c 1476 BCE- The Egyptians were smitten with the Plague of Chosech (Darkness). The 9th plague to strike the Egyptians for their refusal to release the Children of Israel from slavery -- a thick darkness that blanketed the land so that "no man saw his fellow, and no man could move from his place" (Exodus 10:23) -- commenced today on the 1st of Adar, six weeks before the Exodus.

 

420 BCE- Yechezkel HaNavi lamented Pharaoh the king of Egypt (see Yechezkel 32).

 

Feb 19, 1539- Tyrnau, Hungary expels its Jews.

 

1570- Jews miraculously escaped violent earthquake in Italy.

 

Feb. 20, 1643- The Tosfot-Yom Tov's (Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller, Rav of Cracow), descendants celebrate a private Purim to commemorate his release from prison. See 30 Shvat, 1644.

 

Feb. 5, 1840- A priest vanished in Syria, and the Jewish community was blamed, prompting imprisonment of the city's Rav, HaRav Yaakov Entebi, the seven community elders, and a number of young children. Ultimately, Sir Moses Montefiore interceded on their behalf and they were freed.

 

Feb. 26, 1906- Rav Baruch (ben Chaim) Halberstam of Gorlitz (1830-1906). Born in Rudnick, Poland, to the second of the four wives of the Sanzer Rav (Divrei Chaim). At age 14, he married Pessel, the daughter of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, the "Yitav Lev" of Sighet. In his early 30s, he was appointed rav of Rudnick, and later rav of Gorlitz. In 1886, after his wife's passing, he married Leah, a granddaughter of the Bnei Yissoscher.

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Shishi, 19 Adar II, 5784

Friday, March 29, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.