🗓️ Today in Jewish History– 14th Tamuz
🕯️ 138 CE – The Death of Emperor Hadrian
In the year 3898 from Creation (138 CE), the Roman emperor Hadrian—remembered as a cruel persecutor of the Jewish people—died.
Hadrian was responsible for harsh decrees against Torah observance, the devastation following the Bar Kochba revolt, and the transformation of Jerusalem into a Roman city. His passing was seen through the lens of the verse:
“ובאבוד רשעים רנה” – “When the wicked perish, there is rejoicing.”
🕯️ Today’s Yartzite – 14th Tamuz
🕯️ 1579 – The Passing of Rabbi Yosef ben Rabbi Moshe Trani (the Maharit)
In the year 5339 (1579), the gaon Rabbi Yosef ben Rabbi Moshe Trani זצ״ל passed away.
Known as the Mahariṭ (מהרי״ט), he was one of the leading poskim of his generation, active in Tzfat and later Constantinople. His responsa, published as שו״ת מהרי״ט, are foundational works in halacha, widely cited for their depth, clarity, and authority.
🕯️ 1719 – The Passing of Rabbi Shmuel of Darmstadt, Author of “Kos HaYeshuot”
In the year תע״ט (1719), the gaon Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Yosef Yoizpa HaKohen Shatin, Av Beit Din of Darmstadt, passed away.
He authored the sefer כוס הישועות, reflecting his scholarship and depth in Torah. His work and memory were preserved in the records and pinkasim of his community, reflecting the important role of rabbanim in Ashkenazic Jewish life of that era.
🕯️ 1931 – The Passing of Rabbi Ephraim Lowenthal, Author of “Birkat Ephraim”
In the year תרצ״א (1931), the gaon Rabbi Ephraim ben Rabbi Dov Ber HaLevi Segal Lowenthal זצ״ל passed away.
He served as Av Beit Din of Cologne (Köln) and authored צוואת ברכת אפרים, a work combining halachic thought, ethical guidance, and testamentary teachings.
🕯️ 1987 – The Passing of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel
In the year תשמ״ז (1987), the gaon Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak ben Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ruderman זצ״ל passed away.
He was the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore, one of the most important centers of Torah learning in America.
His teachings, preserved in works such as Avodat Masa and Sichot Levi, reflect depth in lomdus together with a strong emphasis on Torah values and מוסר. Under his leadership, Ner Israel became a major institution shaping generations of תלמידי חכמים and rabbinic leaders.