History events
1264 — (15th of Elul, 5024) The General Charter of Jewish Liberties known as the Statute of Kalisz was issued by the Duke of Greater Poland Boleslaus the Pious today in Kalisz. ….. The statute served as the basis for the legal position of Jews in Poland and led to creation of a Yiddish-speaking autonomous Jewish «nation within a nation», which lasted until the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. The statute granted exclusive jurisdiction over Jewish matters to Jewish courts and established a separate tribunal for matters involving Christians and Jews. Additionally, it guaranteed safety and personal liberties for Jews such as freedom of religion, trade, and travel. The statute was ratified by subsequent Polish Kings: Casimir III of Poland in 1334, Casimir IV of Poland in 1453, and Sigismund I of Poland in 1539
1486 — (9th of Tishrei, 5247) Joseph Günzenhäuser printed Hagiographa Variorum in Naples, Italy (This probably was one of the first annotated copies of the section of the TaNaCh known as Ketuvim or Writings)
1576 — (15 Tishrei 5337) A sultanic firman, addressed to the head of Safed, ordering him to gather one thousand wealthy Jews from the city and its environs and send them, along with their families and all their possessions, to Famagusta (Cyprus) in order to ensure the prosperity of the island
1729 — (25th of Elul, 5489) Congregation Shearith Israel laid the foundation stone of the first building specifically to be used as a synagogue on Mill Street in New York City
1814 — (23th of Elul, 5574) The most important institution connected with Israel ben Solomon Wahrmann, the first officially recognize rabbi of Pest Hungary an elementary school called the Nationalschule which “was an important factor in raising the intellectual status of the community was dedicated today
1859 — (9 Elul 5619) By order of the Russian Minister of War, the general right to indefinite leave for 15 years of honorable service was extended to Jewish soldiers
1900 — (14th of Elul, 5660) Israelsky, accused of ritual murder at Konitz, acquitted
1906 — (18th of Elul, 5666) A three day pogrom that would result in the death of more than 32 Jews and negatively impacted “1,530 families” began today in Siedice, a town in the Polish part of the Russian Empire
1933 — (17 Elul 5693) In the Italian newspaper «Popolo d’Italia,» B. Mussolini put forward a formula for the existence of Palestine: «Two states for two peoples.»
1941 — (16 Elul 5701) Shoah. In Stavishche and Roskoshna (Kyiv region), a detachment of Einsatzgruppe 5 shot 98 and 200 Jews, respectively.
1942 — (26 Elul 5702) Shoah. Jews from Kosov, Kuty, Yabluniv, Pistyn, and surrounding villages were driven to Kolomyia; about 400 Jews were killed on the spot on the 7th–8th.
1943 — (8 Elul 5703) Shoah. Reich Commissioner of Denmark, Best, sent a telegram to Berlin proposing to carry out «measures to solve the problem of Jews and Freemasons.» To accomplish everything «in one blow,» he requested that security police forces be sent to assist him. This initiative was favorably received in Berlin, and the requested units were dispatched to Copenhagen
1945 — (1th of Tishrei, 5705) In Vienna “3,500 Jews remaining from a pre-war Jewish population of 180,000 gathered in the ancient Stadt Temple for Rosh Hashanah Services
1946 — (12 Elul 5706) The bombing of the King David Hotel led to a rift within the political leadership of the Yishuv. Its moderate wing called for struggle only by peaceful means, while the Revisionists demanded armed action. A discussion took place at a meeting of the Jewish Agency Executive, where it was decided to cease active struggle until the Zionist Congress scheduled for December 1946. However, Etzel and Lehi refused to follow this course and on September 8, 1946, resumed partisan actions. An oil pipeline in Haifa was blown up, sabotage operations were carried out on railways, telephone and telegraph cables were cut, and roads were mined.
1949 — (14 Elul 5709) A general income tax was introduced in Israel; the Knesset passed the Security Service Law
1952 — (18th of Elul, 5712) Israel agreed to accept reparation money from West Germany. The issue of accepting reparation money from West Germany was the cause of much acrimonious debate. Many in Israel did not want to take the money because they felt that no amount of funds could «buy» forgiveness for the Holocaust
1959 — (5 Elul 5719) Terrorist attack. Bedouins fired upon a military encampment in the Negev. Captain Yair Peled of the IDF was killed.
1968 — (15 Elul 5728) The de facto beginning of the War of Attrition: heavy Egyptian shelling of Israeli positions in the Sinai.
1969 — (25 Elul 5729) War of Attrition. An Israeli army unit attacked the Egyptian naval base at Ras Sa’adat. During the battle, two Soviet missile boats were sunk.
1972 — (29 Elul 5732) IDF retaliation for the murder of Israeli athletes at the Olympics: attacks on PLO bases in Syria and Lebanon; 200 terrorists killed.
2009 — (19 Elul 5769) In Ashdod, the Georgian synagogue «Or Yitzhak» was opened, considered one of the most beautiful in Israel.
2015 — (24 Elul 5775) For the first time in the entire 75-year history of measurements, a powerful dust storm hit Israel in the first half of September. On September 8–10, medical assistance was provided to more than 850 citizens who suffered due to airborne dust combined with heat, stuffiness, and high humidity.
2022 — (12 Elul 5782) Near the Tel Aviv promenade, the country’s first autonomous grocery store, Shufersal, opened, with an area of 1,080 square feet, allowing customers to pay and receive receipts digitally, thereby eliminating queues at the checkout.
2024 — (5 Elul 5784) IDF operation in Syria. The Air Force struck first. The first wave of the attack began at 23:20 on September 8. Then 4–5 waves followed, the last around 2:30 a.m. on September 9. In total, strikes were carried out for more than three hours. Then a special forces unit entered action, destroying a secret missile production facility near the town of Masyaf in the Syrian province of Hama.
2024 — (5 Elul 5784) Terrorist attack at the Allenby border crossing from Jordan into Israel. A terrorist truck driver who had arrived from Jordan exited his vehicle and opened fire with a pistol at Israeli workers, killing three.
2025 — (15 Elul 5785) Terrorist attack in Jerusalem. Two Arabs opened fire with automatic rifles at people who had exited a supposedly malfunctioning bus, whose driver was also an Arab. Six killed, fourteen wounded. The Arabs were killed by an IDF soldier and an armed civilian who were near the scene
People
1140 — (24th of Elul, 4900) While traveling to Palestine, Judah Halevi arrived in Alexandria (Egypt) where “he was enthusiastically greeted by friends and admirers.” He went on to Cairo where he turned down requests that he settle in the Egyptian city because he was determined to complete his journey to Jerusalem
1859 — (9 Elul 5619) Ze’ev Gluskin was born — entrepreneur, promoter of Hebrew, and participant in the Zionist movement. Honorary citizen of Rishon LeZion and Tel Aviv. Died April 4, 1949.
1874 — (26 Elul 5634) Mordechai-Zeev Feuerberg was born — writer. Died February 18, 1899.
1908 — Eli Shechtman was born — Yiddish writer. In 1972, he repatriated to Israel. Died January 1, 1996.
1934 — (28 Elul 5694) Leon Blank, one of the first Yiddish performers in America, died.
2025 — (15 Elul 5785) War with Gaza. Day seven hundred and three. Lieutenant Matan Abramowitz, 21, Staff Sergeant Uri Lamed, 20, Sergeant Gadi Kotal, 20, and Sergeant Amit Aryeh Regev, 19, were killed