25 Sivan

In 4981/1221, the Jews of Erfurt, Germany, were massacred al kiddush Hashem. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5581/1821, Harav Shmuel of Brod, zt”l, son of the Pnei Yehoshua

5646/1886, Harav Chaim Zisman Sofer, zt”l, mechaber of Machaneh Chaim and Kol Sofer

5704/1944, Harav Naftali Tzvi Schmerler, zt”l, mechaber of Imrei Naftali

5732/1972, Harav Moshe Tzvi Twersky, zt”l, the Tolner Rebbe of Philadelphia

5753/1993, Harav Reuven Fein, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Torah Vodaath and mechaber of Bein Hamishpasayim

5761/2001, Harav Baruch Shimon Schneerson, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Tchebin and mechaber of Birchas Shimon

5636/1876

Harav Dov Berish Landau Of Biala, Zy”a

Harav Dov Berish Landau of Biala was born in 5580/1820. His father was the famous gaon, Harav Avraham, Rav of Chechenov, zt”l. He was named for his grandfather, the well-known Harav Berish Chassid, zt”l, one of the tzaddikim nistarim of his generation.

Rav Dov Berish married the daughter of a well-to-do talmid chacham, Reb Artshe of Biale. His father-in-law supported him for the first few years of his marriage.

Later, he needed to seek a rabbinic position.

Harav Shraga Feivel of Gritza, zy”a, father of Harav Yechiel of Alexander and the founder of the Alexander Chassidic dynasty, made a bris for his son. Harav Yitzchak, Rebbe of Vorka, zy”a, was the sandak. Rav Dov Berish was also present, and conversed with the Vorka Rebbe. Afterwards, he traveled with Rav Yitzchak to Vorka, becoming a very close Chassid of his.

Some people tried to cause a split between the Chechenover Rav and his son, Reb Berish, by claiming that due to his interest in Chassidus, his Torah learning suffered.

Rav Avraham summoned his son home. They began a Torah discussion, talking in deep pilpul for many hours, and Rav Avaham was assured of this son’s stature in Torah.

After the petirah of Harav Yitzchak of Vorka, Rav Dov Berish became a devoted Chassid of his son, Harav Menachem Mendel of Vorka.

Rav Dov Berish would elaborate on Rav Mendel’s deep divrei Torah for the Chassidim.

On 16 Sivan, 5628/1868, Reb Mendel was niftar, and Reb Dov Berish was chosen to fill the void. This was during the lifetime of his father, Rav Avraham Chechenover.

He led the Chassidim for over seven years, a period known as sheva shnos hasova — “the seven years of plenty,” due to the abundance of shefa that he brought down to his Chassidim.

Rav Dov Berish was weak all his life, but disregarded his own body, expounding his divrei Torah at length with mesirus nefesh. He was also known as a baal mofes; many sick people would mention their names to him for a refuah.

Rav Dov Berish was niftar on 25 Sivan, 5636/1876.

His sons were Harav Simcha Bunim of Biale, Harav Yitzchak Yaakov of Melbah, Harav Yekusiel of Wangrob, Harav Aharon Tzvi, Rebbe in Biale, and Harav Elimelech Menachem Mendel, the first Strikover Rebbe, zechusam yagein aleinu.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

June 8

In 1786, in New York City, commercially manufactured ice cream was advertised for the first time.

In 1869, Ives W. McGaffey received a U.S. patent for the suction vacuum cleaner.

In 1872, the penny postcard was authorized by the U.S. Congress.

In 1917, during World War I, Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, arrived in Liverpool, England, en route to France; also, the 1st Expeditionary Division (later the 1st Infantry Division) was organized at Fort Jay in New York.