This Day in History – 21 Adar/February 26

21 Adar

In 4996/1236, the Jews of Narbonne, France, were saved from a mob. After a Jew quarreled with a wealthy gentile fish merchant, the fish merchant suddenly died. Angry mobs attacked the Jewish community and confiscated the sefarim of the Rav, Harav Meir ben Harav Yitzchok, zt”l, claiming that he was at fault in the merchant’s death. The Jews were saved when the ruler, Baron Emmerich, intervened and restored order. This is the oldest known community Purim.

Yahrtzeiten

5493/1733, Harav Avraham ben Musa, zt”l, mechaber of Minchas Sotah

5547/1787, Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk, zy”a

5637/1877, Harav Avigdor Halberstam, Rav of Dukla, zt”l

5656/1896, Harav Yitzchak Elchonon Spector, zt”l, Rav of Kovno

5678/1918, Harav Yitzchak of Ponevezh, zt”l, mechaber of Zecher Yitzchak

5695/1935, Harav Aryeh Leib Halberstam, zt”l, Rebbe of Sanz

5749/1989, Harav Shalom Schnitzler, zt”l, the Tchaba Rav of London (Adar I)

5696/1936

Harav Binyamin Fuchs, Rav of Grosvardein, Zt”l

Harav Binyamin Fuchs was born on 11 Tishrei, 5637/1876. His father, Rav Moshe Tzvi, was Rav of Sered and Grosvardein.

Rav Binyamin learned in his father’s yeshivah and, later, in the yeshivos of Harav Yehudah Greenwald, zt”l, in Satmar and Harav Mordechai Leib Winkler, zt”l, in Brezava; and in Pressburg under Harav Simcha Bunim Sofer, zt”l.

In 5661/1901 Rav Binyamin was appointed Rav in Brashau, and in 5665/1905 in Liaka. Later, he was was Rav in Bezing and Nadi-Banya. In 5678/1918, upon the petirah of his father, Rav Binyamin succeeded to the Rabbanus in Grosvardein.

Rav Binyamin was known as a lamdan and speaker, delivering many profound drashos. He was at the forefront of the fight against those who wished to wreak havoc on Torah-true Yiddishkeit.

He had connections with the local government, of which he made use in times of strife for the benefit of his brethren.

Rav Binyamin was niftar suddenly at the age of 59 on 21 Adar 5696/1936.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Feb. 26

In 1904, the United States and Panama proclaimed a treaty under which the U.S. agreed to undertake efforts to build a ship canal across the Panama isthmus.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a congressional act establishing Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park) in the Alaska Territory.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed a congressional act establishing Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed a measure establishing Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

In 1952, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed its own atomic bomb.