This Day In History 6 Adar/February 21

In 2369/1394 BCE, [as recorded in Yalkut Shimoni] Moshe Rabbeinu completed Mishneh Torah and was told by Hashem that his petirah was near.

In 5109/1349, a plague killed hundreds of Jews in the esteemed kehillah of Wermeiza, Germany.

In 5242/1482, the first printed edition of the entire Chumash with Targum Onkelos and Rashi was published in Bologna, Italy.

5695/1935, Harav Chanoch Tzvi Hakohen Levin of Bendin, Zy”a

Harav Chanoch Tzvi was born in Malenitz on 7 Kislev 5631/1870 to Harav Pinchas Yaakov Levin, zt”l, of Malenitz. His mother, Rebbetzin Teltza, was the daughter of Harav Tzvi Hirsch Tomashover, a close disciple and gabbai of the Kotzker Rebbe, zy”a.

He excelled greatly in Torah and yirah and, even as a young child, worried about the less fortunate and the needy.

At the time of his bar mitzvah, Rav Chanoch Tzvi became a chassan to Rebbetzin Feige, daughter of the Sfas Emes, zy”a. The chasunah was held in Ger, where he remained until the outbreak of World War I, when he fled to Warsaw.

In 5680/1920, he became Rav of Bendin. With his enormous ahavas Yisrael, he united the various factions there, led the battle against those who denigrated the holy mesorah and paid particular attention to chinuch habanim

Reb Chanoch Tzvi’s middos tovos were legendary; he would go out of his way to greet everyone b’sever panim yafos. One winter day, a man entered the Rav’s chamber and the Rav exclaimed, “How good of you to have come! How wonderful that you stopped by!” He offered the man a chair and brought refreshments, all the while calling him “my dear guest.” Afterward, the Rebbetzin asked the Rav who the man was. “I have no idea; I don’t know him,” the Rav replied. Asked why he had accorded him such honor, he replied, “Because he is a Yid!”

Reb Chanoch Tzvi was a staunch supporter of Agudas Yisrael. At its inception he joined its ranks with great fervor; he participated in its conventions and committees and was appointed to the Mo’etzes Gedolei HaTorah, where he was a principal speaker.

He worked intensely to increase its membership among the chassidic and non-chassidic segments of Jewry. He viewed Agudas Yisrael as a critical project of his generation and when his oldest son, Harav Yitzchak Meir Levin, zt”l, became the organization’s chairman, he gave his sincerest blessing.

On Shabbos night, 6 Adar Rishon 5695 (1935), after the seudah, those around him heard him say, “Ribbono shel olam, I am ready. If this is Your will, please let it be as You wish.” With these words, his neshamah departed. Thousands assembled for his levayah, and he was buried in Bendin. (The cemetery stayed untouched by WWII and is still intact.)

Two of his sons survived the Holocaust: Harav Yitzchok Meir, son-in-law of the Imrei Emes of Ger, zy”a, and Harav Pinchos Yaakov, zt”l, who was among the founders of the Bais Yaakov movement in Eretz Yisrael.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Feb. 21

In 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated.

In 1916, the World War I Battle of Verdun began in France as German forces attacked; the French prevailed after 10 months of fighting.

In 1947, inventor Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which used self-developing film to produce a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds.

In 1958, the USS Gudgeon (SS-567) became the first American submarine to complete a round-the-world cruise, eight months after departing from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.