This Day in History – 6 Elul/August 17

6 Elul

In 5700/1940, Italian planes bombed Tel Aviv, killing 117, Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5580/1820, Harav Shabsi, zt”l, Rav of Orla and mechaber of Sheves Achim

5643/1883, Harav Yekusiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, zt”l, the Yetev Lev of Sighet

5729/1969, Harav Yechezkel Sarna, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron

5760/2000, Harav Meir Zvi Ehrentreu, zt”l, Rosh Kollel of the Manchester Yeshivah and son-in-law of Harav Yehuda Zev Segal, zt”l


5414/1654

Harav Yom Tov Lipmann Heller, The Tosfos Yom Tov, Zt”l

The matzeivah of the Tosfos Yom Tov, zt”l.

Harav Yom Tov Lipmann Halevi Heller was born in Wallerstein, Bavaria, in 5339/1579. His father was Harav Nosson Heller, zt”l. Reb Yom Tov was brought up by his paternal grandfather, Harav Moshe Heller, zt”l, Chief Rabbi of the German communities.

He later learned under Harav Yaakov Ginzburg, zt”l, in Friedburg. From there he was invited to Prague by a rich merchant, Reb Aharon Ashkenazi, who later became his father-in-law. In Prague he learned under the Maharal and under Harav Shlomo Efraim Lunchitz, zecher zaddikim livrachah, Rav of Prague and mechaber of Kli Yakar.

In 5357/1597, when he was just 18 years old, Rav Heller was appointed Dayan in Prague, a position he held for 28 years.

In 5385/1624, Rav Yom Tov was called to the rabbinate of Nikolsburg, Moravia, and a few months later he became Rav of Vienna.

In 5388/1628, he was called back to Prague to become the Rav.

On account of the Thirty Years’ War, the government imposed heavy taxes on the Jewish communities of Bohemia, including Prague. A committee of wealthy and powerful Jews was formed to apportion the taxes among the community.

Sadly, they caused an undue tax burden to fall on the poor. The Rav intervened to ensure fairness. Upset, some committee members spitefully went to the government, accusing the Rav of offending Christianity.

A clerical investigation took place. Rav Yom Tov justified himself but the verdict was that he deserved death, which the emperor commuted to a fine of 12,000 thalers. The fine was far beyond his means; generous Jews helped him to pay the first installment, and eventually, the remainder of his fine.

His sefer Megillas Eivah relates the story of his imprisonment and trial.

In the autumn of 5404/1643, Rav Yom Tov was appointed to the rabbinate of Krakow. Harav Yehoshua Charif, zt”l, the Maginei Shlomo, was the Rosh Yeshivah there. Four years later the Maginei Shlomo was niftar, and the Tosfos Yom Tov succeeded him. He helped many agunos created by persecutions Jews had suffered due to the Cossacks.

The Tosfos Yom Tov was a prolific writer, authoring close to fifty works. Most notable is his commentary on Mishnayos, the classic Tosfos Yom Tov.

He also wrote Maadanei Melech and Lechem Chamudos on the Rosh. Another of his better-known sefarim is Tzuras Habayis, regarding the design of the Beis Hamikdash as seen by the Navi Yechezkel.

In 5414/1654, the Tosfos Yom Tov was niftar and buried in Krakow.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.


August 17

In 1807, Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat began heading up the Hudson River on its successful round trip between New York and Albany.

In 1942, during World War II, U.S. 8th Air Force bombers attacked German forces in Rouen, France.

In 1978, the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman landed their Double Eagle II outside Paris.

In 1985, more than 1,400 meatpackers walked off the job at the Geo. A. Hormel and Co.’s main plant in Austin, Minnesota, in a bitter strike that lasted just over a year.

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