This Day In History 6 Tamuz/July 12

In 4856/1096, Crusaders massacred the Jews of Mehr

In 5552/1792, the Jews of Ostroha were saved during the Russian-Polish war. The kehillah established this day as Purim Ostroha to commemorate the miracle.

In 5701/1941, the city of Lvov (Lemberg), Ukraine, was captured by the Nazis during WWII. At the time, more than 100,000 Jews lived there. Immediately, the local population assisted the Nazis in conducting a pogrom. In a matter of days over 5,000 Jews were killed. Hy”d.

In 5736/1976, 265 Jewish hostages were rescued from Palestinian and Ugandan terrorists at Entebbe

Yahrtzeiten

5516/1756, Harav Yisrael Yaakov Algazi, zt”l

5546/1786, Harav Chaim delaRosa, zt”l, mechaber of Toras Chacham

5700/1940, Harav Aharon Levin, zt”l, Rav of Reisha

5756/1996, Harav Yitzchok Chaim Krisnetzki, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Metzuyanim, Yerushalayim

5685/1925, Harav Moshe Hager of Kossov, zt”l, mechaber of Leket Ani

Harav Moshe Hager was born in 5620/1860 in Kossov. His father was Harav Yaakov Shamshon of Kossov, eldest son of Harav Chaim, the Toras Chaim of Kossov.

Rav Moshe was a talmid of his father.

He married the daughter of Harav Shmuel Ashkenazi, a scion of the Apta dynasty.

After the petirah of his father, on 19 Adar 5640/1880, Reb Moshe was appointed Rav and Rebbe in Kossov.

He was also the head of Kupas Rabi Meir Baal Haness of Galicia, Bukovina, and parts of Hungary.

He was a masmid who never wasted a moment.

He did much kiruv work.

Reb Moshe was beloved by the residents of the city, not only his Chassidim.

Reb Moshe was a wealthy person; he traveled from place to place in a royal coach. He had a regal appearance, and his height (close to seven feet) added to his majestic look.

He was one of the founding Rabbanim of Agudas Yisrael, and a major supporter of the organization.

In 5685/1925, on the way to Berlin to see a doctor, Rav Moshe was niftar on 6 Tammuz at the age of 65. The Polish government sent a special coach to bring back his aron for kevurah in Kossov. Thousands attended the levayah.

His divrei Torah on the Torah and Yamim Tovim were published as Leket Ani.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

July 12

In 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor.

In 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. (It was declared ratified in February 1913.)

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was flown by helicopter from the White House to a secret mountaintop location as part of a drill involving a mock nuclear attack on Washington.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton, visiting Germany, went to the eastern sector of Berlin, the first U.S. president to do so since Harry Truman.