This Day In History 5 Adar/February 20

5601/1841, Harav Avraham Halevi Bing, zt”l, Rav of Wurtzburg

5635/1875, Harav Avraham Landau of Tchechonov, zt”l

5645/1885, Harav Yechezkel Yalzon, zt”l, Rav of Altuna

5731/1971, Harav Mordechai Shlomo Friedman, zy”a, Rebbe of Boyan

5628/1868, Harav Yeshaya Mushkat, Zy”a, the Harei Besamim

Harav Yeshaya Muskat was born in Warsaw in 5543/1783. His father was Reb Yaakov Moshe, zt”l, a talmid of Reb Yisrael, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. Reb Yaakov Moshe was great in both Torah and wealth, and published a new, enhanced edition of the Maharal’s works. His son, Rav Yeshaya, frequently quotes him in his sefarim.

Rav Yeshaya was known from childhood as an ilui. At eighteen he married the daughter of Reb Yitzchak of Radvil, son of Harav Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, zy”a, at the suggestion of the Chozeh of Lublin, zy”a.

Upon marrying, Rav Yeshaya was supported by his father-in-law and grew in Torah, kedushah and taharah. He came to see the Rebbe of Radvil, zy”a, as his Rebbe in Torah alongside the Maggid of Kozhnitz, zy”a. He quoted both tzaddikim in his sefarim, as well as his grandfather-in-law, the Rebbe of Zlotchov.

Most of Rav Yeshaya’s life was spent as a Rav, first in Shidlovtza, then in various kehillos; and for his final thirty years in Praga, a suburb of Warsaw. From 5588/1828, he served as a Rebbe of Chassidim.

Rav Yeshaya was known for his tireless efforts on behalf of his kehillah; he was particularly well known for distributing tzeddakah, despite ill health that afflicted him much of his life. During his last thirteen years, he was bedridden, yet he continued with many klal activities.

Rav Yeshaya was once asked, “It says that charity saves the giver from death, but a person’s life span is predestined, so how can tzeddakah help him?”

He answered, “A person who gives more tzeddakah than he is able, is entitled to plead for more years of life than he has been allotted.”

Rav Yeshaya accepted his suffering with love and joy. When his Chassidim saw him thanking Hashem for his pain, they asked him why, if suffering was so wonderful, no brachah was said over it. Rav Yeshaya countered, “There is a brachah, she’asa li kol tzorki (Who provides me with my every need).”

Rav Yeshaya used to recite this brachah with special intensity. His Chassidim asked him how he could be so grateful for ill health. He replied, “What does a lowly person like me need in this world? Only a few yissurim to purify my body. Now that I have been given these yissurim, should I not thank Hashem for them?”

Reb Yeshaya was niftar on erev Shabbos, 5 Adar, 5628/1868, when he was 85 years old.

Reb Yeshaya authored three main works: Harei Besamim, a commentary on the siddur; Atzei Besamim on Mishnah, approaches to Shas and on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim and Yoreh De’ah; and Roshei Besamim, containing chiddushim on all subjects — Tanach, aggadah, Shas, Midrash, Zohar and mo’adim.

Zechuso yagein aleinu

Feb. 20

In 1792, President George Washington signed an act creating the United States Post Office Department.

In 1872, Luther Crowell received a patent for a machine that manufactured paper bags.

In 1872, Silas Noble and J.P. Cooley patented the toothpick manufacturing machine.

In 1880, the American Bell Company was incorporated.

In 1962, John Glenn Jr. successfully became the first American astronaut to orbit the earth. He flew aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft, which was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.