This Day In History 8 Adar/February 23

In 5434/1674, the Jews of Barbados were granted permission to take an oath on the Torah. On this same date 151 years later, Jews of Maryland were allowed to take a non-Christian oath.

Yahrtzeiten

5548/1788, Harav Gershon of Lotzk, zt”l, talmid of the Mezhritcher Maggid

5692/1932, Harav Avraham Noach Paley, zt”l, of Shklov-Yerushalayim (Adar I)

5549/1789, Harav Aryeh Leib Falk of Hanover, Zy”a

Harav Aryeh Leib was born in 5475/ 1715. He learned Torah from his saintly father, Harav Yaakov Yehoshua Falk, zt”l, the Pnei Yehoshua, and from Harav Tzvi Hersh Halberstadt, zt”l. At a young age he succeeded in mastering vast amounts of Torah, but he managed to conceal this fact from everyone, even his father. He married the daughter of Harav Yechiel Michel Heilprin, zt”l, Rav of Berzon. After her petirah, he remarried. His second wife was the daughter of Harav Chaim Yonah Teomim, zt”l.

Eventually, his secret greatness in Torah could no longer be hidden, and it was revealed that, like his illustrious father, Rav Aryeh Leib was also a Gadol baTorah. He was asked to serve as Rav in the distinguished kehillah of Skohl, a post he fulfilled meticulously. Eventually he became Rav of Sevirz, and then, at the age of 41, he became Rav of the esteemed kehillah of Hanover, Germany, and the surrounding towns.

He fought fervently against the followers of Shabsai Tzvi. In the years 5410–5426/1650–1666, this movement rapidly gained followers, unfortunately, even among frum, ehrlicher Yidden. [Shabsi Tzvi falsely claimed that he was Moshiach; eventually he converted to Islam.] Rav Aryeh Leib stood steadfast at the head of his kehillah during those times of turmoil and confusion, and opposed even the slightest amendment to the authentic mesorah.

He was niftar on Erev Shabbos Kodesh, 8 Adar 5549/1789, and all of those who had benefited from his great character and leadership mourned their immense loss. His chiddushim are printed in the sefer Pnei Aryeh on Maseches Bava Kamma. He wrote many more chiddushim but, unfortunately, they were never published. His son, Harav Yissachor Dov, zt”l, a Gadol baTorah in his own right, succeeded to his father’s position, and went on to lead the flock.

Feb. 23

In 1813, the first U.S. raw cotton-to-cloth mill was founded in Waltham, Massachusetts.

In 1836, the siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill creating the Federal Radio Commission, forerunner of the Federal Communications Commission.

In 1954, the first mass inoculation of schoolchildren against polio using the Salk vaccine began in Pittsburgh as some 5,000 students were vaccinated.