“We stand with Israel because her cause is our cause,” former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said, addressing the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York gala in Manhattan.
“Her values are our values. Her fight is our fight. We stand with Israel because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil. We stand with Israel because like millions of Americans through all generations, we hold fast to that ancient promise, that those who bless her will be blessed,” he continued.
When Steven Khadavi, president of the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York, introduced Pence at the Lincoln Center event, he noted that the previous keynote speakers were former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Rav Eliyahu Habachur Halevi “the Ba’al Hatishbi,” famous Hebrew grammarian (1549).

Yahrtzeits – 26 Shvat
-Rav Dovid Halevi Segal, author of Turei Zahav (the Taz) (1586-1667), son-in-law of the Bach. Born in Cracow. Unofficial Rabbi of Posen 1619-~1640. Headed famous yeshiva at Ostro from 1643, escaped Cossacks 1648-49 to Lublin, then Moravia. Settled in Lemberg (Lvov). Lost 2 sons to violent deaths in Spring of 1664. Sent his son Yeshaya and son-in-law Aryeh Leib (later to be the Shaagas Aryeh) to investigate Shabsai Tzvi. He also wrote Divrei Dovid on Rashi al HaTorah.

Yahrtzeits – 24 Shevat
Rav Shaul Halevi Mortorah, Av Beis Din of Amsterdam, author of Givat Shaul (1660)
Rav Avraham Yechiel of Halberstadt, author of Nezer Hakodesh (1730)
Rav Shlomo Margulies, Rav of Zelitschek, a close talmid of the Baal Shem Tov (1733-1805).
Rav Shabtai Shaltiel, Rav in Yerushalayim (1846).
Today in History – 24 Shvat

Birth and petirah of Asher ben Yaakov Avinu (1565 BCE)
Rav Avraham Abba Freedman (1920-2002). He was sent from Brooklyn to Detroit in 1944 by his rebbe, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz in order to help launch the day school that had been established there by Rav Simcha Wasserman. On his first Shavuos there, the only two people to stay up learning Torah were Rabbis Freedman and Wasserman. Rav Freedman is credited with the growth of Detroit into a Torah metropolis, including a yeshiva ketana, a mesivta, a Bais Yaakov, a beis medrash, and a kollel.
Rav Yosef of Yampoli (1812). Son of Rav Yechiel Michael HaMaggid of Zlotskov.

Yahrtzeits – 17 Shevat

Rav Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, the Sdei Chemed (1832-1904). Rav Chaim was born in Yerushalayim and was married at 18. After his father was niftar two years later, Rav Chaim’s cousins in Constantinople offered to support his learning if he moved there. After 13 years in Turkey, he took a position of Rav in the small city of Karasubazar in Crimea. He served there for 33 years, fighting the forces of the Kariites, before moving back to Yerushalayim. He lived there for 2 years, then moved to Chevron, where he was appointed Rav of the city in 1880.

Rav Naftali Yitzchak Segal, author of Naftali Seva Ratzon (1555)
Rav Yitzchak Avraham Wallerstein of Minsk, brother of the Shaagas Aryeh (1775)
Rav Shimshon Halevi Heller of Zhbarizh (1839)
Rav Eliyahu Rogler, Rav of Slobodka and Kalisch (1849)
Rav Moshe Michel of Biala (1854), born to Rav Eliezer Fishel of Strizhov, a mekubal. After his marriage, Rav Moshe Michel settled in Zamoszh, where he and his wife were supported by her father. After the passing of his father in 1812, he became a chassid of the Chozeh of Lublin, and then Rav Bunim of Peshischa. He eventually became Rav of Biala.
Rav Yehoshua Attiah

Rav Akiva Eiger of Posen (1761-1837). A descendent of the Eshel Avraham, he was born in Eisenstadt. He married the daughter of Reb Itzik Margolies, one of the wealthiest Jews of Lisa. Because of a fire in 1791, his father-in-law lost all of his possessions, and Rav Akiva Eiger was forced into the rabbinate. In 1814, he took the position in Posen, a position he kept for the rest of his life. He was the father-in-law of the Chasam Sofer. He wrote close to 1000 responsa, half of which have been published.

Rav Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, author of Ben Ish Chai, Od Yosef Chai, Rav Pe’alim, Ben Yehoyada, Aderet Eliyahu, and Imrei Bina, and many other works (1832-1904). Both his grandfather, Rav Moshe Chaim, and his father, Rav Eliyahu, served as Rav of Baghdad. Rav Eliyahu and his wife were childless for many years. Finally, 10 years after their marriage, his wife made the long journey from Baghdad to Morocco to request a blessing from the renowned Rav Yaakov Buchatzeira, the Abir Yaakov. The tzaddik blessed her that she would give birth to a child who would one day illuminate the eyes of Jews everywhere. Less than a year later, she gave birth to a boy, who was named Yosef Chaim. As a child, he spent most of his time studying in his father’s large library.