This Day in History – 13 Teves – December 26

13 Teves

In 5387/1626, the first issue of the Siddur by the Hebrew printing press of Amsterdam was published.

5628/1868, Romanian Jews were barred from the medical profession.

Yahrtzeiten

5495/1734, Harav Yitzchak Eizek of Ostraha, zt”l

5611/1850, Harav Moshe of Lelov, zt”l

5667/1906, Harav Nosson Nota Segal Landau, zt”l, mechaber of Kerem Nota

5697/1936, Harav Shraga Feivel of Zalitchik, zt”l

5735/1974, Harav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, zt”l, mechaber of Nesivei Yam, Rosh Yeshivah, Lomza

5737/1977, Harav Yitzchak Huberman, the tzaddik of Raanana, zt”l

13 Teves 5697/1936

Harav Shraga Feivish Hager of Zelitchik, zy”a

Harav Shraga Feivish Hager was the son of Harav Baruch of Vizhnitz, the Imrei Baruch. He was born in approximately 5630/1870. He married the daughter of Harav Chaim Menachem of Zinkov, a grandson of the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. In his zivug sheini, Reb Shraga Feivish married the daughter of Harav Moshe of Kossov, a relation.

After his father’s passing, Reb Shraga Feivish was appointed Rebbe in Zelitchik. During World War I, Reb Shraga Feivish fled, and settled in Chernowitz.

Although most of the chassidim of his father traveled to the courts of his older brothers — Harav Yisrael of Vizhnitz and Harav Moshe of Antiniya — his court had a large following.

Among his sons-in-law were his nephew, Harav Baruch Hager, son of his brother Harav Yechiel Michel of Horodenka; Harav Dovid Moshe Friedman of Sadigura-Gwadzhitz; and Harav Moshe Tzvi Twersky of Tolna in Philadelphia.

Reb Shraga Feivish was niftar on 13 Teves 5697/1936, in Vizhnitz.

Reb Shraga Feivish’s son Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel served as Kossover Rebbe of America, and his son, Harav Shraga Feivel Hager, is Kossover Rebbe, shlita, in Boro Park.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Dec. 26

In 1776, the British suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Trenton during the Revolutionary War.

In 1799, former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, resulting in a Confederate victory, began in Mississippi.

In 1941, during World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, the embattled U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium, was relieved by units of the 4th Armored Division.

In 1998, Iraq announced its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones.

In 1999, the storm Lothar swept across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing $1.3 billion in damage.

In 2004, some 230,000 people, mostly in southern Asia, were killed by a tsunami triggered by the world’s most powerful earthquake in 40 years beneath the Indian Ocean.

Last year: Cyclone Dagmar swept over Scandinavia, deracinating trees, disrupting public traffic, and destroying buildings.

Today’s learning is dedicated for a refuah sheleimah for: Sholom Shachne ben Ettel, Yosef Chaim ben Rivkah, Yosef Yitzchok ben Sheindel Chasya, Binyomin Chaim ben Faigi Sara, Boaz Dovid Chai ben Rochel, Sholom Meir ben Sara, Meir Gedalya ben Chava Miriam, Moshe Gavriel ben Miriam, Kalman ben Chaya Raizel, Raphael Menachem Meir ben Raizel Aidel, Menachem ben Toba Ita, Shmuel Menachem Mendel ben Shulamis, Yisrael Yosef ben Yocheved, Yerachmiel Shlomo ben Raizel, Yaakov Yehuda ben Sheindel, Chizikahu Nosson Tzvi ben Esther, Sara Gittel bas Miriam Mira, Batsheva Rochel Leah bas Chaya Sara, Brayna bas Rochel, Mindel Chana bas Nechama Zelda, Yehudis Sheindel bas Rivka, Sara Chana bas Rivka, Faiga Rivka bas Zelda, Malka Breindel bas Shaina Shifra, Malya bas Esther Gittel Chaya, Esther Rivka bas Rochel Leah, Ariella bas Ayala, Bracha Baila bas Basya Rivka, Gittel Aidel bas Leah Yenta, Devorah bas Rochel, Alta Chava Leah bas Faiga Rus, Alicia bas Miriam, Shlomtzy bas Chana Sara, Chava Rivka bas Masi Hamechone Mazi, Leeba Leah bas Rivka, Ruchama Bluma bas Chaya, Golda Zissel bas Hindel Mariyam.