This Day in History – 20 Tammuz/July 3

20 Tammuz

In 5654/1894, many Jews of Vilna were killed during the Polish uprising. Jews of Vilna held a fast day to commemorate this event.

In 5701/1941, the Jews of Telshe (Telsia, Lithuania), including the Roshei Yeshivah, were killed by the Nazis, Hashem yinkom damam.

In 5704/1944, the Nazis destroyed the Kovno ghetto.

Yahrtzeiten

5443/1683, Harav Nassan Nata Hanover, Hy”d, mechaber of Yaven Hametzula.

5583/1823, Harav Yisrael of Rikel, Hy”d.

5714/1954, Harav Avraham Chaim Na’eh, zt”l, mechaber of Ketzos Hashulchan

5739/1979, Harav Hillel Lichtenstein, zt”l, the Krasne Rav

5761/2001, Harav Chaim Shaul Karelitz, zt”l, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Beis Meir and Gaavad of Badatz Sheiris Yisrael

5763/2003, Harav Betzalel Rakow, zt”l, Rav of Gateshead

5697/1937

Harav Moshe Yehudah Leib Twersky, Zy”a, Rebbe of Trisk-Chelm, mechaber of Imrei Mi

Harav Moshe Yehudah Leib Twersky was born in 5633/1873. His father was Harav Menachem Nachum of Trisk, zy”a.

When he became of age, Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib married the daughter of Harav Mordechai Twersky of Koristchov, zy”a. In his zivug sheini, after the passing of his first Rebbetzin, Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib married the daughter of Harav Pinchas of Konstantin, zy”a.

Following the petirah of his father, Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib was appointed Rebbe in Bohislov. Like many other Rebbes of the Chernobyl dynasty, Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib also moved to Poland, settling in Chelm, where he replaced his relative Harav Mordechai of Kuzmir, zy”a, who was niftar childless.

Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib was renowned for his tefillos, known for their fiery hislahavus.

Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib was niftar on 20 Tammuz 5697/1937, in Kielce. He was 64. He was buried near Harav Mordechai of Kuzmir.

The sefer Imrei Mi, a collection of divrei Torah of Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib, was published after his petirah.

His son, Harav Menachem Nachum, Hy”d, succeeded him as Rebbe.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

July 3

In 1863, the three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops failed to breach Union positions during an assault known as Pickett’s Charge.

In 1944, during World War II, Soviet forces recaptured Minsk from the Germans.

In 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle signed an agreement recognizing Algeria as an independent state after 132 years of French rule.

In 1976, Israel launched its daring mission to rescue 106 passengers and Air France crew members being held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda by pro-Palestinian terrorist hijackers; the commandos succeeded in rescuing all but four of the hostages.