This Day In History 11 Adar/February 26

11 Adar

In 5194/1434, the Pope prohibited anti-Jewish sermons.

In 5235/1475, Rashi al HaTorah was printed for the first time, in Italy.

In 5248/1488, the Tanach in its entirety was printed for the first time.

Yahrtzeiten

5559/1799, Harav Leib, zy”a, the son of Harav Meir of Premishlan, who was known as the “Shomer Shabbos.”

5585/1825, Harav Moshe Yehoshua Heschel, Rav of Ruhatin, zy”a

5632/1872, Harav Shmuel Shtrasen, zt”l, the Rashash of Vilna

5670/1910, Harav Avraham Borenstein, the Rebbe of Sochatchov, zy”a, the Avnei Nezer

5673/1913, Harav Avraham Abuchatzeira, zt”l, of Teveria

5626/1966, Harav Chanaya Yom Tov Lipa, zy”a, the Sassover Rebbe

5740/1980, Harav Menachem Dovid Chodorov, zy”a, Rebbe of Tolna-Vizhnitz

5741/1981, Harav Shmuel Brudny, Rosh Yeshivah, Mirrer Yeshivah in New York

5566/1806

Harav Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai, the Chida, Zt”l

Harav Chaim Yosef Dovid, commonly known by the acronym of his name — Chida — was born in Sivan 5484/1724, in Yerushalayim. His father was Harav Yitzchak Zerachia Azulai, zt”l. He descended from an illustrious Sephardic family which had lived in Spain until the geirush (expulsion).

The Chida’s piety and brilliance in Torah were already apparent in his youth. At 10 he began learning in the beis medrash of his Rebbi and uncle, Harav Yona Navon, zt”l, author of Nechpa Bakesef.

The Chida also studied under Harav Shalom Sharabi, zt”l, the Rashash, and the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, zt”l.

When the Chida was 29, he was sent as an emissary to collect funds for the community of Chevron, arriving in Frankfurt in Av 5514/1754. The wealthy men of the community were hesitant to give him money, since none could verify the authenticity of the signatures of the Gedolei Yerushalayim on his letters of introduction. This was during the post-Shabsai Tzvi era, a time when skepticism was widespread.

The Chida visited the Pnei Yehoshua, zt”l, who matched up the signatures from letters he himself had received from Yerushalayim and verified the authenticity of the Chida’s papers. Consequently, his fundraising was successful.

In Shevat 5524/1764, the Chida left on a mission to benefit the community of Yerushalayim, which was ultimately cancelled. Instead of returning to Eretz Yisrael, he became Chief Rabbi of Alexandria.

In 5529/1769, he returned to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Chevron.

In 5533/1772, he was sent on a third mission, on behalf of the city of Chevron, where he arrived in Italy. He ultimately remained in Italy, settling in Livorno, immersed in Torah and avodah and publishing the rest of his many works, 80 in total, 60 of which were published. They covered topics in Halachah, Aggadah, and Kabbalah.

The Chida was niftar on Leil Shabbos, 11 Adar 5566/1806, in Livorno. In 5720/1960, when the authorities were planning to desecrate his holy kever, his remains were brought to Eretz Yisrael for reburial on Har Hamenuchos. Many open nissim occurred then, further attesting to the Chida’s greatness and holiness.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Feb. 26

In 1904, the United States and Panama proclaimed a treaty under which the U.S. agreed to undertake building a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a congressional act establishing Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park) in the Alaska Territory.

In 1945, in the U.S., a nationwide midnight curfew went into effect.

In 1952, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed its own atomic bomb.

In 1962, after becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, astronaut John Glenn told a joint meeting of Congress, “Exploration and the pursuit of knowledge have always paid dividends in the long run.”