This Day in History – 9 Elul/August 24

In 5027/1267, the Ramban arrived in Yerushalayim after being forced to flee his native Spain. He revived the Jewish community there soon after his arrival.

In 5698/1938, Jewish teachers and students were barred from all Italian schools.

Yahrtzeiten

5567/1807, Harav Yissachar, zt”l, the brother of the Vilna Gaon

5620/1860, Harav Shimon Zarchi, zt”l, author of She’eilos U’teshuvos Nachlas Shimon

5694/1934, Harav Aharon Menachem Mendel Gutterman of Radzimin, zt”l

5718/1958, Harav Yonasan Steif, zt”l, Viener Rav

5728/1968, Harav Yitzchak Friedman of Husyatin, zt”l

5736/1976, Harav Nachum Mordechai Perlow of Novominsk, zt”l

5660/1900, Harav Tzadok Hakohen Rabinowitz of Lublin, the Pri Tzaddik, zy”a

Harav Tzadok Hakohen was born on 22 Shevat 5583/1823. His parents were Harav Yaakov, the Rav of Kreisburg, and Rebbetzin Yuta, a descendant of the Shelah Hakadosh.

From his earliest years he studied Gemara intensely, at times under the light of the moon, since his parents could not afford candles.

At the age of six, when his father was niftar, he moved into the home of his uncle, Harav Yosef, author of Kapos Zahav.

He continued to excel, and at the age of 12 he was already writing she’eilos u’teshuvos in halachah. At his bar mitzvah he delivered an intricate pilpul, astounding all the participants.

At 15, he married his first wife, the daughter of a wealthy wine merchant, in whose home he continued to serve Hashem. (He eventually remarried twice.)

In 5600/1840, when he was but 17, he completed Shas, as he himself mentioned in a letter.

He published a number of sefarim — Otzar Hamelech on Rambam, Meishiv Hataanah on ibur hashanah, and Sefer Hazichronos — which he wrote in his youth.

Harav Tzadok became a devoted follower of Reb Leibele Eiger of Lublin. During that period, Harav Tzadok secluded himself and devoted himself entirely to serving his Creator.

In 5648/1888, after the petirah of Reb Leibele, many Chassidim accepted Harav Tzadok as their Rebbe.

Rav Tzadok eschewed all worldly pleasures, conducting himself with extreme humility and kedushah. He would barely eat; in fact, he only ate at the daily siyum that he conducted! He did not accept any money from Chassidim other than that given him at a pidyon haben, which was rightfully his by Torah law since he was a Kohen.

Chassidim attested that during Shabbos he exuded an entirely different look, and that on Motzoei Shabbos he would literally have to be revived as he parted from his neshamah yeseirah.

He was niftar on 9 Elul and was buried in the ohel of his beloved Rebbe, Harav Yehudah Leib of Lublin. As he never had children of his own, he asked his stepchildren to print his sefarim.

Among the myriad sefarim he authored are Pri Tzaddik, Tzidkas Hatzaddik, Resisei Layla and Takanas Hashavin. Many of his manuscripts remained unpublished.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

August 24

In 79 C.E., long-dormant Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic ash.

In 1821, the Treaty of Cordoba was signed, granting independence to Mexico from Spanish rule.

In 1912, Congress passed a measure creating the Alaska Territory.

In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty came into force.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Communist Control Act, outlawing the Communist Party in the United States.