B"H Yom Yom from Day by Day in Jewish History by Rabbi Abraham P. Bloch z"l

[14 Tevet] Jews of Laibach, Austria expelled, 1515. Window Purim. celebrated by the S'fardic community of Hebron. Population of Israel reached three million, 1971.

[December 23] Emancipation of the Jews of Hungary, 1867. The Pope bans conversion of Jewish children without consent of their parents, 1420.

[15 Tevet] First printed edition of Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, Soncino, Italy, 1488. [Day-by-Day includes many similar items for various dates. The early printing of Judaica is noteworthy for its significance in the transmission of Torah throughout the generations. Imagine how many more Jews had access to Jewish books since theadvent of printing. Especially in contrast to the commemoration of the tragic event of the translation of the Torah into Greek on 8 Tevet, these "anniversaries" of the "healthy spread of Torah" are all the more special.]

[December 24] KKK founded in Tennessee, 1865. The descecration of a new shul in Cologne, Germany sparked a wave of anti-Jewish incidents throughout Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Africa, 1959. [If you think that these kind of things can't happen today — think again!]

[16 Tevet] Emperor Joseph II of Austria issued an Edict of Toleration in 1782 which repealed most restrictions on Jews that had been imposed by the Church. [Nice? No! The intention of the edict was not the emancipation of the Jews but their assimilation. Similarly, Napoleon's efforts had similar motives. On the other hand,the emancipation of the Jews in England and Holland beginning in the 17th century, stemmed from liberal policies rather than anti-Jewish prejudices and hopes of assimilating and converting Jews. Ironically, the former type of motivation was often successfully fought by Jews who saw what was behind the easing of restrictionsagainst Jews. The latter type of removal of restrictions often led to an increase of assimilation.]

[December 25] Anti-Jewish riots in different parts of Austria, 1312. King of Sicily requires Jews to wear a special badge, 1369. Anti-Jewish riots broke out in Warsaw, 1881. ("Oh, they don't mean much; they'll stop soon; we'll be okay here in the future"). Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat met in Ismailia, Egypt, 1977.

[17 Tevet] The organization of the Jewish community of Rome was approved by the pope, 1524. Frederick William of Brandenburg issued a decree safeguarding the privileges of the Jews of Berlin, 1676. [Thank you, I guess, but we must realize that outside of Eretz Yisrael - and inside, for that matter, when Israel is underforeign rule - the "state of Jewish Life" was very often subject to the whim, mood, caprice or plan of rulers who didi not often have our best interests in mind.] The yahrzeit of the Dubno Maggid, 1804.

[December 26] Barcelona granted the right to exclude Jews for all time, 1424. Religious freedom granted to Jews (and Catholics) in Brazil, 1634. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra founded, 1936. First concert was under the direction of Arturo Tuscanini.

[18 Tevet] Rabbi Huna Mori bar Mar Zutra, the head of Babylonian Jewry, and Mesharshya b. Pekuda were executed in Pumpedita, 468 c.e. Two ships with "illegal" immigrants were taken by the British to Cyprus, 1947. Two years later - to the day - the British announced their intention to release the Cyprus internees.

[December 27] Followers of Zecharia of Kiev were burned in Moscow, 1503, on charges of Judaizing. Rumanian Jews were excluded from the medical profession, 1868.

[19 Tevet] The Catholic Church in Recife, Brazil closed the two shuls then in existence there, 1638.

[December 28] The organizational meeting of the National Council of Young Israel took place, 1912.

[20 Tevet] 795th yahrzeit of the Rambam (1204). On his 279th yahrzeit in 1483, the first printed edition of Gemara Brachot was published in Soncino, Italy. It contained Rambam's commentary on Mishna. The Jewish community of Ancona, Italy miraculously escaped unharmed from an earthquake, 1690. They declared a fast day incommemoration. The Nazis prohibited Jews from congregating in shuls and private homes for prayer, 1940. So too, did they forbid Jews from changing residences - this, a precursor of the ghettos.

[December 29] New York City authorities warn Jews about incompetent and unscrupulous mohalim who were causing the deaths of many Jewish infants, 1870. The JNF was founded, 1901. The ship, "The 29th of November", with "illegal" Jewish immigrants, was driven off the coast by the British, 1947.

[21 Tevet] Birthday of Shimon, son of Yaakov Avinu. Purim Ancona, followed the fast day mentioned above, for the 20 Tevet.

[December 30] 40 Jewish workers were killed by Arabs at the Haifa refineries, 1947.