This Day In History 21 Iyar/May 17

In 2449/1312 B.C.E., Bnei Yisrael received double portions of mann on Friday; Moshe Rabbeinu informed them of the holiness of the Shabbos (Shemos 16:22).

In 5709/1949, Kfar Chabad, a village located five miles south of Tel Aviv, was founded by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Yosef Yitzchak, zt”l. The first settlers were mostly recent immigrants from the Soviet Union, survivors of the terrors of World War II and Stalinist oppression.

Yahrtzeiten

5543/1783, Harav Yitzchak Eizik Segal, zt”l, mechaber of Raza Meihemna

5662/1902, Harav Yaakov Yosef Hakohen Rabinowitz, Zy”a

Harav Yaakov Yosef was a son of the Chessed L’Avraham of Radomsk, who, in turn, was a son of the Tiferes Shlomo, zy”a, of Radomsk. Born in 5633/1873, he was the younger brother of the Knesses Yechezkel of Radomsk.

Reb Yaakov Yosef was an oved Hashem of stature. Despite obstacles, he served Hashem with mesirus nefesh. In his short life he served as Rav in two towns, Breznitza and Klobitzk.

The Knesses Yechezkel, zy”a, wrote a lengthy hakdamah in the sefer Emes L’Yaakov about his great brother’s mesirus nefesh for Torah and kedushah. He goes on to write how beloved he was in the eyes of all the Gedolei Hador and how much they cherished him. Tzaddikim attested that he did not derive any pleasure from this world.

Unfortunately, as mentioned, Reb Yaakov Yosef was not maarich yamim; he was niftar at the age of 29. His chiddushei Torah are printed in Emes L’Yaakov.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

May 17

In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange had its beginnings as a group of brokers met under a tree on Wall Street and signed the Buttonwood Agreement.

In 1932, the U.S. Congress changed the name “Porto Rico” to “Puerto Rico.”

In 1940, the Nazis occupied Brussels, Belgium, during World War II.

In 1954, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision which held that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal, and therefore unconstitutional.