This Day in History – March 23/27 Adar

27 Adar

In 3365/396 B.C.E., Nevuchadnetzar’s body was removed from its grave by his son, King Ehvil Merodach, and dragged around to humiliate him. Afterward, the new king released Yehoyachin Melech Yehudah (who had gone into galus 13 years before the Churban) from prison. On the same day Tzidkiyahu, the last king of Yehudah, died.

In 4950/1190, rioters in Stamford-fair, England, massacred Jews, Hy”d.

In 5015/1255, the King of Austria granted civil rights to Jews.

Yahrtzeiten

3365/396 B.C.E., Tzidkiyahu Hamelech, the last king of Yehudah, who died in Babylonian captivity.

5408/1648, Harav Yehudah Aryeh of Vizhnitza, zt”l, mechaber of Beis Lechem Yehudah.

5635/1875, Harav Yosef Shaul Natansohn, zt”l, mechaber of Shoel Umeishiv.

5643/1883, Harav Yaakov Barit of Vilna, zt”l.

5739/1979, Harav Chaim Sinuani, zt”l, the mekubal of Yahud.

5757/1997, Harav Moshe Neuschloss, zt”l, Av Beis Din of New Square.

5639/1879, Harav Yeshayah Schorr of Yassi, Zt”l, Mechaber of Klil Tiferes

Harav Yeshayah Schorr was born in Mikolinitz in 5540/1780. His father, Harav Moshe, a descendant of Harav Alexander Sender Schorr (the Tevuos Shor), was the son-in-law of Harav Aryeh Yehudah Leib of Mikolinitz, one of the close Chassidim of the Baal Shem Tov.

Reb Yeshayah was the devoted Chassid of Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz, son of Harav Yechiel Michel, the Maggid of Zlotchov, zy”a. He was known as an outstanding talmid chacham, fluent in the entire Shas and Poskim, and a tzaddik.

Reb Yeshayah became the son-in-law of Harav Zev of Tornibitziyah, where he settled after his chasunah; he was supported by his father-in-law, who was well off. He taught Torah to many talmidim in the city.

At that time the kehillah of Horodenka was seeking a Rav, and Rav Dovid of Butchatch came to Reb Yeshayah with a letter from the kehillah, inviting him to take the position. Reb Yeshayah agreed to do so.

Later Reb Yeshayah was Rav in the kehillos of Chutin, Dolina and Zhbrazh. His last Rabbanus, by the name of which he is known, was in Yassi, Moldavia, where his Rebbe, the Ohev Yisrael, had also served as Rav.

After the petirah of his Rebbe, Reb Yeshayah journeyed to other Rebbes: Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta, the Ohev Yisrael; Harav Menachem Mendel of Kossov; and Harav Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditchov.

After the passing of his first Rebbetzin, Reb Yeshayah married the daughter of Harav Yosef Yoske, the son of his Rebbe Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz.

Reb Yeshayah was zocheh to arichas yamim; he was niftar on 27 Adar 5639/1879, in Yassi, at the ripe old age of 99.

Reb Yeshayah wrote Klil Tiferes on the Torah, Yamim Tovim and the five Megillos, in which he quotes many divrei Torah from his Rebbes; Megillos l’Moadei Hashem on Kabbalah; and Kanfei Yesharim on Shulchan Aruch. He also authored Chazon Yeshayahu, a compilation of his she’eilos u’teshuvos. Other works are as yet unpublished.

Reb Yeshayah had an only son, Harav Dovid Mordechai, who was the son-in-law of Harav Yosef Landau, Rav of Yassi. Reb Yeshayah also had two daughters: Frayda, who married Harav Moshe Chaim of Kaliv, and after his passing, Harav Yaakov Hager of Zablatov; and Dvorah, who was married to Harav Baruch of Podolchisk, a grandson of Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

March 23

In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered an address to the Virginia Provincial Convention in which he is said to have declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

In 1806, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, having reached the Pacific coast, began their journey back east.

In 1933, the German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act, which effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers.

In 1965, America’s first two-person space mission took place as Gemini 3 blasted off with astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young aboard for a nearly 5-hour flight.

In 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a $938 billion health care overhaul, declaring “a new season in America.”