This Day, May 16, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 16 In History0942(21stof Iyar, 4702): Saadia Gaon passed away. Born in 882, Saadia Gaon was the head of the Talmudic Academy of Sura (Babylonia). He was a recognized authority on the Talmud, and a...
View ArticleThis Day, May 17, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 17 In History 142 BCE: “Simon the Hasmonean captured the citadel of Jerusalem and expelled its Syrian garrison ad the Hellenized Jews” who had fought with them. Simon was the last surviving...
View ArticleThis Day, May 18, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 18 In History323BCE: Alexander dies at the age of 32. Despite the legend, there is no proof that Alexander ever came to Jerusalem. He did pass through Judea on his way to conquer Egyptand on his...
View ArticleThis Day, May 19, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 19 In History363: For a second day in a row, a series of earthquakes that took place along a fault-line stretching from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba shook the region around the Galilee....
View ArticleThis Day, May 20, In Jewish History by MItchell A. Levin
May 20 In History68(3rd of Sivan, 3828): During the Great Revolt, Vespasian captured Jericho and slaughtered the Jewish inhabitants.325: The First Council of Nicaea, convoked by Emperor Constantine,...
View ArticleThis Day, May 21, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 21 In History 383: As the emperor struggles to make Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire he promulgates a law that denies anybody who converts from Christianity to another religion...
View ArticleThis Day, May 22, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 22 In History124 BCE : Simon the Hasmonean, drove the “Greeks” – the Syrians and their Hellenized Jewish allies – out of the citadel which was their last stronghold in Jerusalem. While Jews...
View ArticleThis Day, May 23, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 23 In History1052: Birthdate of Philip I, King of France who passed away in 1108. Philip’s life overlapped that of Rashi (1040-1105). In his day, Philip certainly was more powerful than the wine...
View ArticleThis Day, May 24, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 24 In History1218: The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. The driving forces behind the crusade were two Popes who broke new ground in the mistreatment of the Jews – Innocent III and his...
View ArticleThis Day, May 25, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 25 In History1085: Pope Gregory VI passed away. Gregory opposed Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor who saw himself as a protector of the Jews. Henry contended that the Jews, regardless of where...
View ArticleThis Day, May 26, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 26 In History1096(1st of Sivan): The Crusaders massacred the Jews of Neuss, Germany1135: Alfonso VII of León and Castile was crowned in the Cathedral of Leon as Imperator totius Hispaniae,...
View ArticleThis Day, May 27, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 27 In History1096 (3rd of Sivan): Count Emicho and the Crusaders entered Mayence, Germany. The Jews took refuge in the Episcopal Palace and committed mass suicide rather than convert. One Jew by...
View ArticleThis Day, May 28, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 28 In History408: Emperor Theodosius issued a decree restricting Jewish activities related to Purim. Specifically he banned the burning of Haman’s effigy because early Christians felt the Jews...
View ArticleThis Day, May 29, in Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 29 In History363: A good day for the Romans and bad day for the Jews. Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Sassanid capital, but is...
View ArticleThis Day, May 30, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 30 In History70: During the Siege of Jerusalem, Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation,...
View ArticleThis Day, May 31, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
May 31 In History1279 BCE: Ramses II (The Great) (19th dynasty) becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. If you accept the contention that Moses lived from 1391–1271 BCE, Ramses would be the Pharaoh who came...
View ArticleThis Day, June 1, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
June 1 In History987: Hugh Capet was elected King of France making him the first of the Capetians. During this period, power lay with the nobles and the leaders of the Church. Among other things this...
View ArticleThis Day, June 2, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
June 2 In History876 BCE (28 Iyar 2884): This is the traditional date of death of Samuel, prophet and priest (born 2832). 455: The Vandals entered Rome and plundered the city. Among the treasures...
View ArticleThis Day, June 3, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
June 3 In History350: Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators. The Constantinian Dynasty took its...
View ArticleThis Day, June 4, In Jewish History by Mitchell A. Levin
JUNE 4 In History 1039 Conrad II passed away. Born in 990, he served Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death. His reign was part of positive period for the Jews of the Rhineland. The first...
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