This Day In History 4 Adar/February 19

4 Adar

In 5043/1283, the Maharam of Rottenberg was imprisoned in the Ensisheim fortress and held for a huge ransom, but he forbade the Jewish community to pay it.

Even after the Maharam’s petirah in 5053/1293, his body was not released for burial until it was ransomed, 14 years later, by Alexander ben Shlomo (Susskind) Wimpen, who was subsequently laid to rest at his side in the beis hachaim in Worms.

In 5558/1798, the Jews of Rome were declared free citizens by the French army.


Yahrtzeiten

4266/506, the Amora, Rav Achai bar Rav Huna, zt”l.

5551/1791, Harav Leib, zt”l, known as Reb Leib Sorah’s (Adar I)

5670/1910, Harav Eliezer Gordon, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Telshe (Adar I)

5675/1915, Harav Dovid Friedman of Pinsk, zt”l, mechaber of Piskei Halachos (Adar I)

5754/1994, Harav Yaakov Goldwicht, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Kerem Beyavneh

5757/1997, Harav Dovid Mann, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Beis Hillel


Shaar blatt of sefer Neta Sorek.

5657/1897

Harav Shraga Tzvi Tenenbaum, Zt”l, Rav of Tshate and mechaber of Neta Sorek (Adar I)

Harav Shraga Tzvi Tennenbaum was born on 1 Iyar 5586/1826, in Sendra, Hungary. His father, Rav Ze’ev, zt”l, was the first Rav in Sendra.

In his formative years, he learned under the tutelage of his father, together with his younger brother Harav Yaakov (later Rav in Potnack). The brothers grew very close to each other and in their sefarim quote each other often.

When he became of age, Rav Shraga Tzvi married the daughter of Harav Avraham Yaakov Rose, zt”l, who was the first Rav of Kashua.

In 5608/1848, when his father, Rav Ze’ev, was appointed Rav of Werfelet, the community of Sendra asked Rav Shraga Tzvi — the son of their former Rav — to replace his father. He served as Rav for the next 26 years.

In 5634/1874, Rav Shraga Tzvi was appointed Rav in Meza-Tshate, where he served as Rav until his petirah.

Rav Shraga Tzvi was renowned for his greatness in Torah. His unique derech halimud attracted bachurim to his yeshivah. He would not delve in pilpul, rather he sought the truth and depth in each sugya.

In the beginning of the winter of 5657/1896–7, his brother Yaakov became sick and was niftar on 28 Kislev of that year. Rav Shraga Tzvi took his brother’s passing very much to heart. Several months later, on Shabbos Parashas Terumah, 4 Adar I, he himself passed away.

His drashos and chiddushim were named Neta Sorek. Three volumes were published: drashos on the Torah; chiddushim on the Shas; and his responsa.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.


Feb. 19

In 1881, Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence.

In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford, calling the issuing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 “a sad day in American history,” signed a proclamation formally confirming its termination. The law allowed for the internment of Japanese Americans in prison camps.

In 1986, the U.S. Senate approved, 83-11, the Genocide Convention, an international treaty outlawing “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,” nearly 37 years after the pact was first submitted for ratification.

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