This Day in History – 29 Sivan/June 16

In 2450/1311 B.C.E., Moshe Rabbeinu sent the meraglim to Eretz Yisrael.

In 5701/1941, within a few days of invading Russian-occupied territory, the Nazis overran Vilna, Kovno, Bialystok and Riga, closing down the famed Slabodka and Telshe yeshivos, among others. The invasion brought about massive pogroms by the local populations in which thousands were killed.

Yahrtzeiten

5666/1906, Harav Moshe Nachum Yerushlamsky, zt”l, Rav of Kielce and mechaber of Minchas Moshe, Birkas Moshe and Be’er Moshe

5684/1924, Dr. Yaakov Yisrael DeHaan, Hy”d, the famous baal teshuvah and askan for Agudas Yisrael before the founding of the state of Israel. He was assassinated by the Zionists for his activities.

5673/1913, Harav Shlomo Danah of Tunis, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Chevras HaTalmud and Mechaber Of Shalmei Todah

Harav Shlomo Danah was born in 5610/1850. His father was Harav David Danah.

Rav Shlomo was a talmid of Harav Avraham Hakohen Yitzchaki, the Mishmeres Kehunah, and of Harav Moshe Berabi, both of whom served as Rabbanim in Tunis.

It has been said that if not for Rav Shlomo, the Torah might have been forgotten in Tunisia, chas v’shalom. In his time, learning Torah was losing its value to the community and many yeshivos were closed. The fire of kefirah was raging; the intervention of Rav Shlomo and his mesirus nefesh made it possible to withstand those forces.

Rav Shlomo founded Yeshivas Chevras HaTalmud. He taught many talmidim, some of whom went on to become Gedolei Hador.

His talmidim recall the help he offered bachurim with financial difficulties so as to enable them to continue learning Torah unhindered.

Rav Shlomo authored the sefer Shalmei Todah, a compilation of his chiddushim on Shas and Shulchan Aruch.

Rav Shlomo was niftar on 29 Sivan 5673/1913, at the age of 63.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

June 16

In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle in Scotland. She escaped almost a year later but ended up imprisoned again.

In 1858, accepting the Illinois Republican Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate, Abraham Lincoln said the slavery issue had to be resolved, declaring, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

In 1933, the National Industrial Recovery Act became law with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signature. The Act was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was founded as President Roosevelt signed the Banking Act of 1933.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos exchanged the instruments of ratification for the Panama Canal treaties.

In 1999, Thabo Mbeki took the oath as president of South Africa, succeeding Nelson Mandela.