This Day In History 7 Shevat/January 23

Yahrtzeiten

2449/1312 B.C.E., Moshe Rabbeinu, according to the Yalkut Shimoni

5347/1587, Harav Naftali Hersh Shor, zt”l, Dayan of Brisk and Lublin

5485/1725, Harav Dovid Nito, zt”l

5541/1781, Harav Yisrael Charif of Satinav, the Ateres Tiferes Yisrael, zt”l

5574/1814, Harav Dovid, Rebbe of Lelov, zt”l

5590/1830, Harav Nosson Dovid, Rebbe of Partziva, zt”l

5651/1891, Harav Yitzchok Aharon Itinga of Levov, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos U’Teshuvos Maharya Halevi

5656/1896, Harav Yerucham Yehuda Leib Perlman, zt”l, known as “The Gadol of Minsk”

5603/1843, Harav Mordechai Dovid Ungar, Rebbe of Dombrova, Zt”l

Harav Mordechai Dovid was born in 5530/1770. His father, Harav Tzvi Hirsh, zt”l, was a close Chassid of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk and Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, the Ohev Yisrael, zechusam yagein aleinu. Although Reb Tzvi Hirsh was a wine merchant, his Rebbe, the Ohev Yisrael, said of him that as he poured wine for his customers, he was formulating yichudim comparable to what the Rishonim would do through their davening.

In his youth, Reb Mordechai Dovid jouneyed to Harav Yisrael, the Kozhnitzer Maggid. He learned in his yeshivah, and grew in Torah and avodas Hashem, with exertion and diligence. He was known as a genius, and was taken as a chassan by one of the negidim in Tshemlov.

Later Reb Mordechai Dovid became a devoted Chassid of the Chozeh of Lublin, journeying often to his court.

Adamant about not being supported by others, Reb Mordechai Dovid took up the trade of his fathers and became a wine merchant. Due to his frequent business trips to Ungarin (Hungary), he was named Ungar.

Only after the Chozeh implored Reb Mordechai Dovid to stop his business dealings and establish his own court did Reb Mordechai Dovid become a Rebbe. He held court in Dombrova, opening a beis medrash that attracted thousands of Chassidim. Reb Mordechai Dovid was known as an ish Elokim and a baal mofes.

Reb Mordechai Dovid was held in high esteem by the leading Rebbes of his generation. Notable among them were the Divrei Chaim of Sanz (later his mechutan), Harav Shalom of Kaminka, Harav Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz and the Aryeh Dbei Ila’ah, zechusam yagein aleinu. Reb Mordechai Dovid would journey one Shabbos each year to the Aryeh Dbei Ila’ah, where he was honored to deliver divrei Torah.

Reb Mordechai Dovid was niftar on 7 Shevat, 5603/1843. In his tzavaah, he wrote that no one be buried near his kever except his children. He also requested that no elaborate titles be written on his matzeivah.

He was survived by his children: Harav Yosef of Dombrova; Harav Menachem Mendel of Stavnitz; Harav Avraham Elchanan of Koloshin; Harav Moshe — son-in-law of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz — who settled in Eretz Yisrael and was buried in Tzefas; Harav Yechiel Tzvi Hirsh of Tarnov and Harav Naftali of Zabna, zecher tzaddikim livrachah.

His son-in-law was Harav Menachem Tzvi Teitelbaum of Drohovitch, brother of the Yetev Lev.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Jan. 23

In 1845, Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called “Lame Duck Amendment,” was ratified as Missouri approved it.

In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.