B"H Yom Yom B"H Yom Yom from Day by Day in Jewish History by Rabbi Abraham P. Bloch z"l [20 Shvat] Birth of Asher b. Yaakov. First printed edition of Tzror HaMor, commentary on Chumash by Rabbi Avraham Sebag, 1523. (Very often, among the entries in Day by Day, Rabbi Bloch z"l includes dates of first publication of various texts. Usually, the entry "just" helps us get a picture of the proliferation of Jewish writing from the beginning of the era of the printed page. For this entry, however, Rabbi Bloch z"l attaches a historical vignette of Rabbi Sebag's life. Expelled from Spain in 1492, he made the unfortunate choice of places to flee to - Portugal. Their he was persecuted, his two sons were forcibly baptized and taken from him. He buried his manuscripts to save them from confiscation and destruction. After release from prison, he made his way to Africa where he managed to rewrite his works. Try to imagine the sacrifices made in order to keep the Chain of Tradition alive and well. These are Giborei Yisrael, no less than Yehuda HaMacabi.)Jewish doctors of Galicia were allowed to attend Christian patients, 1782. [January 27] Earliest authorization for the establishment of a university (including medical and juridical departments) under Jewish auspices (sort of an early version of Yeshiva University), Sicily, 1466. Public execution of nine Damascus Jews, 1969. [21 Shvat] Oliver Cromwell granted the right of residence in England to a Jew (one Luis Carvajal), 1657. (Some historians say that this is the earliest official British act of tolerance in favor of the Jews. [One wonders if this is supposed to be a source of pride.] They continue to explain that the attitude of tolerance explains Jewish settlement in the British colonies of America and other places in the British Empire.) Jewish homes on the outskirts of Warsaw, in a settlement known as "New Jerusalem", were demolished and the Jews of Warsaw were expelled, 1775. [January 28] Israel was recognized (diplomatically) by Australia, Belgium, Chile, Great Britain, Holland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand. (If we say that the U.N. vote to partition Palestine in November '47 was in a certain way "permission" from the world to re-establish a Jewish State, then the recognition of many countries since the establishment of the State is also part of that process.] French National Assembly granted full and equal citizenship to the Portuguese and Avignonese Jews, 1790 and to the Jews of Alsace, 1791. France was the first European country to pass such liberal legislation. [22 Shvat] Caius Caligua was assassinated, 41 c.e. The day was observed as a holiday, since his decree to put pagan images in the Beit HaMikdash was voided upon his death. Yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, 1859. [Of the many statements attributed to the Kotzker Rebbe, here's a personal favorite. He was asked about the traditional yearly greeting of Shana Tova U'Metuka, have a good AND SWEET year - is not Good Year enough; what does SWEET add? The Kotzker explained that everything that G-d does is GOOD. Sometimes, from our perspective, we agree that what is happening is GOOD in our eyes too. But sometimes, from our finite, limited, human perspective, we cannot see the good in something that has happened. To us it seems bad. And we certainly don't wish these kind of things upon others whom we like, or upon ourselves. What we bless each other with, is that the year should be good, and that we should see it that way too. That it should be sweet for us.] Nazis raided the Jewish community of Amsterdam and seized 429 young Jews for deportation, 1941. [January 29] Ezikiel Hart, first Jew to be elected to the Canadian Parliament, was denied his seat, 1808, because he refused to take Christian oath of office. (This is one of MANY examples that the "religious freedom" of the New World was not meant to include Jews; the idea was that Christians of one sect should not be persecuted by other Christians.) [23 Shvat] The Israelites assembled to wage war against the Tribe of Binyamin (as noted in Sho'f'tim 20:1). Jews of Silesia were ordered to wear a special cap in public, 1267. Polish Jews were barred from using public transportation by the Nazis, 1941. First transport of Jews to concentration camps, 1941. [January 30] Massacre of the Jews of Freiberg, Germany, in the Black Death riots, 1349. Adolph Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany, 1930. Society for Youth Aliya was established in Berlin, 1930. (It transported to Israel over 115,000 children from 12-16.) Hitler announced, in his annual speech, 1939, his intention to exterminate the Jewish people in the event of a war in Europe. [24 Shvat] The prophet Zechariya predicted the restoration of Zion and encouraged the resumption of the building of the Beit haMikdash. Decree by the Duke that no Jews should be deprived of the right of residence in Stuttgart, Germany, 1779. [January 31] Nothing from Day-by-Day, so here's a world item: Explorer I launched and the Van Allen Belt discovered, 1958. [25 Shvat] The French gov't gave financial support to Jewish institutions on a par with Christian institutions, 1831. Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, 1883, dynamic leader of the Mussar Movement, which came about to fight against the inroads of assimilation in Europe. First ship with "illegal" immigrants broke through the British blockade, 1934. [February 1] First time a rabbi gave the invocation at a session of the U.S. Congress, 1860. The Palestine Post building in Jerusalem was bombed, 1948, resulting in the loss of many lives. Khomeini takes over Iran, 1979. [26 Shvat] Yahrzeit of the TAZ, author of the popular commentary on Shulchan Aruch, 1667. [February 2] The surrender of the German army in Stalingrad, 1943, marked a significant turning point in World War II. [27 Shvat] Joseph Sanalbo, a convert to Judaism, was burned at the stake in Rome, 1583. [February 3] King of Sicily invited the Jews to return, 1740. Russian gov't ordered the closing of the yeshiva in Volozhin, 1892. [The Yitro Homepage]
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