This Day in History – 27 Adar II/April 6

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

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

Yahrtzeiten

5408/1648, Harav Yehudah Ayreh of Vizhnitza, zt”l

5453/1693, Harav Yitzchak Abuhav of Amsterdam, zt”l

5739/1979, Harav Chaim Sinuani, zt”l

5635/1875, Harav Yosef Shaul Natanzohn, zt”l

The Sho’eil U’meishev, as he was known, was born in Berzon in 5570/1810. His father, Harav Aryeh Leibish, was a distinguished talmid chacham. The Natanzohn family traced back to Rashi, the Rema, Maharsha and Bach, among others.

At the age of 16, he married Sarah Eidel, daughter of Harav Yitzchak Aharon Itinge of Lvov.

Reb Yosef Shaul settled in Lvov, where his father-in-law supported him graciously. He formed a special bond with his esteemed brother-in-law, Harav Mordechai Zev Itinge, fostered by diligent, intense Torah study. Together they answered many who sought their counsel, and they went on to write a number of sefarim together.

After his father-in-law was niftar, his Rebbetzin took upon herself to support her husband wholeheartedly, which enabled him to continue learning.

In 5617/1857, he was appointed Rav in Lvov, one of the largest Jewish communities in Poland; in that same year his Rebbetzin passed away.

His zivug sheini, Rebbetzin Shifrah Binah, was wealthy and generously assisted him with the printing of his sefarim.

He served as Rav for almost 20 years. His reach extended far beyond Lvov, as he was in close contact with all the contemporary Rabbanim and lomdim of Poland, Hungary, Russia and beyond. His halachic responsa were sent to thousands, and his sefarim, She’eilos U’teshuvos Sho’eil U’meishiv, were reprinted seven times in the early years and five more times posthumously.

In Teves 5638/1878 he took ill. For the next two months he lay abed, continuing to write halachic responsa, ignoring the doctor’s advice not to strain himself.

On his last day, 26 Adar I, a halachic she’eilah that had arrived that morning was read to him. He requested that the Dayan, Harav Chaim Yosef Eilenberg, answer in his stead. An hour later his holy neshamah rose to Shamayim.

Yehi zichro baruch

April 6

In 1886, the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia, was incorporated.

In 1909, American explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson and four Inuits became the first men to reach the North Pole.

In 1917, Congress approved a declaration of war against Germany.

In 1980, 3M introduced its “Post-It Notes,” a re-branding of a product formerly known as “Press ‘n Peel.”