This Day In History 13 Sivan/June 7

In 5001/1241, the first pogrom in Frankfurt-am-Main took place when an incited mob destroyed the Jewish quarter and massacred most of its Jews who died al kiddush Hashem. Hy”d.

In 5289/1529, 30 Jews of Posing, Hungary, were charged in a blood libel and burned al kiddush Hashem. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5438/1678, Harav Ephraim Hakohen Katz of Vilna, zt”l, mechaber of Shaar Ephraim

5672/1912, Harav Shraga Yair Rabinowitz of Biala-Varzig, zt”l, son of Harav Nosson Dovid of Shidlovtza and mechaber of Aron Edus

5704/1944, Harav Yitzchak Eizik of Spinka, the Chakal Yitzchak, Hy”d

5743/1983, Harav Yaakov Mutzafi, zt”l

5749/1989, Harav Rafael Yonah Tikotinsky, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Yerucham

5701/1941, Harav Yaakov Meir Biderman, Zt”l, Rav of Warsaw and son-in-law of the Sfas Emes, Zy”a

Harav Yaakov Meir Biderman was born on Rosh Hashanah 5630/1869. His father was Harav Nosson Shlomo Betzalel, Rav of Loivitch. The family descended from many Gedolim, including the Shach and the Pnei Yehoshua.

Reb Yaakov Meir was chosen by the Sfas Emes to be the chassan of his oldest daughter. The Sfas Emes remarked that usually for a shidduch, people are particular about the quality of the bachur, the quality of his family, and money. “This chassan has the first two; just money he doesn’t have, and on money one can be mevater.”

He settled in Gur, near his exalted father-in-law. The Sfas Emes held him in high esteem, even quoting him several times in Sfas Emes on Shas.

During World War I, Reb Yaakov Meir moved to Warsaw and remained there after the war ended. In Warsaw, Reb Yaakov Meir arranged the Sfas Emes al HaShas for publication, adding his own notes.

After the petirah of his father, the kehillah of Loivitch asked him to take over as Rav, but he refused. Only in 5695/1935, at the age of 65, was he willing to take a position as Rav in Warsaw.

On 13 Sivan 5701/1941, at age 71, Reb Yaakov Meir was niftar in Warsaw and buried there. His sons Rav Yitzchak Dovid and Rav Yehudah Aryeh were appointed Rabbanim in Warsaw after his petirah.

His other son was Harav Avraham Mordechai.

Reb Yaakov Meir’s daughter, Rebbetzin Feiga Mintcha, married her uncle the Imrei Emes as his zivug sheini. Their son was the Pnei Menachem. Of his descendants, only this daughter and her son the Pnei Menachem survived the war.

His other daughters were Chayah Sarah, the first Rebbetzin of the Beis Yisrael; Mindel, the first wife of Harav Pinchas Yaakov Levin; Hadassah Brachah, the wife of Harav Yehudah Rottenberg; and another daughter.

Reb Yaakov Meir’s Rebbetzin, Esther, was killed al kiddush Hashem on Rosh Hashanah 5703/1942, with many other members of the family. Hashem yinkom damam.

Many of Reb Yaakov Meir’s chiddushim were published under the name Maor Yaakov by his grandson, the Pnei Menachem.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

June 7

In 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed to the Continental Congress a resolution stating “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.”

In 1942, the World War II Battle of Midway ended in a decisive victory for American forces over the Japanese.

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo exploded, generating an ash column 4.3 miles high.

In 1995, the long-range Boeing 777 entered service with United Airlines.