This Day in History – 19 Adar II/March 26

19 Adar

In 5700/1940, the Arab restriction of the sale of land to Jews in Eretz Yisrael took effect.

In 5709/1949, the Jewish army captured Ein Gedi and the war of 1948 was brought to an end.

Yahrtzeiten

5640/1880, Harav Yaakov Shamshon of Kossov, zy”a

5692/1932, Harav Shmuel Engel of Radomishl, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos u’Teshuvos Maharash (Adar I)

5753/1993, Harav Yitzchak Kalish, zy”a, Amshinover Rebbe of America

5763/2003, Harav Yaakov Chaim Yoffen, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Beis Yosef Novardok

5688/1928

Harav Meir Yechiel Halevi Halshtok, the Ostrovtze Rebbe, Zy”a

Before the Ostrovtze Rebbe was born in 5612/1852, his mother, who was ill at the time, received a brachah from Harav Yehoshua Asher, Rebbe of Porisov, zy”a, that he would illuminate the world like a brilliant gemstone. His father was Reb Avraham Yitzchak, a righteous and devoted Jew who was a devoted Chassid of Harav Yerachmiel, zy”a, Rebbe of Peshischa.

Reb Meir Yechiel was named after the Saraf of Mogilnitze, zy”a. He grew up in Sabin, Poland, where his father worked as a baker. After selling his products, he would toil in Torah and avodah for the remainder of the day.

Young Meir Yechiel’s parents did not have enough money to pay his melamed, but the melamed was so delighted with the youth’s brilliant queries that he kept him in class without pay. When he began learning Gemara, the melamed politely asked his parents to remove him from the cheder, since the questions he asked were so intricate they left everyone — melamed and students alike — perplexed.

With no other choice, Reb Avraham Yitzchak took his young iluy to the Rebbe of Grodzinsk, zy”a, and the Rebbe appointed Harav Berel Goldfarb, who was known as Reb Berel Iluy, to educate the child. Under his tutelage, young Meir Yechiel achieved great heights in Torah.

At the age of 17 he became engaged to the daughter of Harav Avraham’ele of Vorka. After his wedding he moved to Vorka, where he became known as the iluy of Vorka.

In 5639/1879, at the age of 27, he was invited to serve as Rav in Skrenevitz. As Rav he devoted most of his time to learning and teaching, while leaving routine community matters to others.

After he had served about 10 years as Rav in Skrenevitz, he was appointed Rav in Ostrovtze, a fledgling Jewish community. In 5652/1892, his Rebbe, Reb Elimelech of Grodzisk, was niftar and the Chassidim flocked to Reb Meir Yechiel. After initially refusing, he agreed, and although he was not a descendant of the Koznitzer dynasty as was his Rebbe, he spiritually inherited the Chassidus and became their mentor and advisor.

As Rebbe, his ahavas Yisrael is legendary; he collected vast amounts of money for aniyei Eretz Yisrael. He left behind his famous, extraordinary pilpulim, which are printed in Meir Einei Chachamim.

During Reb Meir Yechiel’s later years he suffered severe yissurim from gallstones yet he continued serving Hashem with great mesirus nefesh. On 19 Adar, his pure soul returned to its Creator.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

March 26

In 1812, an earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing an estimated 26,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1934, Britain enacted a Road Traffic Act reimposing a 30 mile-per-hour speed limit in “built-up areas” and requiring driving tests for new motorists.

In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was fully secured by U.S. forces following a final, desperate attack by Japanese soldiers.

In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Baker v. Carr, gave federal courts the power to order reapportionment of states’ legislative districts.

In 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.