This Day in History – 27 Adar/March 4

27 Adar

In 3365, Nevuchadnetzer was removed from his grave by his son, King Evil Merodach, and dragged around in a degrading way. Afterwards, the new king released Yehoyachin, the King of Yehudah, (who went into galus thirteen years before the Churban) from prison. On the same day Tzidkiyahu, the King of Yehudah, died.

In 4950/1190, rioters in Stamfordfair, England, massacred Jews, Hy”d.

In 5015/1255, the King of Austria granted rights to Jews.

Yahrtzeiten

3365, King Tzidkiyahu, the last King of Yehudah, who died in Babylonian captivity

5408/1648, Harav Yehudah Aryeh of Vizhnitza, zt”l, mechaber of Beis Lechem Yehudah

5453/1693, Harav Yitzchok Abuhav of Amsterdam, zt”l (Adar II)

5635/1875, Harav Yosef Shaul Natanzohn, zt”l, author of Sho’el U’Meishiv

5639/1879, Harav Yeshayah Schorr, Rav of Yassi, zt”l, mechaber of Kelil Tiferes

5643/1883, Harav Yaakov Barit of Vilna, zt”l

5739/1979, Harav Chaim Sinuani, zt”l, the mekubal of Yahud

5757/1997, Harav Moshe Neuschloss, zt”l, Av Beis Din of New Square

5671/1911

Harav Alter Meir Dovid Rottenberg, Rebbe of Velbrom, Zy”a

Harav Alter Meir Dovid Rottenberg was the son of Harav Yitzchak Menachem of Apta, zt”l, a descendant of Harav Meir of Apta (the Ohr LaShamayim). He was born in 5602/1842.

His birth at the end of his parents’ ten childless years was a miracle. His mother, daughter of Harav Moshe of Lelov, zy”a, continually asked her father to daven that the couple be zocheh to children. Once he told her to travel to Radoshitz to ask for a brachah from the Rebbe Reb Yissachar Ber, zy”a. The Rebbe asked her for a large pidyon and then blessed her to have a son that year. He asked her to call the child Alter, in addition to the names of his ancestors. When he was born he was named Meir after Harav Meir of Apta, Dovid after Harav Dovid of Lelov, zy”a, and Alter, as the Radoshitzer Rebbe had requested.

Rav Alter Meir Dovid was a talmid of his father and a Chassid of Harav Chaim of Sanz, zy”a, who appointed him Rebbe after his father’s petirah on 20 Adar 5634/1874.

Rav Alter Meir Dovid married Rebbetzin Sarah, the daughter of Harav Moshe Rokeach, zt”l, son of the Sar Shalom of Belz, zy”a.

He was close with many of the generation’s Rebbes, and famous for his avodas Hashem, his rigorous fasts and his many tevilos.

People traveled to Velbrom to seek his advice and brachos. He was known as a baal mofes.

He had many Chassidim in the regions of Pietrikov, Kielce and Warsaw.

Rav Alter Meir Dovid was niftar on 27 Adar 5671/1911, at the age of 69.

His sons were Rav Yosef Nosson, who succeeded him as Rebbe; Rav Avraham Shalom Pinchas of Zabritza; and Rav Yitzchak Menachem of Bendin, zechusam yagein aleinu.

His sons-in-law were Harav Yitzchak Rubin-Glickman of Sosnowiec and Harav Aharon Halberstam of Biale-Bilitz.

Some of the divrei Torah of Rav Alter Meir Dovid were compiled and published in the sefer Mutzal Meiha’eish, written by his grandson Harav Menachem Ben Zion Halberstam, zy”a, Voideslover-Sanzer Rebbe.

Zechuso yagein aleinu.

March 4

In 1791, Vermont became the 14th state.

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for a second term of office; with the end of the Civil War in sight, Lincoln declared: “With malice toward none, with charity for all.”

In 1913, the “Buffalo nickel” officially went into circulation.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that his overtures to Iran had “deteriorated” into an arms-for-hostages deal.