🗓️✨ Luach Hayom – Today in Halacha & Jewish History: 25th Adar
Today in Jewish History – 25th Adar[1]
🗓️ The Date of Creation according to Rabbi Yehoshua
The Talmud records a classic dispute (Rosh Hashanah 10–11) about when the world was created: Rabbi Eliezer holds that creation took place in Tishrei, with the first day on 25 Elul and the creation of Adam on 1 Tishrei, which underlies the Jewish tradition of Rosh Hashanah as the anniversary of Creation and the Day of Judgment, while Rabbi Yehoshua holds that creation took place in Nisan, with Adam created on 1 Nisan and the first day of Creation occurring several days earlier on the 25th of Adar.
🗓️ The Death of Nebuchadnezzar
According to Seder Olam, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon died on the 25th of Adar. After Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Evil‑merodach (Amel‑Marduk) ascended the throne. According to Seder Olam, Nebuchadnezzar died on the 25th of Adar, was buried the next day, and on the 27th of Adar Evil‑merodach had his father’s body removed from the grave and disgracefully dragged, in order to nullify Nebuchadnezzar’s harsh decrees. On that same day, Evil‑merodach “lifted the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah”, released him from prison, spoke kindly to him, changed his prison garments, and restored him to honor, as described in Jeremiah.
Today in Chabad History – 25th Adar[2]
🗓️ Birth of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson (25 Adar 5661 – 1901)
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of blessed memory, wife of the Rebbe and daughter of the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), was born on Shabbat, 25 Adar 5661 (March 16, 1901), in the Russian town of Babinovichi near Lubavitch. At the instruction of her grandfather, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rashab), she was named Chaya Mushka, after the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, wife of the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe. She was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, later the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, and grew up in an atmosphere of Torah leadership, devotion, and self‑sacrifice, ultimately becoming a central yet private spiritual figure alongside the Rebbe throughout his leadership.
🗓️ The Rebbe Reunites with His Mother (25 Adar 5707 – 1947)
On 25 Adar 5707, the Rebbe traveled to Paris to reunite with his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, for the first time in nearly twenty years, and joyfully accompanied her back to the United States.
🗓️ Call for Study of Torah Or Likkutei Torah (25 Adar 5725 – 1965)
On this date, the Rebbe issued a public call encouraging Chassidim to study the entire Torah Or and Likkutei Torah.
🗓️ The “Birthday Campaign” (25 Adar 5748 – 1988)
Following the passing of the Rebbetzin, the Rebbe emphasized using one’s birthday as a special opportunity for spiritual growth, encouraging increased Torah study, prayer, charity, recitation of Tehillim and Tanya, learning a maamar, making good resolutions, and strengthening one’s personal mission.
🗓️ The Rebbe’s Final Sicha (25 Adar 5752 – 1992)
On 25 Adar 5752, the Rebbe delivered what became his final public sicha, on Shabbat Parashat Vayakhel‑Shekalim =—marking the last time Chassidim heard a formal address from the Rebbe.
📅 Today’s Yahrzeits[3]
🕯️ Rabbi Gershon Kitov — Brother in law of Baal Shem Tov
🕯️ Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher — Author of Even Yisrael
Their Background[4]
🕯️ Rabbi Gershon of Kitov 🕯️
Rabbi Gershon of Kitov (Rabbi Avraham Gershon of Kitov) was an 18th‑century rabbinic scholar and early Hasidic figure, best known as the brother‑in‑law of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism. Initially skeptical of the Baal Shem Tov’s path, he later became one of his close supporters. Rabbi Gershon was among the first Hasidic leaders to settle in the Land of Israel, living in Hebron and later Jerusalem, where he was associated with the kabbalistic Beit El yeshiva. He passed away in Jerusalem in 1761 and is buried on the Mount of Olives.
🕯️ Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher
Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher (1928–2003) was a leading halakhic authority in Jerusalem and served as Av Beit Din of the Edah HaChareidis. He was widely respected as a posek and communal rabbi of the Zichron Moshe neighborhood. His major scholarly contribution is the multi‑volume responsa work Even Yisrael, which is frequently cited in contemporary halakhic discussions. Rabbi Fisher was buried at Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.
[1] Taken from Yimei Chabad
[2] Taken from Yimei Chabad
[3] Taken from Luach Itim Labina
[4] Please not that these historical notes were prepared with the assistance of Copilot Pro, an AI Research Agent, and have not been independently verified.
