This Day in History – 12 Sivan/May 21

12 Sivan

In 5682/1922, Agudath Israel was established in Katowice, Poland.

In 5751/1991, the Israeli army launched an operation to evacuate Jews stranded in Ethiopia. Within 33 hours, 15,000 people were rescued and brought to Israel.

Yahrtzeiten

5384/1624, Harav Yitzchak Hakohen of Prague, zt”l, son-in-law of the Maharal of Prague

5525/1765, Harav Menachem Mendel of Bar, zt”l, a talmid of the Besht

5665/1905, Harav Chaim Yisrael of Pilov, zt”l, son of Harav Dovid of Kotzk

5741/1981, Harav Avraham Weinberg of Slonim, the Birkas Avraham, zt”l

5552/1792

Harav Dovid Pardo of Sarajevo, zt”l

Harav Dovid Chaim ben Harav Yaakov Pardo was born on Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5478/1718, in Venice, Italy.

When Reb Dovid was just a young boy, his parents passed away. Harav Moshe Ashkenazi, a wealthy but childless relative, took him and his sister Rachel into his home and cared for them as if they were his own children. He made sure that they received a sound chinuch; Reb Dovid writes that it was thanks to Harav Moshe that he achieved what he did in Torah.

Reb Dovid learned under Harav Shlomo Zalman of Lvov and Harav Yaakov Belilius and became known as a budding talmid chacham.

He traveled to Ispaltro (a famous community at that time), near Delmatzia. The Rav of Ispaltro was Harav Avraham Dovid Papo, under whom Reb Dovid grew in Torah. Following the petirah of Harav Avraham Dovid, all eyes turned to Harav Dovid to assume the post of Rav.

After initially refusing the prestigious offer, he later accepted it, and despite his young age, he was seen as a true leader and posek for the city.

Harav Dovid also founded a yeshivah in the city, which attracted many of the foremost bachurim.

In 5511/1751, Harav Dovid returned to Venice, where he published Shoshanim L’Dovid, his two-volume work on Mishnayos.

Harav Dovid was appointed Rav of Sarajevo in 5528/1768. This appointment was approved by Harav Refael Eliezer Nachmias, Chief Rabbi of Saloniki.

In 5542/1782, at the age of 64, Harav Dovid moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Yerushalayim, where he served as Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Chessed L’Avraham.

Harav Dovid was niftar on 12 Sivan 5552/1792, at the age of 74.

He was survived by three sons — Harav Yaakov, Harav Yitzchak, who replaced his father as Rav of Sarajevo, and Harav Avraham, who was the son-in-law of the Chidah. Harav Dovid’s son-in-law was Harav Avraham Pinso of Sarajevo.

Besides the aforementioned Shoshanim L’Dovid, Harav Dovid also wrote and published Chasdei Dovid on the Tosefta, Maskil L’Dovid on Rashi, She’eilos U’teshuvos Michtam L’Dovid, and other sefarim.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

In 1471, King Henry VI of England died in the Tower of London at age 49.

In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River.

In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 33½ hours.

In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.

In 1941, a German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.

In 1956, the United States exploded the first airborne hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1982, during the Falklands War, British amphibious forces landed on the beach at San Carlos Bay.

In 1998, in the wake of deadly protests, Indonesia’s President Suharto stepped down after 32 years in power.