This Day In History – 29 Sivan/June 12

29 Sivan

In 2450, Moshe Rabbeinu sent the meraglim to Eretz Yisrael

In 5701/1941, within a few days of their effort to invade Russian occupied territory, the Nazis overran Vilna, Kovno, Bialystock and Riga, closing down the famed Slobodka and Telshe yeshivos, among others. The invasion brought about massive pogroms by the local populations in which thousands were killed.

Yahrtzeiten

5666/1906, Harav Moshe Nachum Yerushlamsky, zt”l, Rav of Kielce and mechaber of Minchas Moshe, Birchas Moshe, and Be’er Moshe

5684/1924, Dr. Yaakov Yisrael DeHaan, Hy”d, the famous baal teshuvah and askan for Agudas Yisrael before the founding of the state of Israel. He was assassinated by the Zionists for his activities.

5673/1913

Harav Shlomo Danah of Tunis, Zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Chevras HaTalmud and author of Shalmei Todah

Harav Shlomo Danah was born in 5610/1850. His father was Harav David Danah.

Rav Shlomo was the talmid of Harav Avraham Hakohen Yitzchaki, the Mishmeres Kehunah, and of Harav Moshe Berabi, zecher tzaddikim livrachah, both of whom served as Rabbanim in Tunis.

It has been said that if not for Rav Shlomo, the Torah may have been forgotten in Tunisia, chas v’shalom. In his time, the chashivus of learning Torah was lessened in the community and many yeshivos were closed. The fire of heresy was raging; the intervention of Rav Shlomo and his mesirus nefesh made it possible to withstand those forces.

Rav Shlomo founded Yeshivas Chevras HaTalmud, teaching many talmidim. Among them were some who went on to become Gedolei Hador.

His talmidim recall the help that he offered to any bachur with financial difficulties, to enable him to continue learning Torah unhindered.

Rav Shlomo authored the sefer Shalmei Todah, a compilation of his chiddushim on Shas and Shulchan Aruch.

Rav Shlomo was niftar on 29 Sivan 5673/1913, at the age of sixty-three.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

June 12

In 1665, England installed a municipal government in New York, formerly the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam.

In 1776, Virginia’s colonial legislature became the first to adopt a Bill of Rights.

In 1898, Philippine nationalists declared independence from Spain.

In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was fatally shot in front of his home in Jackson, Miss.; he was 37.

In 1987, President Reagan, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, publicly challenged Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”