This Day In History 13 Adar/February 28

Yahrtzeiten

4977/1217, Rabbeinu Yehudah HeChassid, zt”l, mechaber of Sefer Hachassidim

5328/1568, Harav Yisrael Isserles, zt”l, father of the Rema

5581/1821, Harav Betzalel Margules, zt”l, mechaber of Kesser Shabbos (Adar II)

5670/1910, Harav Yehoshua Siegal, zt”l, the Sherpser Rav of New York (Adar I)

5692/1932, Harav Yecheskel Lifshitz, zt”l, of Kalisch

5699/1939, Harav Menachem Mendel Landau, zt”l, of Gombin

5701/1941, Harav Pinchas Hager of Bursha, zt”l

5746/1986, Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, mechaber of Igros Moshe and Dibros Moshe, Posek Hador and Rosh Yeshivah, Tiferes Jerusalem (Adar II)

5753/1993, Harav Yechiel Leifer of Nadvorna-Arad, zy”a


5555/1795, Harav Meir Ashkenazi, Zt”l, Rav of Old Konstantin

Harav Meir Ashkenazi was born in approximately 5477/1717, the oldest son of Harav Yaakov of Emden, zt”l, the Yaavetz, son of the Chacham Tzvi. He was born in Brodie, where his father served as Rav at the time. His mother was the daughter of Harav Mordechai Katz, zt”l, the son of Harav Naftali Katz.

When Meir was one year old, his father was forced to leave home, due to the petirah of his father, the Chacham Tzvi, zt”l, to tend to his younger siblings, who had been orphaned. A year later, his mother also passed away, and the Yaavetz was forced to remain in Lvov. Then he took to printing his father’s responsa, She’eilos U’teshuvos Chacham Tzvi.

It was only in 5484/1724 that Rav Yaakov returned to his family. He was pleased to see that his son Meir was successfully learning Gemara.

In 5489/1728, the Yaavetz was asked to serve as Rav in Emden, and thus he moved yet again. For the next three years, he learned privately with his son. When Reb Meir turned 15, his father sent him to learn in Hamburg.

Being noted as an iluy and a budding talmid chacham, Reb Meir was chosen as a chassan by Reb Moshe of Lisa, a parnass of the Vaad Arba Aratzos. He was married in 5492/1732.

After his marriage, Reb Meir settled in Lisa for the next 10 years, where he led the local yeshivah.

His name and fame spread far, and in 5503/1743, Reb Meir was asked to serve as Rav of Old Konstanin, in Vohlyn, Ukraine.

Reb Meir served as Rav there for over 40 years. He was niftar on Taanis Esther, 13 Adar 5555/1795.

From the many works he had written, only his works on Mishnayos Nashim and on the Rambam, titled Hama’or Hagadol, were published.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.


Feb. 28

In 1861, the Territory of Colorado was organized.

In 1917, The Associated Press reported that the United States had obtained a diplomatic communication sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to a German official in Mexico proposing a German alliance with Mexico and Japan should the U.S. enter World War I. (Outrage over the telegram helped propel America into the conflict.)

In 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

In 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest the leader of a small, alternative religious community on weapons charges; four agents and six members of the community were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

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