This Day In History 29 Teves/January 27

In 5374/1613, a taanis tzibbur was declared in Worms, marking the return of the Jews who were previously expelled.

In 5553/1793, Purim Burgel was established in Tripoli, commemorating the downfall of the Burgel Pasha.


Yahrtzeiten

5562/1802, Harav Alexander Margulies of Stanov, zt”l

5658/1898, Harav Moshe Yehoshua Leib Diskin of Brisk-Yerushalayim, zt”l

5670/1910, Harav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak of Alexander, zt”l, the Yismach Yisrael

5679/1919, Harav Eliyahu Moshe Peniel, zt”l, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel

5749/1989, Harav Meir Halevi Chodosh, zt”l, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron, Ateres Yisrael and Ohr Elchanan

5757/1997, Harav Asher Anshel of Ratzfert, zt”l


5650/1890, Harav Nosson Adler of London, Zt”l, the Nesinah LaGer

Harav Nosson Hakohen Adler was born on 21 Teves, 5561/1801. His father, Harav Mordechai, Rav of Hanover, named him after Harav Nosson Adler, zt”l, Rebbi of the Chasam Sofer and a relative of theirs, who had been niftar childless.

In his youth, Rav Nosson was a talmid of his father. Later, he learned in the yeshivah of Harav Avraham Bing in Wurzburg, who (with the Chasam Sofer) was also one of the leading talmidim of Harav Nosson Adler (I). Rav Nosson was later given semichah by Harav Avraham Bing, zt”l, in 5588/1828.

Rav Nosson was Rav of Oldenburg for a short while, until the petirah of his father, when he replaced him as Rav in Hanover and held that position for 15 years. Hanover was politically connected to the U.K. and he formed a close connection with the English leadership.

After the petirah of London’s Rav, Harav Shlomo Zalman Hirschel, zt”l, Rav Nosson was offered the post.

On 4 Tammuz 5605/1845, Rav Nosson settled in London.

As in the other cities where he served as Rav, he was actively involved in the battle to improve the local kashrus systems and their upkeep. He was also active on behalf of the greater Jewish community: He battled against the Reform movement and helped establish a Jewish hospital in London.

He was also very concerned about the material welfare of the Jews and corresponded with Sir Moshe Montefiore about these issues.

Rav Nosson gained fame through his work on the peirush of Onkelos on the Chumash, called Nesinah LaGer. It is one of the leading and most complete commentaries on Targum Onkelos.

Rav Nosson was known for his sterling middos and his vast humility. He was wont to say that there are two types of anavah — humility. There are those who see themselves and all others as worthless; this is false humility. Real anavah is only when one considers others to be far better than oneself.

When he was elderly, Rav Nosson left his post as Rav and handed over the responsibilities to his son Harav Naftali Tzvi, zt”l, while he moved to Brighton.

Rav Nosson was niftar on 29 Teves 5650/1890. He was buried in London.

Yehi zichro baruch.


Jan. 27

In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.

In 1944, during World War II, the Soviet Union announced the complete end of the deadly German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted for more than two years.

In 1945, during World War II, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.

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