This Day in History – 24 Sivan/June 27

24 Sivan

Yahrtzeiten

5586/1826, Harav Shmuel Margules of Stanov, zt”l

5682/1922, Harav Yisrael Chaim Friedman, Rav of Rachov, the Likutei Maharich, zt”l

5687/1927, Harav Massoud HaKohen Alchadad, zt”l, mechaber of Koach Masov and Birchas Kohen

5642/1882

Harav Yaakov Yitzchak Shapira, Rebbe of Blendov, Zy”a, the Emes L’Yaakov

Harav Yaakov Yitzchak Shapira was the son of Harav Chaim Meir Yechiel of Magalnitze, zy”a, and grandson of the Kozhnitzer Maggid, zy”a. His father named him after the Yehudi Hakadosh of Peshischa, zy”a.

He was a talmid of his father, who was the son-in-law of Harav Elazar, the son of the Rebbe Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk, zy”a. This combination of the courts and ways of Kozhnitz and Lizhensk formed Rav Yaakov Yitzchak into a rich personality, known for his tzidkus and Chassidus.

Rav Yaakov Yitzchak was the son-in-law of Harav Aryeh Leibish Neuhaus, zy”a, Rav of Chelem and Tomashov.

After the petirah of his father, in 5609/1849, Rav Yaakov Yitzchak was appointed Rebbe in Blendov. Thousands flocked to his court.

Rav Yaakov Yitzchak disseminated the words and teaching of Chassidus to the multitudes who flocked to hear his pearls of wisdom. He was known for his emotional tefillos.

Rav Yaakov Yitzchak was niftar on 24 Sivan 5642/1882.

All his sons were named Rebbes after his petirah: Harav Yosef Menachem was Rebbe in Blendov; Harav Avi Ezra Zelig Elazar was Rebbe of Kozhnitz; Harav Yeshayahu was Rebbe of Gritza-Lodz; Harav Shalom of Pshitick; and Harav Moshe of Biale-Gawarlin, zechusam yagein aleinu.

Rav Yaakov Yitzchak’s divrei Torah were collected and printed under the name Emes L’Yaakov.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

June 27

In 1846, New York and Boston were linked by telegraph wires.

In 1880, author-lecturer Helen Keller, who lived most of her life without sight or hearing, was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

In 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World was founded in Chicago.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon opened an official visit to the Soviet Union.

In 1990, NASA announced that a flaw in the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope was preventing the instrument from achieving optimum focus. (The problem was traced to a mirror that had not been ground to exact specifications; corrective optics were later installed to fix the problem.)