This Day in History – 29 Iyar/May 9

In 3830/70 C.E., the Romans completed the construction of embankments around Yerushalayim in preparation for the final assault on the third wall surrounding the city.

In 5234/1474, Marranos of Segovia, Spain, were killed al kiddush Hashem. Hy”d.

In 5397/1637, Hakadosh Harav Avraham ben Yitzchak and six other Jews were killed al kiddush Hashem in Cracow. Hy”d.

In 5575/1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in battle at Waterloo.

Yahrtzeiten

5445/1685, Harav Shmuel Heida, zt”l, mechaber of Zikukin Denura

5702/1942, Harav Shmuel Shlomo Leiner of Radzin, Hy”d

5610/1850

Harav Meir of Premishlan, zt”l

Reb Meir’l of Premishlan, as he referred to himself, was the son of Harav Aharon Leib of Premishlan, the son of Harav Meir Hagadol of Premishlan, who was a member of the holy chaburah of the Baal Shem Tov, and a descendant of Rabbeinu Yaakov of Korbil, one of the Baalei Tosafos and mechaber of She’eilos U’teshuvos Min Hashamayim.

Reb Meir’l was a talmid muvhak of Harav Mordechai of Kremnitz, the youngest son of Harav Yechiel Mechel of Zlotchov. His fear and awe of his Rebbe was exceptional. Reb Meir’l was also a talmid of Harav Moshe Leib of Sassov and the Chozeh of Lublin. He married the daughter of Harav Tzvi Hersh of Podheitz.

Reb Meir’l was known as a baal ruach hakodesh and a poel yeshuos, and thousands flocked to him. There are countless stories of how Reb Meir’l brought about supernatural yeshuos. He would often translate pesukim in an odd way, referencing them to current situations or the tzaros of a particular Jew, and by so doing would bring about a yeshuah.

Reb Meir’l was venerated by all the contemporary Gedolim, and a special relationship existed between him and Harav Shlomo Kluger, zt”l, and Harav Yosef Shaul Natanzohn of Lvov, zt”l, among others.

Reb Meir’l lived in absolute poverty, for he gave all his money to the poor and downtrodden. At times he sold household valuables in order to give money to tzedakah.

In his later years Reb Meir’l moved to Mikoilev, and led his chassidim from there. On Shabbos 29 Iyar, sitting on his chair, he was overtaken by feelings of weakness and returned his soul to its Maker. Harav Shlomo Kluger, in a heartfelt hesped, attested that Reb Meir’l had been niftar by misas neshikah. He was buried in Premishlan, where he had resided for most of his life.

His son, Reb Tzvi, was niftar during his lifetime. He was survived by five daughters and sons-in-law.

His divrei Torah are printed in Divrei Meir, Margenisa D’Reb Meir, Ohr HaMeir, and Shivchei Reb Meir. A compilation of all his divrei Torah was printed in Bnei Brak in 5758/1998 under the name Panim Me’irim.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

May 9

In 1712, the Carolina Colony was officially divided into two entities: North Carolina and South Carolina.

In 1754, a political cartoon in Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette depicted a snake cut into eight pieces, each section representing a part of the American colonies; the caption read, “JOIN, or DIE.”

In 1936, Italy annexed Ethiopia.

In 1951, the U.S. conducted its first thermonuclear experiment as part of Operation Greenhouse by detonating a 225-kiloton device nicknamed “George” on Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1962, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology succeeded in reflecting a laser beam off the surface of the moon.

In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee opened public hearings on whether to recommend the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

In 1978, the body of Italy’s former Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who’d been abducted by the Red Brigades, was found in an automobile in the center of Rome.