JANUARY 17/TEVET 17

5565 (1804):

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaacov Kranz, the Maggid (preacher) of Dubno, known as the “Jewish Aesop” because of his brilliant composition and use of homiletics.

“Once I was walking in the forest, and saw tree after tree with a target drawn on it, and at the center of each target an arrow. I then came upon a little boy with a bow in his hand. "Are you the one who shot all these arrows?", I asked. "Yes!" he replied. "Then how did you always hit the center of the target?" I asked. "Simple," said the boy: "First I shoot the arrow, then I draw the target."

1863:

Birthday of Konstantin Stanislavski, a Russian theater actor and director whose principal fame and influence came about through his "System" of actor training, preparation, and rehearsal technique.

Viktor Deni