This Day In History 7 Adar/February 22

Moshe Rabbeinu was born on 7 Adar 2369/1394 B.C.E. and was niftar at the age of 120 in 2489/1274 B.C.E. He was buried by Hashem on Har Nevo but, as recorded in the Torah, the location of his grave is unknown.

In 5000/1240, the French authorities confiscated all the printed copies of the Gemara.

In 5241/1481, the first burning of Jews at the stake (the infamous auto-da-fe) was held by the Inquisition.

In 5384/1624, in the city of Lunchitz, numerous Jews were killed al kiddush Hashem. The Rav of the city, Harav Shlomo Chaver, zt”l, composed a special kinah commemorating this tragic event.

Yahrtzeiten

5581/1821, Harav Yitzchak Eizak, Rebbe of Kalev, zt”l

5695/1935, Harav Menachem Mendel Landau, Rav of Zabeirtze, zt”l

5725/1965, Harav Tzvi Kinstlicher, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos u’Teshuvos Be’er Tzvi

5379/1619, Harav Shlomo Efraim of Lunchitz, Zt”l, the Kli Yakar

The Kli Yakar, who was born in the year 5310/1550 in Lenczyk (Lunchitz), Poland, was a talmid of the Maharshal, the mechaber of Yam Shel Shlomo.

Initially he settled in Yarislav where he authored his work Olelos Efraim, which includes drushim for the Yamim Tovim and for simchos. All of the numerous citations and quotations from the Talmud, Midrashim and commentaries that appear in that work were written down from memory, as he noted in the introduction, because he had no sefarim in Yarislav.

Subsequently he settled in Lvov, where he was constantly asked to deliver drashos. A spellbinding orator, he inspired his listeners with his fiery sermons and drew many people closer to Hashem.

In 5361/1601 he contracted a severe illness and the name Shlomo was added to his original name, Efraim. After he recovered, he vowed to author a chibbur on the Torah, which became the famous, fundamental sefer Kli Yakar.

In 5364/1604, Rav Shlomo Efraim was appointed a Dayan of Prague. He sat on the beis din of that city with the Shelah Hakadosh, zt”l, who was Rav at the time. Many prominent talmidim flocked to him. Famous among them is Harav Yom Tov Lipman Heller, zt”l, the Tosfos Yom Tov.

In 5367/1607 a plague broke out in Prague, forcing him to flee the city. While in exile he authored yet another chibbur, Amudei Sheish, which contains mussar discourses on the six pillars: Torah, avodah, gemilus chassadim, din, emes and shalom.

Among the Kli Yakar’s other works are Ir Gibborim, Rivevos Efraim, Sifsei Da’as and Orach Lechaim.

He also composed Selichos to be recited on the second day of Adar, the anniversary of a pogrom that occurred in Prague on that day in 5371/1611.

He was succeeded by his son. His many talmidim continued his legacy.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Feb. 22

In 1630, English colonists in the Massachusetts Bay Colony first sampled popcorn brought to them by a Native American named Quadequina for their thanksgiving celebration.

In 1865, Tennessee adopted a new constitution that abolished slavery.

In 1879, in Utica, NY, Frank W. Woolworth opened his first 5 and 10-cent store.

In 1935, it became illegal for airplanes to fly over the White House.