c 1188 BCE- Today is a Taanit Tzadikim commemorating the war that Bnei Yisrael waged against Shevet (Tribe) Binyamin, after the incident of Pilegesh Begiva (Shoftim ch. 19-21). Forty thousand men of Shevet Binyamin were killed in that Civil War. According to some, today also commemorates the infamous 'pesel Michah' as described in Shoftim 17-18.

 

1253- Henry III of England ordered that Jewish worship in Synagogues must be held quietly so that Christians should not hear their prayers when passing by. He also ordered that Jews may not employ Christian nurses or maids, nor may any Jew prevent another Jew from converting to Christianity.

 

Feb. 9, 1267- The Jews of Silesia (once an independent country, divided after WWI between Poland, Germany and Austria) were ordered to wear a special cap in all public appearances, to identify them as Jews.

 

Jan. 14, 1338- The Ralbag (Rabbi Levi ben Gershon) celebrated the completion of his commentary on the Chumash.

 

Feb. 5, 1918- The Jewish Legion left England to join the Allies in liberating Palestine from the Turks. Four years earlier, Zev Jabotinsky had proposed that a Jewish legion be formed, but the British resisted the idea of Jewish volunteers fighting on the Palestinian front; this led instead to the establishment of the Zion Mule Corps.

Meanwhile, Jabotinsky pursued his project of a Jewish Legion, which was eventually designated as the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. It included British volunteers, members of the former Zion Mule Corps, a large number of Russian Jews, and later joined by a large number of American volunteers. A few years later, the Jewish Legion was demobilized by the anti-Zionist British Military Administration. Yet it would be remembered as the first organized Jewish fighting force since Roman times, and a precursor to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

 

Feb. 20, 1941- The Nazis began their liquidation of the Ghetto of Plock, Poland.

 

Feb. 20, 1941- Polish Jews were barred by the Nazis from using public transportation.

 

Feb. 20, 1941- First Nazi transport of Polish Jews to concentration camps left Plotsk, Poland.

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Shishi, 19 Adar II, 5784

Friday, March 29, 2024

 

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