowland Hussey Macy opened his first New York store at Sixth Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan.

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

In 1919, Congress enacted the Volstead Act, which provided for enforcement of Prohibition, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.

In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1991, what became known as “The Perfect Storm” began forming hundreds of miles east of Nova Scotia; lost at sea during the storm were the six crew members of the Andrea Gail, a sword-fishing boat from Gloucester, Mass.

In 2002, American diplomat Laurence Foley was assassinated in front of his house in Amman, Jordan, in the first such attack on a U.S. diplomat in decades.