This Day in History – 6 Av/July 22

In 5593/1833, the British House of Commons voted in favor of the emancipation of the Jews of England, which was delayed by the House of Lords for another 11 years.

Yahrtzeiten

5367/1607, Harav Yosef Kitzingen, zy”a

5494/1734, Harav Mordechai Chassid, zt”l, a member of the esteemed Brodi Kloiz

5556/1796, Harav Nosson of Frankfurt-am-Main, zt”l, mechaber of Binyan Shlomo

5729/1969, Harav Yehoshua Greenwald, zt”l, Rav of Chust-Boro Park, mechaber of Chasdei Yehoshua

5482/1722, Harav Yehudah Briel of ­Montova, zt”l

Born in Montova in 5403/1643, Rav Yehudah was the son of Harav Eliezer Briel.

He was one of the leading Italian Rabbanim of his time. He served on the beis din of the famed mekubal Harav Moshe Zachus; after the latter’s petirah, Rav Yehudah was appointed Av Beis Din and he served for 30 years, becoming famous as a leading posek and Gadol baTorah.

Rav Yehudah was fluent in Italian, and this helped him in the battle against the anti-Semitic elements in Italy. He wrote articles in Italian newspapers refuting them. He was also known as a philosopher.

Rav Yehudah waged war against one of the followers of Shabsai Tzvi and joined the Chacham Tzvi in banning his sefarim.

Rav Yehudah corresponded with many of the generation’s Rabbanim. Some of his teshuvos are found in Pachad Yitzchak by Harav Yitzchak Lamronti, in Shemesh Tzedakah by Harav Shimon Morporgo and in Dvar Shmuel by Harav Shmuel Abuhav. His chiddushim in hilchos treifos are published in Zera Emes, by Harav Yishmael Hakohen.

He was also known as an expert in dikduk, having written the sefer Klalei Hadikduk.

Rav Yehudah was niftar on 6 Av 5492/1722, at the age of 79.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

July 22

In 1796, Cleveland, Ohio, was founded by General Moses Cleaveland.

In 1893, Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates visited the summit of Pikes Peak, where she was inspired to write the original version of her poem “America the Beautiful.”

In 1957, Walter “Fred” Morrison applied for a patent for a “flying toy” which became known as the Frisbee.

In 1975, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in voting to restore the American citizenship of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. (President Gerald R. Ford signed the measure on August 5.)