This Day in History – 3 Sivan/June 6

3 Sivan

In 2449, Moshe Rabbeinu conveyed Bnei Yisrael’s affirmative reply to Hashem, as they prepared themselves for Mattan Torah.

In 4446, Vespasian Caesar, father of Titus, captured Yericho and killed its inhabitants.

In 4856/1096, Crusaders massacred the Jews of Magentze (Mayence, Germany) today and again on 6 Sivan.

In 4925/1165, the Rambam reached Eretz Yisrael safely after a turbulent journey. He designated this day as a personal Yom Tov.

In 5550/1790, anti-Jewish riots erupted in Warsaw, Poland.

Yahrtzeiten

5490/1730, Harav Yosef Irgas of Livorno, Italy, author of Divrei Yosef and Shomer Emunim (according to some, his yahrtzeit is 20 Sivan).

5561/1801, Harav Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetovka, zt”l.


5704/1944

Harav Yisrael Tzvi Rottenberg, Rebbe of Kosson, the Ohr Moleh, Hy”d

Harav Yisrael Tzvi was born on Sukkos 5650/1890 to Harav Yosef (Yehosef) of Kosson, zy”a, author of B’nei Shileishim, who was the founder of the Kosson dynasty. Rav Yosef settled in Kosson (Kossyny, Ukraine, on the Southern border with Hungary, south of the Carpathian Mountains) in 5657/1897. There he served as Rav and Rebbe and enhanced Yiddishkeit to a great degree. He had five sons: Harav Chaim Shlomo of Kosson; Harav Moshe Shmuel of Kleinvardein; Harav Yisrael Tzvi of Kosson; Harav Meir Shalom; and Harav Yom Tov Menachem of Nafkur-Kaliv, zechusam yagein aleinu.

Rav Yisrael Tzvi married the daughter of his oldest brother, Harav Chaim Shlomo. After her untimely petirah, he married her younger sister. (He would later marry the daughter of Harav Shalom Eliezer Halberstam, zy”a, Rebbe of Ratzfert, of the Sanzer dynasty.)

After the petirah of his brother Harav Chaim Shlomo in 5680/1920, Rav Yisrael Tzvi was called upon to succeed him. The Rebbe established a thriving yeshivah in which over 100 bachurim studied and refined themselves to higher spiritual levels under his fatherly guidance.

During WWII, when thousands of Polish Jews fled to Hungary and other areas, Rav Yisrael Tzvi sheltered over 40 refugees in his own home. When the Nazis invaded that area, he and all of his children and grandchildren were transported to Auschwitz, where they were killed al kiddush Hashem, Hy”d. His brother, Harav Yom Tov Menachem, had been killed a few days earlier, Hy”d. Only his son-in-law, Harav Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum of Nirbater, zt”l, survived the war.

Rav Yisrael Tzvi’s Torah thoughts were published as Ohr Moleh (New York: 5718/1958). The current Kossoner dynasty is descended from Harav Chaim Shlomo, whose son, Harav Moshe Shmuel, moved to New York before the war. He later ascended to Eretz Yisrael (5721/1961). His sons, Harav Pinchas Shalom of Brooklyn, zt”l, and, ybl”c, Harav Asher, shlita, of Bnei Brak, continued the distinguished Kossoner legacy, which continues to thrive

Zechuso yagen aleinu.


June 6

Troop landings at Omaha Beach, June 1944

In 1816, a snowstorm struck the northeastern U.S., heralding what would become known as the “Year Without a Summer.”

In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corp.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on “D-Day” as they began the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.

In 1966, black activist James Meredith was shot and wounded as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration.

In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, 25 1/2 hours after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as the remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi “Angel of Death.”

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