This Day in History – 10 Adar 1/February 10

10 Adar I

In 5109/1349, mobs rioted during the Black Death epidemic and massacred Jews in the town of Freiburg, Germany.

In 5609/1849, Jews of the Austrian Empire were granted equal civil and political rights.

Yahrtzeiten

5423/1663, Harav Pinchas of Voldova, zt”l, mechaber of Bris Shalom

5453/1693, Harav Gershon Ashkenazi, zt”l, the Avodas Hagershuni (Adar I)

5530/1770, Harav Yosef Yoel Heilprin, zt”l, Rav of Stefan, talmid of the Baal Shem Tov

5627/1867, Harav Yosef Baruch Epstein, zt”l, Der Gutter Yid of Neustadt, son of the Maor V’shemesh

5666/1906, Harav Alexander Moshe Lapidus, zt”l, talmid of Harav Yisrael Salanter

5689/1929

Harav Avraham Zorach Aryeh Yehudah Leibish Heilprin of Brezhan, zy”a, the Imrei Yehudah (Adar I)

Harav Avraham Zorach Aryeh Yehudah Leibish Heilprin was born in 5610/1850, in Brezhan. His father was Harav Meshulam Shraga Feivish, the mechaber of Sfas Emes. His mother was the daughter of Harav Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz, the son-in-law of Harav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz.

In his formative years, Reb Leibish learned under the tutelage of his father, who, upon noting his son’s capabilities, set his eye on him as his successor.

Reb Leibish married the daughter of Harav Shalom of Shotz. He settled in Brezhan, where he was supported by his father, in order that he be able to dedicate himself to learning. Reb Leibish lived near his father for four years. During these years he took upon himself to take care of the city’s mikvaos, and invested much time and effort into seeing that all were properly tended to.

On 19 Elul 5634/1874, his father was niftar. At the time, Reb Leibish was still young — just 24 years old — and didn’t consider himself worthy of replacing his father as Rebbe. The chassidim implored him to accept the position, but it was only after the Divrei Chaim of Sanz asked Reb Leibish that he finally acquiesced.

Reb Leibish was close to the Divrei Chaim, and would travel from time to time to spend Shabbos in Sanz.

Reb Leibish was noted for his knowledge of Kabbalah works, and would daven from a siddur with the kavanos of the Arizal. He was also known for his outstanding works of tzedakah and chessed.

When World War I broke out, Reb Leibish fled to Prague, where he stayed until the end of the war. After the war, he returned to his home in Brezhan, but upon seeing the destruction in the city — especially to his beis medrash — he couldn’t bear staying on. Thus, Reb Leibish moved to Lemberg, where he lived until his petirah.

In his later years, Reb Leibish was weak and could barely talk, but nevertheless delved into Torah learning. He was niftar on 10 Adar I 5689/1929, at the age of 79, and was buried in Brezhan.

His chiddushim on the Torah were published during his lifetime, under the name Imrei Yehudah.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

February 10

In 1763, France ceded Canada and India to England as the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the French and Indian War.

In 1828, Simon Bolivar, South American revolutionary, became ruler of Colombia.

In 1939, Japanese forces occupied Hainan Island, China.

In 1943, Britain’s Eighth Army reached the Tunisian border in World War II.

In 1961, the United States relinquished rights to many defense bases in the West Indies.

In 1962, the Soviet Union exchanged captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers for Rudolph Ivanovich Abel, a Soviet spy held by the United States.

In 1969, the United States, Britain and France rejected East German restrictions on travel to West Berlin, and reminded Soviets of their responsibility to ensure free access.

In 1974, Iraq claimed that 70 Iranians were killed or wounded in a border clash between Iraqi and Iranian troops.

In 1991, the Peruvian health ministry announced that at least 51 people had died of cholera in an epidemic along that country’s coast.

In 1994, the worst of the Bosnian war was over for the battered city of Sarajevo, where a U.N.-brokered cease-fire went into effect.

In 1998, Protestant leaders sought to exclude Sinn Fein from Northern Ireland peace talks after a killing blamed on Catholic guerrillas.

In 2000, all 164 passengers held hostage on an Afghan airliner during a tense four-day journey across Central Asia and Europe exited the plane in England.

In 2001, two dozen young anti-government demonstrators were injured and 100 arrested in clashes with riot police breaking up a Tehran rally. Incidents in Tehran and other cities occurred as Iran marked the 22nd anniversary of the Islamic revolution.