This Day In History 24 Adar/March 22

In 4907/1147, the Jews of Wurtzburg were massacred by the Crusaders. Hy”d.

In 5211/1451, the pope issued a bull banning all social contact between Christians and Jews.

In 5263/1503, the Jews of Lithuania were granted permission to return to the country after an eight-year exile.

In 5577/1817, Czar Alexander I of Russia declared the Blood Libel — the infamous accusation that Jews murdered Christian children to use their blood in the baking of matzos for Pesach — to be false. (Nevertheless, nearly 100 years later the accusation was officially leveled against Mendel Beilis in Kiev.)

In 5646/1886, the first organized Arab assault on a Jewish settlement — Petach Tikvah — took place.

In 5678/1918, Jews of Gluchor were massacred by a Ukrainian mob.

In 5699/1939, German troops marched into Prague.

In 5704/1944, Germany occupied Hungary.

Yahrtzeiten

5285/1525, Harav Yitzchak Eizik Margulies of Prague, zt”l

5521/1761, Harav Betzalel Yair Danziger of Lodz, zt”l

5604/1844, Harav Binyamin Diskin of Horodna and Vilna, zt”l

5664/1904, Harav Yitzchak of Alesk, zt”l

5687/1927, Harav Shlomo Elyashiv, zt”l, mechaber of Leshem Shevo V’achlamah

5701/1941, Harav Chaim Asher Finkler of Radoshitz, zy”a

5736/1976, Harav Yehoshua Menachem Ahrenberg, zt”l, mechaber of Teshuvos Devar Yehoshua (Adar II)

5700/1940, Harav Yitzchak Horowitz of Stutchin, Zy”a

Harav Yitzchak Horowitz was born in Dzikov on 4 Teves 5622/1861. His father was Harav Moshe of Rozvadov, a descendant of the Ropshitz dynasty. His mother was the daughter of Harav Yekusiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yetev Lev.

At 11 years of age he had memorized the entire Noam Elimelech.

He married the daughter of Harav Menachem Mendel Eichenstein, the youngest son of Harav Yitzchak Eizik of Ziditchov. After her passing, he married the daughter of Harav Yoel Hirshfeld.

At 22, Reb Yitzchak was appointed Rav in Stutchin, and he is called by the name of this town.

Following the petirah of his father on 10 Sivan 5654/1894, Reb Yitzchak was named one of his successors and held court in Stutchin.

During World War I he fled to Vienna and from there to Tarnow, where he re-established his court and beis medrash.

Many Chassidim flocked to his court. In his day, the Chassidus of Stutchin was one of the most prominent in Galicia. Although he did not take part in public affairs, he was revered by all.

In his later years he often spoke of the imminent Geulah and would hint at the coming of Moshiach.

Reb Yitzchak was niftar on 24 Adar, 5700/1940, in Sanok, while fleeing from the Nazis, ym”s. He was 79.

His son was Harav Yehudah Horowitz of New York. His sons-in-law were Harav Alter Meir of Stutchin; Harav Yisrael Yosef of Riglitz; and Harav Naftali Horowitz of Shenishov.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

March 22

In 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise money from the American colonies, who fiercely resisted the tax. (The Stamp Act was repealed a year later.)

In 1933, during Prohibition, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure to make wine and beer containing up to 3.2 percent alcohol legal.

In 1941, the Grand Coulee hydroelectric dam in Washington State officially went into operation.

In 1987, a garbage barge, carrying 3,200 tons of refuse, left Islip, New York, on a six-month journey in search of a place to unload. (The barge was turned away by several states and three other countries until space was found back in Islip.)