History events
1147 — (7th of Sivan, 4907) Encouraged by Peter the Hermit, a mob attacked the Jews on the second day of Shavuot in Ramerupt, France. Rabbenu Tam was one of its victims. After being stabbed five times (to match the five wounds of Jesus) he was saved by a passing knight. His house was ransacked, and a Torah scroll was destroyed
1435 — (9th of Iyar, 5195) The Jews were expelled “forever” from Speyer by decree that said, “The council is compelled to banish the Jews; but it has no designs upon their lives or their property: it only revokes their rights of citizenship and of settlement. Until November 11 they are at liberty to go whither they please with all their property, and in the meantime they may make final disposition of their business affairs
1492 — (11th of Iyar, 5252) The first printed edition of Mishnayot with commentary by Maimonides was published in Naples
1881 — (9th of Iyar, 5641) Anti-Jewish riots in different parts of Russia, especially in Kiev
1919 — (8 Iyar 5679) A pogrom in Tulchyn. It was perpetrated by local peasants and lasted for two days.
1939 — (19 Iyar 5699) Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu was established using the «Tower and Stockade» method.
1942 — (21 Iyar 5702) The Holocaust. All Jews in the Netherlands over the age of six are ordered to wear a yellow six-pointed star.
1942 — (21 Iyar 5702) The Holocaust. About 2,500 Jews from Dunaivtsi (Khmelnytskyi region) were herded into a phosphorus mine 5 km from the city, where they soon died from lack of air and starvation.
1943 — (3 Iyar 5703) The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The bunker of Mordechai Anielewicz, one of the leaders of the armed struggle, is surrounded by the Germans. Anielewicz and his fighters committed suicide.
1948 — (29 Nisan 5708) The War of Independence. On the road to Jerusalem near Latrun, the Harel Brigade launched Operation Maccabee with the aim of breaking the blockade of besieged Jerusalem and capturing the strategically important Latrun fortress. It lasted for 10 days. Arab villages north of Latrun were captured. Latrun was taken but later abandoned as the brigade’s fighters were sent to the Egyptian front
1950 — (21th of Iyar, 5710) An announcement was made today at Geneva that “Israel has accepted the proposal of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to proceed with direct negotiations with the Arab states while the commission acts as mediator for the settlement of all outstanding issues.” However, this announcement by Israel may not immediately lead to negotiations since the Arabs have pre-conditioned their participation on the demand that Jewish state must recognize the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel.
1952 — (13 Iyar 5713) Closed sessions of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court began under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General of Justice A. Cheptsov, during which the case of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee was heard. The defendants refused to plead guilty to anti-Soviet activities. Cheptsov adjourned the trial, sent the case for further investigation, and complained to the government of the Soviet Union about the activities of the MGB. However, Cheptsov was demanded to «immediately complete the case»: «What, do you want to make us kneel before these criminals? The verdict in this case has been approved by the people; the Politburo dealt with this case three times. Carry out the Politburo’s decision.»
1953 — (23th of Iyar, 5713) The Jerusalem Post reported that, Syria had appealed to all Arab States to tighten the economic blockade of Israel as «the best way to kill Israel peacefully.»
1955 — (16 Iyar 5715) Dozens of Arabs in a Haifa cinema vigorously cheered the appearance of G. A. Nasser on the screen. The jubilation turned into a brawl with Jewish spectators.
1958 — (18 Iyar 5718) The command of the Israel Defense Forces decided to introduce a standard model of footwear for all branches of the military. This was one of the conclusions following the Sinai Campaign. Previously, each branch had its own type of footwear.
1958 — (18 Iyar 5718) The «Shin-Alef» service, which gathered information on tax evaders and was a secret and completely independent body, was abolished. Shin-Alef’s functions were transferred to the investigative department of the tax authority.
1959 — (30 Nisan 5719) Work began on the construction of an experimental nuclear reactor in the Nachal Rubin desert near Rishon LeZion
1960 — (11th of Iyar, 5720) While exploring caves in the Judean desert an archaeological expedition led Yigael Yadin discovers fourteen letters written by Simon Bar-Kokhba, leader of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 132 — 135 CE. One letter is written on wood and the rest are written on papyrus. Bar Kokhba is called Shimon Ben Kossiba in the letters.
1972 — (24th of Iyar, 5732) Four Palestinian terrorists from Black September boarded Sabena Flight 571 from Vienna to Tel Aviv. Twenty minutes after taking off from a scheduled stop, the hijackers took control of the flight and instructed the captain to continue as planned to Israel’s Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion International Airport). Less than 24 hours later, Israeli commandos, among them today’s most prominent Israeli leaders launched a daring operation to rescue the flight’s passengers and retake the plane.
1990 — (13 Iyar 5750) A terrorist attack at the Jerusalem market. One person was killed and seven wounded by a bomb
2001 — (Iyar 15, 5761) Two boys from Tekoa — 13-year-old Kobi Mandell and 14-year-old Yosef Ishran — were killed by Arabs: they were stoned to death. Tekoa is an ancient Jewish city, now a settlement in Judea. It is located in the mountainous region of Judea, 15 km south of Jerusalem. It was founded in 1977
2002 — (26th of Iyar, 5762) A Palestinian terrorist detonated a suitcase packed with explosives in a crowded gambling and billiards club near Tel Aviv, killing at least 15 people and wounding 58.
2005 — (29 Nisan 5765) The Tel Aviv basketball club «Maccabi» won the ULEB Cup for the second consecutive year.
2009 — (14 Iyar 5769) A new bridge at the Glilot interchange was opened, connecting the northern direction of the Ayalon Highway with the western direction of Highway 5, easing traffic congestion in the area. The bridge is 194 meters long and 12 meters wide
People
1914 — (old style) (12 Iyar 5674) Romain Gary, writer, was born. He died on December 2, 1980.
1919 — (8 Iyar 5679) Aharon Remez, the second commander of the Israel Air Force, was born. He died on April 3, 1994
1981 — (4th of Iyar, 5741) Eighty-three year old Uri Zvi Greenberg, a Hebrew and Yiddish poet, fighter for the independence of Israel and a member of the Knesset passed away today
2024 — (30 Nisan 5784) A Border Police officer, 28-year-old Yotam Levy Halevi, who was wounded during operational activities in Judea, died in the hospital; in the north of Israel, 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Haim Sabach was killed