The sixth of Sivan is the yahrzeit of R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, founder and first leader of the general chassidic movement from the year 5494 (תצ"ד; 1734) until his passing on Wednesday, the first day of Shavuos,1 5520 (תק"כ; 1760). His resting place is in Mezhibuzh.
In allusion to the day of his passing, the Alter Rebbe once quoted a phrase from Rashi in a figurative sense: “On the fourth day of the week the luminaries were taken away.”2
“According to the law the burial would have taken place on the second day of Shavuos, though I have not yet encountered any record of what in fact took place. Asked about this, the Rebbe Rashab once commented that ‘this point had been discussed in Lubavitch long ago.’ ” (From a talk and note of the Rebbe Shlita in Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IV, p. 1031; see there at length.)
[The background to this allusion (cf. Rashi on Bereishis 1:14 and on Tractate Taanis 27b) is explained in the English translation of Likkutei Dibburim, Vol. I, pp. 74-75 and 98-99.]
