This Day in History – 6 Cheshvan/October 19

In 3340/422 B.C.E., Nevuchadnetzar killed King Tzidkiyahu’s sons before his eyes, subsequently blinding him (see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 580:2).

In 4926/1165, the Rambam arrived in Yerushalayim; he celebrated his arrival as a private Yom Tov.

5461/1700, Rabbeinu Yehudah Hechassid built his shul in Yerushalayim.

Yahrtzeiten

5202/1441, Harav Shmuel Chaim, zt”l, mechaber of Shemen Hamishchah

5564/1803, Harav Yitzchak Eliyahu of Tismenitz, zt”l

5749/1988, Harav Yechiel Menachem Singer, zt”l, of Alexander-America

5704/1943, Harav Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua Weinberg, Hy”d, the Slonimer Rebbe

Harav Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua was born on 18 Shevat 5673/1913. His father was Harav Avraham of Slonim-Baranovitch, the Beis Avraham.

Reb Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua became the son-in-law of Harav Yitzchak Menachem of Alexander, and after his chasunah he lived in Alexander for a while. When his father, Reb Avraham, was niftar in 5793/1933, the Chassidim asked Reb Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua to become their Rebbe, though he was just 21 years old.

Harav Avraham Weinberg, who later became the Slonimer Rebbe, personally traveled from Eretz Yisrael to Europe to crown the new Rebbe.

In addition to serving as Rebbe, he also headed the Slonimer Yeshivah, Yeshivas Toras Chessed, with its hundreds of talmidim.

The Rebbe, lovingly referred to as “der yinger Rebbe,” was well-known and venerated in all circles.

After WWII broke out, the Rebbe managed to conceal his identity for a while. When the ghetto was liquidated, the Rebbe was transferred together with the other residents to the Kadlitzova concentration camp where he was determined to continue his avodas Hashem.

Accompanied by 80 Yidden, the Rebbe was killed al kiddush Hashem.

Yehi zichro baruch.

October 19

In 1789, John Jay was sworn in as the first chief justice of the United States.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.

In 1960, the United States began a limited embargo against Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.

In 1977, the supersonic Concorde made its first landing in New York City.

In 1987, the stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 percent in value, to close at 1,738.74.