This Day In History 5 Teves/January 3

5552/1791, the Pale of Settlement was instituted by Empress Catherine, limiting Jewish rights in Russia.

Yahrtzeiten

5295/1534, Harav Shlomo Molcho, Hy”d, who was burned al kiddush Hashem by Roman Emperor Charles V in Mantua, Italy

5721/1960, Harav Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, zt”l

5764/2003, Harav Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowitz, zt”l, the Biala-Peshischa Rebbe

5589/1828, Harav Uren of Tityov, zt”l

Harav Uren (according to some: Aharon) was the oldest son of Harav Tzvi Hasofer of Pinsk who, in turn, was the son of the holy Baal Shem Tov, Harav Yisrael. Reb Uren still merited knowing his grandfather in his youth.

After his father’s petirah in 5540/1780, Reb Uren moved to the town of Konstantin. Like his father and grandfather before him, he spent all his time learning Torah and davening. With virtually no source of income, he had no way to purchase food for his family.

One day, the bitter cries of his starving children became too much for him to bear. After davening, Rav Uren got up in shul and cried out, “How do you allow a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov to starve?” (According to another version, he cried out, “How can Jews not worry about a poor family?”)

Rav Uren’s exclamation caused a great tumult among the townspeople. They immediately undertook to fully support this great tzaddik who was a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. They established a rotation so that each week another of the wealthier members of the community would ensure that all the needs of this family were taken care of.

After the other Jews had left the shul, and Rav Uren was left alone, he began to bitterly regret what he had done. “Instead of relying on Hakadosh Baruch Hu to fill all my needs, I turned to people,” he thought to himself. Rav Uren immediately began to daven, and beseeched Hashem that the townspeople should forget about his outcry.

His tefillos were answered, and the Jews of his town entirely forgot Rav Uren’s outcry, as well as their undertaking of support.

An elderly Yid had been sitting behind the oven when Reb Uren davened to Hashem, and he realized the great tzidkus of Reb Uren.

After a while, an epidemic broke out in nearby Tityov. The elderly Yid who recognized the greatness of Reb Uren told the people of Tityov to beg Reb Uren to beseech the Shaarei Rachamim for them. After relentless pleading, Reb Uren gave in and traveled with the people of Tityov to daven. As soon as his wagon arrived in town, a miracle occurred and the epidemic subsided.

After this incident, Reb Uren moved to Tityov, where Chassidim began flocking to him. He was well known for being a po’el yeshuos for Yidden.

In his later years he moved to Powlitz, a village near Skver. He was niftar there and buried in the village’s beis hachaim.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Jan. 3

In 1777, Gen. George Washington’s army routed the British in the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey.

In 1870, groundbreaking took place for the Brooklyn Bridge.

In 1911, the first postal savings banks were opened by the U.S. Post Office. (The banks were abolished in 1966.)

In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state as President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation.