This Day in History – 13 Adar I/February 22

In 3600/161 B.C.E., Nikanor was defeated; the day is designated as a Yom Tov in Megillas Taanis and Masechta Taanis 18.

Yahrtzeiten

4977/1217, Rabbeinu Yehudah HaChassid, zt”l, mechaber of Sefer Hachassidim

5328/1568, Harav Yisrael Isserles, zt”l, father of the Rema

5692/1932, Harav Yechezkel Lifshitz, zt”l, of Kalisch

5699/1939, Harav Menachem Mendel Landau, zt”l, of Gombin

5746/1986, Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, mechaber of Igros Moshe

5670/1910, Harav Yehoshua Siegel, zt”l, the Sierpcer Rav of New York (Adar I)

Harav Yehoshua Siegel was born on 22 Av, 5606/1846, in Kuczborg, Poland. His father, Harav Moshe Yosef, and his grandfather were both prestigious Rabbanim.

The young Yehoshua was renowned for his brilliant mind. He received semichah from Harav Leibel Charif of Plotzk, Harav Yehoshua of Kutna and Harav Yosef Chaim Kara of Vlatzlovak.

In 5631/1871, Rav Siegel succeeded his father as Rav of Sierpc, Poland. He encountered resistance to his leadership, so in 5644/1884, he left for America, settling in New York.

Over the years, Rav Siegel served as Rav in several congregations on the Lower East Side: the Sierpcer Chevrah, followed by Chevrah Chochmas Odom mi-Plonsk on 61 Hester Street. In 5648/1888, he became the Rav of Chevrah Tehillim Anshei Viscover (Clinton Street Synagogue), a position he held for over 12 years until his petirah.

In the summer of 5668/1908, Rav Siegel went to Eretz Yisrael to arrange for the printing of his sefarim and to visit his longtime friend Harav Shmuel Salant, Rav of Yerushalayim.

Rav Siegel was niftar on 13 Adar I 5670/1910, at the age of 64. His levayah was attended by over 1,000 people, who accompanied his aron to the Machpelah Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Information for this article was culled from research by Baruch Amsel on Gedolim and Tzaddikim who are buried in America.

Directions to kever (Not recommended for cars):

1. Enter cemetery at 82-30 Cypress Hills Street (across from Old Mount Carmel)
2. Follow main road to path number 23 (right where the road starts to flatten out)
3. Go left about 50 feet up the hill (look for candle box and yellow tree markings)
   

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Feb. 22

In 1784, a U.S. merchant ship, the Empress of China, left New York for the Far East to trade goods with China.

In 1865, Tennessee amended its constitution to abolish slavery.

In 1935, it became illegal for airplanes to fly over the White House.

In 1974, Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan).

In 1996, the space shuttle Columbia blasted into orbit on a mission to unreel a satellite on the end of a 12.8-mile tether. (The cord broke just before being extended to its full length.)