This Day In History 3 Elul/August 25

In 4949/1189, the day that King Richard was crowned, Christian mobs converged on the Jews, killing many, including Rav Yaakov of Orleans, one of the Baalei Hatosafos, Hy”d. Richard had forbidden Jews to make an appearance at his coronation, but some Jewish leaders showed up to present gifts to the new king. Richard’s courtiers flogged them, then flung the Jews out of court. The people of London joined in the persecution of the Jews, and a massacre began. Many Jews were beaten to death; others were robbed and burned alive. At least one was forcibly baptized. Some sought sanctuary in the Tower of London, and others managed to escape half-dead.

Yahrtzeiten

5518/1758, Harav Moshe Charif, Rav of Pressburg, zt”l

5608/1848, Harav Yissochor Ber, Rebbe of Nadvorna, zt”l

5640/1880, Harav Yitzchak Tzadikah, Rav of Djerba, Tunisia, zt”l

5703/1943, Harav Yitzchak Yeshaya Halberstam, Rebbe of Tchechov, Hy”d, son of Harav Chaim of Sanz

5703/1943, Harav Moshe, Rebbe of Boyan-Cracow, Hy”d

5708/1948, Harav Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz, zt”l

5628/1868, Harav Avraham Tzvi Eisenstadt, zt”l, mechaber of Pis’chei Teshuvah

Harav Avraham Tzvi Eisenstadt was born in 5573/1813. His father was Rav Yaakov of Bialystok, a descendant of Harav Meir Eisenstadt (the “Panim Meiros”) and of Rav Hertz of Zalkova.

Rav Avraham Tzvi was fluent in the entire Torah and a master of incisive thinking, as he demonstrated when he dissected deep sugyos.

He began to write his reference work Pis’chei Teshuvah on the Shulchan Aruch, a guide to the pesakim of many Acharonim, when he was just twenty-four years old. At that age he was already serving as a Rav in Utian, Russia.

Rav Avraham Tzvi did a major service for Rabbanim by organizing and summarizing the pesakim of the authorities among the Rishonim and Acharonim.

Rav Avraham Tzvi also wrote Pis’chei Teshuvah on the sefer Gittin Vechalitzah, explaining and citing the sources for every halachah mentioned there; and Nachalas Shivah, on the works of the early Acharonim.

Rav Avraham Tzvi was niftar on 3 Elul, 5628/1868.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

August 25

In 1825, Uruguay declared independence from Brazil.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act establishing the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior.

In 1921, the United States signed a peace treaty with Germany.

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure providing pensions for former U.S. presidents and their widows.