This Day In History 6 Av/August 10

In 5593/1833, the British House of Commons voted in favor of civil rights for the Jews of England, but the House of Lords did not follow suit until 1845.

In 5532/1772, the first of the three partitions of Poland (5532/1772, 5554/1794 and 5555/1795) which created huge changes in the Jewish world, took place. Ukraine went to Russia, Galicia to Austria (whose Jewish population thereby doubled), and Lithuania to Prussia.

Yahrtzeiten

5482/1722, Harav Yehudah Briel of Montova, zt”l, mechaber of Shemesh Tzedakah and Pachad Yitzchak

5556/1796, Harav Nosson of Frankfurt-am-Main, zt”l, mechaber of Binyan Shlomo

5729/1969, Harav Yehoshua Greenwald, zt”l, mechaber of Chasdei Yehoshua

5367/1607, Harav Yosef Kitzingen, zt”l

Harav Yosef Kitzingen was born in Kuzel in 5344/1584. His father, Harav Yisrael, was a noted talmid chacham. Harav Yosef married the daughter of Harav Dovid Altschuler of Prague, and the young couple settled in that city after their marriage.

His erudition was apparent at a very young age; in his teens, he was already well-versed in Shas and poskim. When he was barely in his 20s, his profound knowledge and his geonus earned him a prominent place among the leading Rabbanim of Prague, many of whom were double and triple his age.

Before his death, there was a widespread halachic controversy that erupted regarding the issue of chalitzah granted by Harav Avraham Wallerstein (son-in-law of the Maharal), Rav Yosef, the Maharsha, and the Levush were among the first to invalidate the chalitzah. Unfortunately, the situation spiraled into a massive machlokes between the Rabbanim on both sides of the controversy. A short time later, Rav Yosef was niftar, at the tragically young age of 23.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Aug. 10

In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state.

In 1846, President James K. Polk signed a measure establishing the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1949, the National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a measure providing $20,000 payments to still-living Japanese-Americans who’d been interned by their government during World War II.