This Day in History – 27 Adar/March 18

In 3365/396 B.C.E., Nevuchadnetzar was removed from his grave by his son, King Evil-Merodach, and dragged around in a degrading manner. Afterwards, he released Yehoyachin, the King of Yehudah (who was exiled 13 years before the Churban) from prison.

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

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

Yahrtzeiten

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

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

5453/1693 Harav Yitzchak Abuhav of Amsterdam, zt”l

5639/1879, Harav Yeshayah Schorr of Yassi, zt”l, mechaber of Klil Tiferes

5739/1979, Harav Chaim Sinwani, zt”l, the Mekubal of Yahud

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

5671/1911, Harav Alter Meir Dovid Halevi Rottenberg of Velbrom, zy”a

Harav Alter Meir Dovid was born in 5602/1842. His parents were Harav Yitzchak Menachem of Velbrom and Rebbetzin Golda Esther. Rav Yitzchak Menachem was a grandson of Harav Meir’l of Apta, the Ohr Lashamayim, while his mother was a daughter of the Lelover Rebbe, Harav Moshe, who, in turn, was the son of Harav Dovid of Lelov and son-in-law of the Yehudi Hakadosh. Reb Alter Meir Dovid was named Meir after his great-grandfather from Apta, and Dovid after his grandfather of Lelov. The name Alter stemmed from the directive of Harav Yissachar Ber, the Sabba Kaddisha of Radoshitz, who blessed the couple to have children after 10 years of childlessness.

As a child he learned primarily from his father. When he was a grown man, he frequently traveled to Harav Chaim of Sanz, who cherished him greatly. Harav Chaim was also fond of his father, Harav Yitzchak Menachem. Reb Alter Meir Dovid also frequently traveled to many other Rebbes, who revered him greatly.

He married Rebbetzin Sarah, daughter of Harav Moshe Rokeach, son of Sar Shalom of Belz, and a descendant of Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel — the Ohev Yisrael of Apta.

March 18

In 1940, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass, where the Italian dictator agreed to join Germany’s war against France and Britain.

In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii statehood bill. (Hawaii became a state on Aug. 21, 1959.)

In 1965, the first spacewalk took place as cosmonaut Alexei Leonov went outside his Voskhod 2 capsule, secured by a tether.

In 1974, most of the Arab oil-producing nations ended their 5-month-old embargo against the U.S.