This Day in History – 3 Cheshvan/October 14

In 5051/1290, 16,000 English Jews were expelled from England in the final expulsion by King Edward I.

Yahrtzeiten

5611/1850, Harav Yisrael Friedman, the Ruzhiner Rebbe, zt”l

5621/1860, Harav Eliezer Horowitz of Dzikov, zt”l

5626/1865, Harav Yosef Zundel of Salant and Yerushalayim, zt”l

5627/1866, Harav Yehudah Leib of Kopust, zt”l

5644/1883, Harav Eliyahu Horoshovsky, zt”l, Rav of Drohobitz, mechaber of Pnei Eliyahu and Ezor Eliyahu

5700/1939, Harav Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern, the Sokolover Rebbe, zt”l

5704/1943, Harav Shabsi Sheftel Weill, zt”l, Rav of Simani, Hungary

5703/1942, Harav Yisrael Hager of Radowitz-America, zt”l

Harav Yisrael Hager was born on 6 Nissan 5676/1876. He was the son of Rav Moshe of Radowitz, a descendant of the Toras Chaim of Kossov, founder of the Kossov-Vizhnitz dynasty. Rav Moshe was the son of Harav Yosef Alter of Radowitz, who later settled in Eretz Yisrael and was buried in Haifa. Rav Moshe also moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he settled in Tzfas.

Following his petirah, his son Harav Yisrael succeeded him as Rebbe in Radowitz.

Reb Yisrael settled in America in 5673/1913, founding Beis Medrash Bnei Yisrael. He also opened a yeshivah named Toras Chaim in honor of his illustrious ancestor.

Besides his activities on behalf of Yiddishkeit in America, Reb Yisrael supported the beis medrash of his father in Tzfas, sending large sums of money for its upkeep. He also founded and sponsored an orphanage there.

Reb Yisrael helped publish his father’s sefer Vayikach Moshe.

Reb Yisrael was niftar on 3 Cheshvan 5703/1942 at age 66. He was buried in the Beth David Cemetery in Long Island, where an ohel was built over his kever.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

October 16

In 1934, Chinese Communists, under siege by the Nationalists, began their “long march” lasting a year from southeastern to northwestern China.

In 1943, Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly officially opened the city’s new subway system during a ceremony at the State and Madison Street station.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1987, a 58-1/2-hour drama in Midland, Texas, ended happily as rescuers freed Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl trapped in an abandoned well.