This Day in History – 7 Tammuz/June 24

In 4856/1096, many Jews were massacred by the Crusaders in the city of Cologne.

In 5130/1370, 130 Jews were killed al kiddush Hashem in the city of Willitza.

In 5701/1941, hundreds of Jews in Yurburg, Lithuania, were executed by the Nazis.

Yahrtzeiten

5588/1828, Harav Baruch Teumim-Frankel, author of Baruch Taam

5739/1979, Harav Gedaliah  Schorr, Rosh Yeshivah Torah Vodaath and Beis Medrash Elyon, author of Ohr Gedalyahu

5743/1983, Harav Yechiel Chaim Labin of Makov-Yerushalayim

5752/1992, Harav Simchah Bunim Alter, the Gerrer Rebbe, zy”a (the Lev Simchah)

Harav Simchah Bunim was born in Gur, a suburb of Warsaw, Poland, on 23 Nisan 5658/1898. His father was Harav Avraham Mordechai, the Imrei Emes, the oldest son of the Sfas Emes who, in turn, was a grandson of the Chiddushei Harim.

He was named after the Rebbe Reb Bunim of Peshischa. The Imrei Emes said that he wanted a “Rebbe Reb Bunim” in his home; indeed, the cleverness and kedushah of Rav Simchah Bunim was apparent from his youth.

He married his cousin, the daughter of his father’s brother Harav Nechemiah Alter. His chasunah took place during World War I. Rav Simchah Bunim revered his father-in-law and attested that he attained a very high level of dveikus. Rav Nechemiah, zt”l, was niftar during the Holocaust years.

The Lev Simchah possessed a deep ahavas Eretz Yisrael, and visited there in 5687/1927. In 5694/1934, he moved to Eretz Yisrael permanently. However, the outbreak of World War II found the Lev Simchah trapped in Poland, where he had returned to visit his father. With great nissim, he was able to flee together with his father, his brother (the Beis Yisrael) and a few family members to Eretz Yisrael.

After the petirah of his father, the Imrei Emes, his brother, the Beis Yisrael, succeeded to the leadership of Gerrer Chassidus, which he rebuilt and expanded. The Lev Simchah stood beside his holy brother, and with great humility assisted him in his work.

The Rebbe was niftar on 7 Tammuz 5752/1992.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

June 24

In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king of England; his wife, Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen consort.

In 1939, the Southeast Asian country Siam changed its name to Thailand. (It went back to being Siam in 1945, then became Thailand once again in 1949.)

In 1940, France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.

In 1948, communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the western allies to organize the Berlin Airlift.