History events
408 — (17rd of Sivan, 4168) 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 were mocking the Crucifixion of Jesus
1349 — (10rd of Sivan, 5109) Sixty Jews were murdered in Breslau, Silesia in riots which followed a disastrous fire which had destroyed part of the city
1912 — (12rd of Sivan, 5672) Agudath Israel was formed as the world organization of Orthodox Jewry at Katowitz. Jacob Rosenheim was its first president
1922 — (1rd of Sivan, 5682) The Bnei Akiva youth movement was founded. The youth branch of the Mizrachi was originally established to train its members in agriculture and crafts. Its goal was the synthesis of Torah and Avodah (Torah and labor). Soon, the movement formed its own kibbutzim within the structure of «Kibbutz Hadati,» the religious kibbutz movement
1938 — (27rd of Iyar, 5698) Foundation for Tel Aviv harbor was `laid
1939 — (10rd of Sivan, 5699) The «Atrato», a ship under the command of the Haganah, is captured by the British navy, after having completed seven voyages during six months and bringing more than 2,400 illegal immigrants to Palestine
1948 — (19rd of Iyar, 5708) Israeli forces captured the Arab village of Zar’in on Mt. Gilboa
1948 — (19th of Iyar, 5708) The commander of the Jewish defense of Jerusalem, Yitzhak Rabin went up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where he later wrote, …..‘I witnessed a shattering scene. A delegation was emerging from the Jewish Quarter bearing white flags. I was horrified to learn that consisted of rabbis and other residents on their way to hear the Legion’s terms for their capitulation. That same night, the Jewish Quarter surrendered to the Arab Legion.’” The loss of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City meant that the spiritual heart of Jerusalem with the Western Walls and its many synagogues was now under Jordanian control. This was the Arab Legion’s first victory in Jerusalem. It would prove to be its last as the Jewish forces were able to strengthen their defenses around the rest of the city. Esther Cailingold, a 22 year old English woman was one of the defenders who lost her life in the fight for the Old City. In a letter to her parents she wrote, “’We had a difficult fight. I have tasted hell, but it has been worthwhile because I am convinced that in the end we will have a Jewish state…I have lived my life fully, and very sweet it has been to be in our land.’”. Under the U.N. Partition Resolution, Jerusalem was supposed to be under international control. Instead the Jordanians invaded the city and held the eastern section for 19 years. During that time they defaced the Jewish quarter and denied the Jews access to the area under their control. The world community did nothing to remedy the situation. Only with the Six Day War in 1967 were Jews able to have access to the entire City of David.
With Jewish Quarter completely cut off, Mordechai Weingarten led a delegation that met with Abdulla el Tell, the commander of the Arab Legion that had illegally attacked Jerusalem to discuss surrender terms. Under the terms of the surrender which Weingarten had no choice but accept “all men capable of bearing arms were made prisoners of war. When El-Tell saw how few Jewish fighters he had been confronting he told Moshe Russnak, the Haganah commander that “If I had kown you were so few would have come after with sticks, not guns.”. The Jewish Quarter suffered a scourge of looting after the departure of its Jewish residence. After the surrender of the Jewish Quarter today, Esther Calingold and the other wounded were moved to the nearby Armenian School, just outside of the Jewish Quarter
1950 — (12rd of Sivan, 5710) In an attempt to promote peace in the region, the government of Israel proposes that certain religious sites in Jerusalem be placed under international control. Everybody from the Arabs to the Catholic Church rejects the proposal
1955 — (7rd of Sivan, 5715) Egyptian and Israeli forces exchanged heavy mortar fire for twenty minutes today across the demarcation in the Egyptian-held strip of Palestine
1964 — (17rd of Sivan, 5724) Palestine National Congress formed the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) in the eastern section Jerusalem. The PLO charter called for the destruction of the state of Israel. At the time of its founding, Arab countries controlled the West Bank and Gaza. Yet no attempt was made to create a Palestinian state in these two areas
1969 — (11rd of Sivan, 5729) Katyusha rockets fired from Jordan bombard Jericho twice
1974 — (7rd of Sivan, 5734) Yitzhak Rabin announced the formation of a three party coalition government that will replace the government led by fellow Laborite, Golda Meir. The new government represents a bit of a generational change in the Israeli power structure. The new leaders are all younger than those they are replacing. Rabin is 52. Yigal Allon, the new Foreign Minister is 55 and the new Defense Minister, Shimon Peres is 52. Among the marquee names missing from the new collation are Moshe Dayan and Abbe Eban
1977 — (11rd of Sivan, 5737) Five people were injured when a bomb went off while they were riding on a bus in Jerusalem