This Day in History – 8 Sivan/May 26

In 5594/1834, Druze mobs attacked the city of Tzfas, killing many Jews, Hy”d. They also burned down a number of shuls and destroyed sifrei Torah.

In 5700/1940, the German army conquered Paris.

Yahrtzeiten

5612/1852, Harav Yehoshua Heshel Efrati of Cholyov, zt”l

5647/1887, Harav Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov, zt”l, mechaber of Sha’alu Shlom Yerushalayim

5713/1953, Harav Shmuel Yitzchok Helman, zt”l, mechaber of Ohr Hayashar on Tanach

5748/1988, Harav Yissochor Dov Goldstein, zt”l, mechaber of Likutei He’aros on the Teshuvos Chasam Sofer

5750/1990, Harav Menachem Manish Safrin, zt”l, the Komarna Rebbe of Bnei Brak

Harav Menachem Manish Safrin was born in Ungvar on 3 Nisan 5678/1918. His father was Harav Chaim Yaakov of Komarna.

As a bachur, Reb Menachem Manish learned under Harav Yehoshua Greenwald in Chust and under Harav Shlomo Zalman Friedman in Rackov.

Reb Menachem Manish was taken as chassan by Rav Shalom Wagschal, and in his zivug sheini he was the son-in-law of Rav Yehoshua Ehrenreich.

In 5699/1939, Reb Menachem Manish learned under Harav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, Rav of Yerushalayim.

Following the petirah of his father, the Komarna Rebbe, in Yerushalayim on 5 Sivan (Erev Shavuos) 5729/1969, Reb Menachem Manish became Komarna Rebbe, building his beis medrash and mosdos in Bnei Brak.

Reb Menachem Manish compiled the Siddur Heichal Habrachah from the works of the previous Komarna Rebbes.

He was niftar on 8 Sivan, Erev Shabbos Parashas Naso, 5750/1990, in Bnei Brak, at the age of 72 and buried on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.

He was succeeded as Rebbe by his two sons: Harav Yitzchak Shloime of Yerushalayim and Harav Eliezer Tzvi of Bnei Brak.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

May 26

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges.

In 1938, the House Un-American Activities Committee was established by Congress.

In 1940, Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of some 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, began during World War II.

In 1942, the Tule Lake Segregation Center for Japanese-American wartime internees opened in northern California.

In 1960, U.N. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge accused the Soviets of hiding a microphone inside a wood carving of the Great Seal of the United States that had been presented to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

In 1969, the Apollo 10 astronauts returned to Earth after a successful eight-day dress rehearsal for the first manned moon landing.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in Moscow. The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2002.