This Day in History – 27 Adar 1/February 27

27 Adar I

In 3365/396 B.C.E., Nevuchadnetzar’s body was removed from its grave by his son, King Ehvil Merodach, and dragged around to humiliate him. Afterwards, the new king released Yehoyachin Melech Yehudah (who had gone into galus 13 years before the Churban) from prison. On the same day Tzidkiyahu, the last king of Yehudah, died.

In 4950/1190, rioters in Stamford-fair, England, massacred Jews, Hy”d.

In 5015/1255, the King of Austria granted civil rights to Jews.

Yahrtzeiten

3365/396 B.C.E., Tzidkiyahu Hamelech, the last king of Yehudah, who died in Babylonian captivity

5408/1648, Harav Yehudah Aryeh of Vizhnitza, zt”l, mechaber of Beis Lechem Yehudah

5635/1875, Harav Yosef Shaul Natansohn, zt”l, mechaber of Shoel Umeishiv  

5643/1883, Harav Yaakov Barit of Vilna, zt”l

5739/1979, Harav Chaim Sinuani, zt”l, the mekubal of Yahud

5757/1997, Harav Moshe Neuschloss, zt”l, Av Beis Din of New Square

5639/1879

Harav Yeshayah Schorr of Yassi, zt”l, mechaber of Klil Tiferes

Harav Yeshayah Schorr was born in Mikolinitz in 5540/1780. His father, Harav Moshe, a descendant of Harav Alexander Sender Schorr (the Tevuos Shor), was the son-in-law of Harav Aryeh Yehudah Leib of Mikolinitz, one of the close chassidim of the Baal Shem Tov.

Reb Yeshayah was the devoted chassid of Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz, son of Harav Yechiel Michel, the Maggid of Zlotchov. He was known as an outstanding talmid chacham, fluent in the entire Shas and Poskim, and a tzaddik.

Reb Yeshayah became the son-in-law of Harav Zev of Tornibitziyah, where he settled after his chasunah; he was supported by his father-in-law, who was well off. He taught Torah to many talmidim in the city.

At that time the kehillah of Horodenka was seeking a Rav, and Rav Dovid of Butchatch came to Reb Yeshayah with a letter from the kehillah, inviting him to take the position. Reb Yeshayah agreed to do so.

Later Reb Yeshayah was Rav in the kehillos of Chutin, Dolina and Zhbrazh. His last Rabbanus, by the name of which he is known, was in Yassi, Moldavia, where his Rebbe, the Ohev Yisrael, had also served as Rav.

After the petirah of his Rebbe, Reb Yeshayah journeyed to other Rebbes: Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta, the Ohev Yisrael; Harav Menachem Mendel of Kossov; and Harav Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditchov.

After the passing of his first Rebbetzin, Reb Yeshayah married the daughter of Harav Yosef Yoske, the son of his Rebbe Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz.

Reb Yeshayah was zocheh to arichus yamim; he was niftar on 27 Adar 5639/1879, in Yassi, at the ripe old age of 99.

Reb Yeshayah wrote Klil Tiferes on the Torah, Yamim Tovim and the five Megillos, in which he quotes many divrei Torah from his Rebbes; Megillos l’Moadei Hashem on Kabbalah; and Kanfei Yesharim on Shulchan Aruch. He also authored Chazon Yeshayahu, a compilation of his she’eilos u’teshuvos. Other works are as yet unpublished.

Reb Yeshayah had an only son, Harav Dovid Mordechai, who was the son-in-law of Harav Yosef Landau, Rav of Yassi. Reb Yeshayah also had two daughters: Frayda, who married Harav Moshe Chaim of Kaliv, and after his passing, Harav Yaakov Hager of Zablatov; and Dvorah, who was married to Harav Baruch of Podolchisk, a grandson of Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

February 27

In 1801, the District of Columbia was placed under the jurisdiction of Congress.

In 1911, inventor Charles F. Kettering demonstrated his electric automobile starter in Detroit by starting a Cadillac’s motor with just the press of a switch, instead of hand-cranking.

In 1922, the Supreme Court, in Leser v. Garnett, unanimously upheld the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed the right of women to vote.

In 1933, Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire. Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming the Communists, used the fire as justification for suspending civil liberties.

In 1939, the Supreme Court, in National Labor Relations Board v. Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., effectively outlawed sit-down strikes.

Britain and France recognized the regime of Francisco Franco of Spain.

In 1943, during World War II, Norwegian commandos launched a raid to sabotage a German-operated heavy water plant in Norway.

The U.S. government began circulating one-cent coins made of steel plated with zinc. (The steel pennies proved very unpopular, since they were easily mistaken for dimes.)

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms of office, was ratified.

In 1973, members of the American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children. (The occupation lasted until May.)

In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, President George H.W. Bush declared that “Kuwait is liberated, Iraq’s army is defeated,” and announced that the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight, Eastern time.