This Day in History – 24 Sivan/June 11

Yahrtzeiten

5586/1826, Harav Shmuel Margulies of Stanov, zt”l

5642/1882, Harav Yaakov Yitzchak of Blendov, zt”l

5687/1927, Harav Massoud Hakohen Alchadad, zt”l, mechaber of Koach Maasov and Birkas Kohen

5682/1922, Harav Yisrael Chaim Friedman of Rakov, the Likutei Maharich, zt”l

Reb Yisrael Chaim was born in 5612/1852. He was the son of Harav Yehudah Friedman and became the son-in-law of Harav Menachem Zev Weissberger, Rav of Turkani.

Reb Yisrael Chaim was a very close talmid of the Yetev Lev, Harav Yekusiel Yehudah of Sighet, zt”l, and under his guidance he learned Torah and Chassidus.

Reb Yisrael Chaim served as Rav in Rakov and was a well-known figure in pre-war Europe, especially after the emergence of his treasured sefer, Likutei Maharich. He was known for his tzidkus and Chassidus, as well as his erudition in all parts of Torah.

His sefer, Likutei Maharich, is based on the daily routine — hanhagos ha’adam and seder ha’tefillah. He cites sources for various minhagim bederech hachassidus and relates many things he saw and heard from his Rebbes, especially the Yetev Lev.

He was niftar at the age of 70 on 24 Sivan 5682/1922. The sefer Likutei Maharich was reprinted by Feldheim Publishers in 5763/2003, with new material from kisvei yad.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

June 11

In 1770, Captain James Cook, commander of the British ship Endeavour, discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia by running onto it.

In 1942, the United States and the Soviet Union signed a lend-lease agreement to aid the Soviet war effort in World War II.

In 1959, the Saunders-Roe Nautical 1, the first operational hovercraft, was publicly demonstrated off the southern coast of England.

In 1962, three prisoners at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay staged an escape, leaving the island on a makeshift raft; they were never found or heard from again.

In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that people who commit “hate crimes” motivated by bigotry may be sentenced to extra punishment; the court also ruled religious groups had a constitutional right to sacrifice animals in worship services.