This Day in History – 28 Sivan/June 15

28 Sivan

In 1656/2105 B.C.E., the 40-day rain period during the mabul came to an end, according to Rabi Yehoshua.

In 3448/313 B.C.E., after the victory of Geviha ben Pesisa three days earlier, Ishmaelites, Egyptians and Canaanites retreated and left their fields and properties to the Jews.

In 5701/1941, after escaping Nazi-occupied Paris, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l, arrived in New York.

Yahrtzeiten

5489/1729, Harav Menachem, zt”l, mechaber of Zera Berach

5634/1874, Harav Avraham Chaim Adadi, zt”l, Rav in Tripoli, Libya, and mechaber of Hashomer Emes

5635/1875, Harav Meshulem Feish Levi of Tosh, zt”l

5649/1889, Harav Moshe Yehudah Leib Brisk, zt”l

5751/1991, Harav Yisrael Zeev Gustman, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Netzach Yisrael and mechaber of Kuntres Ha’shiurim

5708/1948, Harav Shimshon Aharon Polansky, zt”l, Rav of Teplik-Yerushalayim

Harav Shimshon Aharon Polansky was born in 5636/1876 in Volin (Volhynia), near Cherkasy, in the Kiev region. His father, Reb Avraham Yitzchak, was a noted talmid chacham. The family stemmed from many Gedolim, including Reb Nachum of Chernobyl and Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and served as Rabbanim in the Volin region for several generations.

Even in his youth Reb Shimshon Aharon was considered a genius. He was a talmid of Harav Avraham Shmuel Blechman, known as Reb Alter Konstantiner, one of the leading poskim in Ukraine, and later became his son-in-law.

At the age of 20, Reb Shimshon Aharon was appointed Rav in Midova, in the Kiev region. Some five years later, he became Rav in Teplik, near Podolia. As Rav of Teplik, Reb Shimshon Aharon grew famous as a posek of note.

He was close with the Rebbes of Skver and Tolna and others in the region.

In 5682/1922, Reb Shimshon Aharon came to Kishinev together with many refugees from Ukraine, following the riots. He helped found a yeshivah there, and was its Rosh Yeshivah for a while.

But his goal was to go to Eretz Yisrael. In 5685/1925 he left with his wife and two daughters.

Reb Shimshon Aharon settled in Yerushalayim’s Beis Yisrael neighborhood. He served as Rav there, and was a posek who taught younger Rabbanim. He was very devoted to helping other Yidden.

Some of his more famous talmidim include Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach; Harav David Yungreis, later Raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis; Harav Chanoch Padwa of London; Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv; Harav Shmuel Wosner; and Harav Ovadiah Yosef, zecher tzaddikim livrachah.

When he was sick with his final illness, Reb Shimshon Aharon told his son-in-law that he had bought a plot on Har Hazeisim. He added that he would be niftar in two months’ time, when it would be impossible to transport him to Har Hazeisim, so they should bury him temporarily in Sanhedria; when there would be an opportunity within the next two years to transfer his kever to Har Hazeisim, it should be done.

Reb Shimshon Aharon was niftar on 28 Sivan 5708/1948, at the height of Israel’s War of Independence. Interred in Sanhedria, he was later re-buried on Har Hazeisim.

His chiddushim were compiled in sefer Divrei Aharon.

Zechuso yagein aleinu.

June 15

In 1215, England’s King John put his seal to Magna Carta (“the Great Charter”) at Runnymede.

In 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army.

In 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state.

In 1864, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton signed an order establishing a military burial ground which became Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act making the National Guard part of the U.S. Army in the event of war or national emergency.

In 1944, American forces began their successful invasion of Saipan during World War II. B-29 Superfortresses carried out their first raids on Japan.

In 1955, the United States and Britain signed a cooperation agreement concerning atomic information for “mutual defense purposes.”