This Day in History – 6 Kislev/November 18

In 5382/1621, the Shelah Hakadosh arrived in Eretz Yisrael. First he visited Tzfas, and then went to Yerushalayim, where he went on to serve as Rav and Rosh Yeshivah of the Ashkenazic community for many years.

In 5446/1685, Jews were barred from settling in Stockholm, Sweden.

Yahrtzeiten

5630/1869, Harav Menachem Ash, zt”l, Rav of Ungvar

5718/1957, Harav Chaim Michoel Ber Weissmandl, z”tl, Nitra Rav

5755/1994, Harav Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz-Halberstam, zt”l, the Stropkover Rebbe, mechaber of Divrei Yechzkel Shraga

5712/1951, Harav Yaakov Moshe Charlap, zt”l, Rav of Shaarei Chessed

Harav Yaakov Moshe was born in 5643/1883 in Yerushalayim to Harav Zevulun Charlap, a Dayan in the beis din of Harav Yehoshua Leib Diskin. He studied in the famous Etz Chaim cheder and under the tutelage of his father.

In 5658/1898, when he was 15, his father and his rebbi, Reb Yehoshua Leib, were both niftar, leaving him doubly orphaned. He wrote at that time, “It seemed as if the world has gone dark for me. …”

In 5668/1908, the neighborhood of Shaarei Chessed was founded as a suburb of Yerushalayim, and Reb Yaakov Moshe, despite being only 25, became its Rav. His home turned into a center for Torah, where members of the community constantly gathered. On Shabbosos and Yamim Tovim the Rav’s house was packed, especially the night of Shevi’i shel Pesach, when the Rav would sit in his white kapota and recite the Shirah.

For many years, he gave a shiur in Yeshivah Etz Chaim. Eventually, Reb Yaakov Moshe was asked to become Rav of Rechavya, a newer area in Yerushalayim. He attempted to transfer the Torah atmosphere of Shaarei Chessed to Rechavia, despite its being a more diverse and modern neighborhood.

He joined many Rabbanim on missions to strengthen Yiddishkeit in the yishuvim that dotted the country, and was successful in many cases.

Reb Yaakov Moshe’s teshuvos are published in the 10-volume She’eilos U’teshuvos Beis Zevul. He also authored Mei Marom, Tzvi Latzaddik, and Igros Larav. He was niftar on 6 Kislev and buried on Har Hazeisim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Nov. 18

In 1936, Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish government of Francisco Franco.

In 1945, a report was made regarding the completion of the Bergen Belsen trial the day before. Joseph Kramer, camp commander and Irma Grese, a female SS guard, Warden  of Bergen Belsen, were two of those hanged for Nazi concentration camp crimes.

In 1964, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover described civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as “the most notorious liar in the country” for allegedly accusing FBI agents in Georgia of failing to act on complaints filed by blacks; King denied making such a claim.