This Day In History 17 Teves/January 4

In 5285/1524, the pope approved the organization of a Jewish community in Rome.

In 5488/1727, Congregation She’aris Yisrael purchased a lot in Lower Manhattan for the purpose of erecting the first shul in New York. The congregation was composed of Spanish and Portuguese Jews who had fled the Spanish Inquisition. The founders of the congregation first met on Rosh Hashanah 5445/1684 in New Amsterdam, where they davened together.

Yahrtzeiten

5514/1754, Harav Aharon Zelig of Ostroh, zt”l, mechaber of Toldos Aharon

5565/1804, Harav Yaakov Krantz, zt”l, the Dubner Maggid

5582/1822, Harav Efraim Fishel, Rebbe of Strikov, zt”l

5730/1969, Harav Pinchas Epstein, zt”l, Rav of Yerushalayim

5735/1974, Harav Salman Mutzafi, zt”l

5606/1846, Harav Aryeh Leibish Lipshitz Of Vishnitza, Zt”l, the Aryeh d’Bei Ila’i

Harav Aryeh Leibish Lipshitz was born in Yaroslav in 5527/1767. His father was Harav Chaim Asher. The family were descendants of the Maharshal and Harav Mordechai Yaffe, the Levush.

Reb Aryeh Leibish was the talmid of Harav Yitzchak Charif of Sambour and of Harav Aryeh Leib, the Ketzos Hachoshen. Known for his quick, sharp mind, he was aptly called Reb Leibish Charif.

When he married the daughter of Harav Moshe Teitelbaum, the Yismach Moshe, he asked his father-in-law for permission to continue to travel to his Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin. At the time, the Yismach Moshe was opposed to Chassidus, but he granted permission. Subsequently, after joining Reb Leibish once on a trip to Lublin, the Yismach Moshe himself was drawn to Chassidus, becoming one of the most devoted chassidim of the Chozeh.

The first Rabbinic post of Reb Aryeh Leibish was in Krashov. When his father-in-law left Shineve and settled in Ujhel in 5568/1808, Reb Aryeh Leibish was named Rav of the city in his place.

In 5575/1815 Reb Aryeh Leibish moved to Vishnitza, where he began to lead chassidim. He was also appointed Rav of Vishintza.

In spite of being an outstanding talmid chacham and a Rebbe, when Reb Aryeh Leibish voiced his opinion in regard to who should serve as gabbai of the chevrah kaddisha, he was asked to leave the city.

He decided at that time to move to Eretz Yisrael, but pressure from the Chassidim and from his father-in-law caused him to change his mind and stay on. In 5598/1838 he moved to Brigel, where he lived until his petirah on 17 Teves 5606/1846. He was buried in Brigel.

Reb Aryeh Leibish wrote a number of sefarim: She’eilos U’Teshuvos Aryeh D’bei Ila’i, correspondence with many Gedolei Yisrael; Aryeh D’bei Ila’i, on many masechtos; Ari Sheb’chaburah, on Maseches Kesubos, and others.

Many of his divrei Torah and divrei chassidus were printed in Yetev Lev and Yetev Panim, sefarim by his nephew Harav Yekusiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, zt”l.

His sons were Rav Chaim Dov of Yanov, Rav Meshulam Zalman of Brigel, and Rav Aharon of Vishnitza, zecher tzaddikim livrachah.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Jan. 4

In 1717, France, Britain and Holland formed a Triple Alliance against Spain.

In 1896, Utah was admitted as the 45th state.

In 1904, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Gonzalez v. Williams, ruled that Puerto Ricans were not aliens and could enter the United States freely; however, the court stopped short of declaring them citizens. Puerto Ricans received U.S. citizenship in March 1917.

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, called for legislation to provide assistance for the jobless, elderly, impoverished children and the handicapped.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his “Great Society.”