This Day in History – 18 Sivan/June 5

Yahrtzeiten

5411/1651, Harav Avraham Hakohen Rappaport, zt”l, mechaber of Eisan Ha’ezrachi

5696/1936, Harav Yerucham Levovitz, zt”l, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir

5704/1944, Harav Yaakov Elimelech and Harav Chaim Menachem Mendel Paneth of Dezh, Hy”d; Harav Moshe Mordechai Shteger, zt”l, mechaber of Meged Shamayim

5713/1953, Harav Avraham Yosef Pesachovitz, zt”l, mechaber of Be’er Mayim

5723/1963, Harav Aharon Cohen, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Chevron

5732/1972, Harav Moshe Leib Shapiro, zt”l, mechaber of Taba’os Hachoshen

5603/1843, Harav Yissachar Dov, the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz, zt”l

Yissachar Dov Ber of Radoshitz (Radoszyce) was born in 5525/1765. His father, Harav Yitzchak, served as a meshamesh to the Maggid of Mezeritch, and it was the Maggid who made Reb Yitzchak’s shidduch with the sister of Harav Zundel, Rav of Radoshitz. The Maggid promised them a son who would enlighten the entire world.

At a very young age Yissachar Dov was already known for his prishus and sensitivity to kedushah; at only seven years of age, he would immerse in the mikveh every morning. He did so even in the winter when it was necessary to break through the ice of the frozen river and then immerse in freezing water.

After his marriage, Rav Yissachar Dov settled in Chanshin and served as Rav. Because of the poverty of the community, Reb Yisachar Dov could not support himself there and was forced to try his hand at peddling. However, the attempt caused him anxiety because he was forced to take away too much time from learning, so he moved on to Chimiyalnick. He was no better off there, however, so he moved on to Radoshitz, where his uncle, Harav Zundel, who had served as Rav, had just been niftar, making the post available.

Rav Yissachar Dov traveled to many leading Rebbes, visiting their courts regularly. These trips were undertaken with mesirus nefesh, leaving his house barren and his shelves empty. Rav Yissachar Dov refused, however, to accept the many offers of support he had received.

His Rav muvhak was the Chozeh of Lublin. He was also a Chassid of Harav Moshe Leib of Sassov, Harav Menachem Mendel of Rimanov and the Kozhnitzer Maggid. He was a close talmid of Harav Yaakov Yitzchak, the Yehudi Hakadosh of Peshischa.

It is said that Rav Yissachar Dov once asked the Chozeh of Lublin, “Show me one general path to avodas Hashem.”

The Chozeh replied, “It is impossible to tell people what path they should take. For one way to avodas Hashem is through learning, another is through tefillah, another through fasting, and still another through eating. Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose this path with all his strength.”

In 5575/1815, after the petirah of his Rebbes the Chozeh and the Yehudi Hakadosh, Rav Yissachar Dov chose to follow Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta.

On Erev Shabbos Parashas Behaalos’cha, 18 Sivan 5603/1843, Reb Yissachar Dov was niftar. He was buried in Radoshitz, where his kever was frequented often, especially on the day of his yahrtzeit, until the War. It was known as a place where one could daven for yeshuos.

Many of Reb Yisachar Dov’s divrei Torah are found in the sefarim Niflaos HaSaba Kadisha and Dibros Chaim.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

June 5

In 1794, Congress passed the Neutrality Act, which prohibited Americans from taking part in any military action against a country that was at peace with the United States.

In 1884, Civil War hero Gen. William T. Sherman refused the Republican presidential nomination, saying, “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected.”

In 1940, during the World War II Battle of France, Germany attacked French forces along the Somme line.

In 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall gave a speech at Harvard University in which he outlined an aid program for Europe that came to be known as The Marshall Plan.

In 1975, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to international shipping, eight years after it was closed because of the 1967 war with Israel.