This Day in History – 28 Adar 1/February 28

28 Adar I

This day is a Yom Tov, as cited by Megillas Taanis. On this date, the harsh decrees of the Yevanim that forbade Torah study and the observance of milah and Shabbos were annulled through the wisdom of Rabi Yehudah ben Shamua and his colleagues, who beseeched the authorities night after night until the decree was cancelled.

In 5037/1277, the Jews of Prussia were granted rights, which eased their plight somewhat.

In 5284/1524, the wicked ruler of Egypt Achmed Pasha decreed the extermination of the entire Jewish community but he was miraculously killed. In commemoration of this great miracle, the day was observed annually as the “Purim of Cairo.”

Yahrtzeiten

5430/1670, Harav Moshe Shimshon Bachrach, zt”l, mechaber of Chut HaShani

5567/1807, Harav Shmuel Kelen of Boskowitz, zt”l, the Machatzis HaShekel

5581/1821, Harav Shlomo Yurgerbar of Vilna, zt”l, mechaber of Be’er Sheva

5621/1861, Harav Yaakov Bendetman, zt”l, Rav of Boisk

5636/1876, Harav Avraham Shag, zt”l, mechaber of Ohel Avraham

5739/1979, Harav Asher Meir Shulman, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Rashbi

5746/1986, Harav Mordechai Chevroni, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron (Adar I)

5676/1916

Harav Mordechai Weitsel-Rosenblatt, zt”l, Rav of Slonim

Harav Mordechai was born in Antipaliye, near Kobrin, in the region of Grodna on 3 Iyar 5597/1837. His father, Rav Avraham Menachem Mendel, was a wheat-grinder — thus the family name Weitsel, Yiddish for wheat kernel. Rosenblatt was added to Reb Mordechai’s name in tribute to his sefer Aleh Chavatzeles, meaning a rose leaf, or Rosenblatt in Yiddish.

Harav Mordechai was known for his diligence. He learned under the Mara d’Asra Harav Yitzchak Hirsh; when he was just 14, Rav Yitzchak gave him semichah. Soon afterwards he began to delve into Kabbalah, but Rav Yitzchak did not approve of this and asked him to stop.

After his marriage to Chayah, the daughter of Harav Shimon Velvel (who promised to support the couple for life), Reb Mordechai journeyed to Pinsk, where he learned for a few years under Harav Mordechai Zakheim. He began to study Kabbalah again, but only in private. In Pinsk, Reb Mordechai was also close with Harav Shmuel Avigdor of Karlin.

After Reb Mordechai received semichah from his two Rebbes, he returned to his hometown, where he continued to learn diligently. Although he tried his utmost to keep his ways secret, his greatness in Torah became known, and soon he was asked to serve as Rav and Dayan in Antipaliye. At that time, in 5624/1864, Harav Pinchas Michoel Grosslit was also Rav in the city, and the two presided together in harmony.

In 5630/1870, Reb Mordechai was asked by the kehillah of Butten to be their Rav. The kehillah of Antipaliye was not willing to let their beloved Rav go; he had to slip out under cover of night.

Reb Mordechai served as Rav in Butten for the next 18 years, and although the city was small, he founded a yeshivah there, where many bachurim came to learn. The kehillah was so poor that they couldn’t pay him; instead of wages, the Rav was given the monopoly on the sale of yeast in the city. Thus, the Rebbetzin supported the family by selling yeast.

As Rav of the city, Reb Mordechai was involved in welfare work. He founded chevras malbish arumim to provide clothing for the poor of the city, and hachnasas orchim to help find places of lodging for strangers.

During his rabbanus in Butten, Reb Mordechai became famous as a tzaddik whose brachos were fulfilled.

Sadly, in 5641/1881, his Rebbetzin passed away, leaving him with many young orphans to care for.

In 5646/1886, Reb Mordechai was called by the community of Korlitz to move to their city and serve as Rav, after their previous Rav, Harav Eliyahu Baruch Kammai, moved away. He was Rav in Korlitz for four years.

Later, in 5651/1891, Reb Mordechai moved to Amshina, near Vilna. There he could not dedicate himself solely to learning, as many petitioners came to him for brachos.

Reb Mordechai’s last rabbanus was in Slonim, where he married for a second time. His wife was the daughter of Harav Avraham Greenberg.

During his tenure as Rav, many Rabbanim would send him their she’eilos, and he would send back teshuvos. He gave semichah to some of his talmidim; many of the Gedolim of the prewar generation received semichah from Reb Mordechai.

Many kehillos sought to have Reb Mordechai as their Rav, and it is related that they had to have security outside his house so he wouldn’t be “stolen away” to some other city.

Some of Reb Mordechai’s chiddushim were published in Hadras Mordechai.

Reb Mordechai was niftar on 28 Adar I 5676/1916, at age 76.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

February 28

In 1844, a 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

In 1861, the Territory of Colorado was organized.

In 1911, President William Howard Taft nominated William H. Lewis to be the first black Assistant Attorney General of the United States.

In 1942, the heavy cruiser USS Houston and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth were attacked by Japanese forces during the World War II Battle of Sunda Strait; both were sunk shortly after midnight.

In 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued the Shanghai Communique, which called for normalizing relations between their countries, at the conclusion of Nixon’s historic visit to China.

In 1974, the United States and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.

In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm. (The murder remains unsolved.)

In 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges. Four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.