This Day in History – January 29/3 Shevat

In 4762/1002, Jews attending a levayah were attacked in Fostat, Egypt.

In 5693/1933, Adolf Hitler, ym”sh, was appointed chancellor of Germany.

Yahrtzeiten

5351/1591, Harav Yosef Katz, zt”l, mechaber of She’eiris Yosef

5464/1704, Harav Yosef Rakover, zt”l, Rav of Eibeshetz, mechaber of Mirkeves Hamishnah

5583/1823, Harav Pinchas of Plotzk, zt”l, talmid of the Gra and mechaber of Maggid Tzedek

5625/1865, Harav Moshe Yehuda Leib Silberberg, zt”l, the Zayis Raanan

5666/1906, Harav Yosef Kalisch, Rebbe of Amshinov, zt”l

5645/1885, Harav Yechezkel Shraga Frankel-Teumim, zt”l, Rav of Klasna-Vielitshke

Harav Yechezkel Shraga Frankel-Teumim was the son of Harav Yehoshua Heschel, son of Harav Baruch, zt”l, the famous Baruch Taam. Rav Yehoshua Heschel lived in Komarna, and was known as an outstanding talmid chacham.

Rav Yehoshua Heschel was a devoted chassid of the Chozeh of Lublin. Rav Yehoshua Heschel was niftar on 4 Tammuz, 5603/1843.

Rav Yechezkel Shraga was a talmid of his uncle, the Divrei Chaim, who cherished him. It is known that when the Divrei Chaim would say “My Chezkele” he meant his nephew Reb Yechezkel Shraga.

He married the daughter of Harav Shmuel Rosner of Bardiov, settling in that town while continuing to learn and grow in Torah.

He was appointed Rav of Klasna-Vielitshke, near Cracow, two separate cities which were located close to one another. Some members of the kehillah were upset at the appointment of the new Rav. Their late Rav had been an elderly and respected person, and had a large family who lived in the city. They came up with a scheme to ask the new Rav an intricate halachic she’eilah, with the hope that he wouldn’t know the answer.

The night before they planned to carry out their scheme, Rav Yechezkel Shraga had a dream in which his father appeared to him and told him that the next day he would be asked a complex she’eilah, and he should prepare the relevant halachos. He answered their she’eilah without hesitation.

They did not give up. They thought up another complicated she’eilah, and again he was able to answer without any problems. Seeing that Rav Yechezkel Shraga was able to answer fluently, they finally accepted him as their Rav.

Rav Yechezkel Shraga led the city with an iron fist. He did not allow any changes in the ways of mesorah; he did not allow mingling with the non-Jews or copying the way they dressed. He was active in setting up many tzedakah funds, ensuring each poor person get what they needed.

On 3 Shvat 5645/1885, Rav Yechezkel Shraga was suddenly niftar.

His sefer, Divrei Yechezkel on the Torah and halachah was being prepared for publication, but unfortunately Reb Yeschezkel Shraga didn’t live to complete it. His son Reb Shimon Alter also wanted to print the sefer, but didn’t succeed. It was finally published by his son Harav Simchah Frankel-Teumim, with the enthusiastic haskamah of Harav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, the Shinive Rav.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Jan. 29

In 1820, King George III died at Windsor Castle at age 81; he was succeeded by his son, who became King George IV.

In 1861, Kansas became the 34th state of the Union.

In 1975, a bomb exploded inside the U.S. State Department in Washington, causing considerable damage, but injuring no one; the radical group Weather Underground claimed responsibility.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter formally welcomed Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to the White House, following the establishment of diplomatic relations.

In 2005, jetliners from China landed in rival Taiwan for the first time in 56 years.