This Day in History – 19 Elul/September 3

In 4949/1189, Rabbeinu Yaakov of Orleans, one of the Baalei Tosafos and a disciple of Rabbeinu Tam, was killed along with many other Jews in London during anti-Semitic riots inspired by King Richard’s coronation. Hy”d.

In 5612/1852, anti-Jewish riots erupted in Stockholm, Sweden.

Yahrtzeiten

5355/1595, Harav Shmuel Yaffa, zt”l, mechaber of Yafeh Mareh

5426/1666, Harav Berachyah Shapiro of Cracow, zt”l, mechaber of Zera Berach

5433/1673, Harav Chaim Benveniste, zt”l, mechaber of Knesses Hagedolah

5567/1807, Harav Dov, zt”l, a brother of the Vilna Gaon

5588/1828, Harav Avraham, zt”l, Rav of Lublin

5645/1885, Harav Zev Nachum Borenstein, zt”l, Rav of Biala, the Agudas Eizov

5692/1932, Harav Yekusiel Aryeh Kmahler of Stanislav, zt”l

5750/1990, Harav Moshe Tzvi Aryeh Bick, noted posek; Rav of  Mezhibuzh, later in New York, in the Bronx and Boro Park

5634/1874, Harav Meshulam Shraga Feivish Heilprin, the Sfas Emes Of Brezhan, zy”a

Harav Meshulam Shraga Feivish was born c. 5570/1810. His father, Harav Naftali Hertz, was Rav in Brezhan and one of the inner group of Chassidim of the Chozeh of Lublin.

His first zivug was the daughter of Harav Chaim, Rav of Boberka; his second zivug was the only daughter of Harav Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz, who was the son-in-law of Harav Naftali of Ropshitz, zy”a.

After the petirah of his father in 5605/1805, the Rabbanus of the city of Brezhan was offered to Reb Meshulam Shraga Feivish as part of the yerushah.

Reb Meshulam Shraga Feivish was very close with his father-in-law from his second zivug, Harav Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. It was noted in the hakdamah of his sefer Sfas Emes, by his son Reb Leibish that Reb Asher Yeshayah gave his son-in-law the tefillin he had received from his own father-in-law, Harav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz. The tefillin had been given with instructions to pass them on to his son-in-law (since he only had one daughter). When his daughter married Reb Meshulam Shraga Feivish he passed on the tefillin.

Once, when he was in Belz, these tefillin got lost and he was very distressed. When the Sar Shalom heard that the tefillin were missing, he called Reb Meshulam Shraga Feivish to his room and handed him the tefillin of his father, Harav Elazar Rokach of Brod, zt”l.

It was well known that he had ruach hakodesh. His Chassidim knew that whatever their Rebbe promised was going to happen.

When Reb Dovid of Tolna, who lived in Russia, resided in Brod, Reb Feivish of Brezhan sent him a contingent of his Chassidim to be with him and learn from his ways. On Motzoei Shabbos Parashas Ki Savo 5734/1874, as soon as Shabbos was over, Reb Dovid bade farewell to all the Chassidim of Reb Feivish, telling them to return to Brezhan because their Rebbe had been niftar over Shabbos. This was intriguing, since these two Rebbes had never even met.

In 5639/1879, Reb Feivish’s son Reb Leibish published his sefer, Sfas Emes.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

September 3

In 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War.

In 1868, the Japanese city of Edo was renamed Tokyo.

In 1923, the United States and Mexico resumed diplomatic relations.

In 1939, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland.

In 1976, America’s Viking 2 lander touched down on Mars to take the first close-up, color photographs of the planet’s surface.