🗓️✨ Luach Hayom – Today in Halacha & Jewish History

Today in Jewish History – 13^th Adar

🗓️ The Day the Jews Prevailed Over Their Enemies (3405 / 356 BCE)

On the 13th of Adar in the year 3405 from Creation, Jews across the provinces of King Achashverosh’s empire gathered to defend themselves against those who sought their destruction. As recorded in Megillat Esther, this was the day designated for the enemies of the Jews to attack—but instead, the Jews prevailed over their adversaries throughout the empire, laying the groundwork for the miracle of Purim. As a result of this victory, a fast day was later established for all generations on the 13th of Adar, known as Ta’anit Esther. The detailed laws and customs of this fast are explained in the following article.

🗓️ Yom Nikanor – Year 3600 (March 161 BCE)[1]

In later generations, the 13th of Adar was established as a festive day known as Yom Nikanor. This day commemorates the downfall of Nikanor, a Greek general who served under the Seleucid kingdom and fiercely oppressed the Jewish people during the Second Temple era.

Nikanor arrogantly threatened Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, raising his hand toward the city and declaring his intent to destroy it. Through the mercy of Heaven, he was defeated by Yehudah HaMaccabee, and his death marked a great salvation for Israel.

Following his defeat, Nikanor’s body was dismembered: his head and the hand with which he had threatened Jerusalem were cut off and displayed publicly in Jerusalem, as a clear sign that his blasphemous threats had been overturned and that Heaven had judged him measure for measure. This act served both as punishment for his cruelty and as a warning to all who would raise a hand against the House of God and the people of Israel.

In gratitude for this deliverance, the Sages instituted the 13th of Adar as a day of joy. It was recorded in Megillat Ta’anit as a day on which fasting and eulogies were forbidden, reflecting its status as a minor festival in the Jewish calendar.

Although Megillat Ta’anit was later annulled and most of its commemorative days were no longer observed, Yom Nikanor remained associated with the 13th of Adar, preserving the memory of Jewish courage, divine assistance, and victory over persecution.

📅 Today’s Yahrzeits^[2]

🕯️ Rabbi Yehuda (Judah) he Chasid of Regensburg — Author of Sefer Chasidim

🕯️ Rabbi Moshe Feinstein — Author of Igros Moshe

Their Background^[3]

Rabbi Yehuda (Judah) he‑Chasid of Regensburg (d. 1217)

Author of Sefer Chasidim

Rabbi Yehuda he‑Chasid was one of the greatest leaders of Chassidei Ashkenaz, the pietistic movement of medieval Germany. He is traditionally identified as the primary author of Sefer Chasidim, a foundational work of Jewish ethical and spiritual literature that shaped Ashkenazic religious life for centuries. The book blends halachah, ethics, mysticism, and everyday moral guidance, and remains influential to this day.
His yahrzeit is observed on 13 Adar.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895–1986)

Author of Igrot Moshe

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was universally recognized as the posek ha‑dor (leading halachic authority) of the 20th century, particularly in the United States. After escaping Soviet oppression, he became Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Tiferet Yerushalayim in New York.
His multi‑volume responsa, Igrot Moshe, address virtually every area of modern halachic life and continue to guide Jewish practice worldwide. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s yahrzeit is on 13 Adar.

[1] Megilas Taanis Chapter 12

[2] Taken from Luach Itim Labina

[3] Please not that these historical notes were prepared with the assistance of Copilot Pro, an AI Research Agent, and have not been independently verified.