This Day in History – 16 Elul/August 27

16 Elul

In 5700/1940, the Nazis issued a decree forbidding non-Jews to work for Jews.

In 5701/1941, the entire Jewish community of Meretsch, Lithuania, was massacred by the Nazis. Hy”d.

In 5705/1945, Jewish immigrants who had previously been exiled to Mauritius by the British as “illegals” were admitted to Eretz Yisrael.

Yahrtzeiten

5472/1712, Harav Avraham Naftali Tzvi, Rav of Vermeiza, zt”l.

5615/1855, Harav Tzvi Dishkis of Opotshna, zt”l.

5761/2001, Harav Avraham Avigdor Nachum Landau, the Strikover Rebbe, zy”a.

5728/1968

Harav Masoud Yonah Edre’i, Zt”l, The Tzaddik of Rosh Pinah

Harav Masoud Yonah Edre’i was born in 5674/1914 in Deganah, Morocco.

As a young bachur, he moved to Marrakesh, where he learned in the local yeshivah and was known for his hasmadah and intense learning.

He received semichah quickly, and served as a Rav, mohel and sofer.

He was actively involved in the dissemination of Torah and was known as a Rav to whom people could pour out their hearts, and who would give both brachos and practical help.

Rav Masoud delved into the works of Kabbalah at a young age, and became known as a po’el yeshuos.

In 5710/1950, Rav Masoud moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he settled in Rosh Pinah. He was highly respected there and across the entire country. He was the mechaber of Sfas Emes, a compilation of chiddushim and remazim on the Torah and Nach, and drashos on a wide array of topics.

Rav Masoud was niftar on 16 Elul 5728/1968 at the age of 54. He was buried on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

August 27

In 1776, the Battle of Long Island began during the Revolutionary War as British troops attacked American forces, who ended up being forced to retreat two days later.

In 1859, Edwin L. Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the United States, at Titusville, Pa.

In 1928, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in Paris, outlawing war and providing for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

In 1989, the first U.S. commercial satellite rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida — a Delta booster carrying a British communications satellite, the Marcopolo 1.