May 28

Born in Lisbon in 1663, António Manoel de Vilhena was elected Grand Master of the Order of Saint John in 1722. He oversaw major fortification projects in Malta, including the construction of Fort Manoel and improvements to Valletta. Vilhena was a patron of the arts and sciences, commissioning hospitals, churches, and public works. Under his leadership, Malta enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean. He reformed the order's internal administration, strengthening governance and discipline among the knights. His name endures in Maltese landmarks and the cultural legacy he left on the islands.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1763, Manuel Alberti was ordained as a priest and became an influential preacher. He also edited and contributed to the Gazeta de Buenos Aires, engaging readers in revolutionary ideas. Alberti joined the Primera Junta in 1810, Argentina's first independent governing body. He advocated for education reform, social welfare, and the ethical grounding of the new government. His religious background infused his political work with moral and humanitarian principles. Manuel Alberti's role in Argentina's independence movement makes him a key figure in national history.

Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera was a pioneering Buddhist monk in 19th-century Sri Lanka. He established the Vidyalankara Pirivena in 1875, which became a leading center for Buddhist education. His scholarship in Pali and Buddhist philosophy revived monastic studies and produced generations of learned monks. Dharmaloka promoted the printing of religious texts, making Buddhist teachings more accessible to lay followers. His reforms strengthened the modern Buddhist revival movement and influenced Sri Lanka's religious identity.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Riskin founded Manhattan’s Lincoln Square Synagogue in 1964 and later became Chief Rabbi of Efrat in Israel. He established the Ohr Torah Stone network of educational institutions and has authored numerous works on Jewish law and philosophy. A leading voice in Modern Orthodoxy, he promotes religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue worldwide. Riskin’s teachings and lectures have influenced communities across North America and Israel. He continues to serve as a thought leader in Jewish education and communal life.