B"H Yom Yom based on Day by Day in Jewish History by Rabbi Abraham P. Bloch z"l (KTAV) [23 Tevet] A fire broke out in the ghetto in Frankfort-on-the-Main nearly destroying it completely, 1711. Yahrzeit of Nathan Straus, American communal leader and philanthropist, 1931. (Both Netanya and Rechov Straus, former home of the Israel Center, were named in his memory.) [January 18th] Israel and Egypt signed an agreement, 1974, on the disengagement of their forces in the Suez Canal area. Mordechai M. Noah, American Jewish diplomat, petitioned the State of New York for the sale of Grand Island in the Niagra River for the purpose of founding there a settlement for Jewish immigrants from Europe, 1820. Jews of the Warsaw ghetto put up their first resistanceto the Nazis, 1943. This was a prelude to the more famous uprising that took place a few months later. [24 Tevet] Designated Purim of Sherif by the Jews of Tripoli to commemorate a victory in 1745. Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Lyady, founder of Habad and author of the Tanya, 1812. A violent earthquake shook Eretz Yisrael, 1837. Close to 3000 people died in Tzfat and T'veriya. [January 19th] The British announced their intention of freeing the Cyprus internees, 1949. 6000 Jews were killed in pogroms in Bucharest, Rumania, 1941. [25 Tevet] Anti-Jewish riots erupted in Judenburg and Furstenburg, Austria, 1312. Birthday of Shalom Jacob Abramowitsch, better known as Mendele Mocher Sforim, 1837, founder of modern Hebrew literature and namesake of the street which, at its intersection with Keren HaYesod is the corner of the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union J'lem World Center, known affectionately (we hope) as the Israel Center. [January 20th] The Federation of Jewish Farmers of America was formed, 1909. Gestapo leader Reinhard Heydrich and other high level Nazis met in the Wannsee section of Berlin, 1942, to discuss implementation of "the Final Solution of the Jewish Question". Generalissimo Francisco Franco met with Jewish representatives, 1965, to disuss the legal status of the Jewish community of Spain. It was the first meeting between Jews and the head of a Spanish government since 1492. [26 Tevet] King Frederick III of Sicily decreed that Jews must wear a special badge, 1369. This next item would ordinarily be included with its secular date only, but because of it is a bit unusual, it is being included again, under its Jewish date. Maryland's "Jew Bill", 1826, qualified Jews for public office if they believed in Reward and Punishment and in the hereafter (instead of requiring a Christian oath). Now get this: Ever since the establishment of the colony of Maryland as an asylum for Catholics in 1634, the denial of the validity of Christianity had been a capital crime. Theoretically, every Jew living in Maryland was liable to the death penalty for professing Judaism. It wasn't until 50 years after the establishment of the U.S. that Maryland officially caught on to the freedom of religion thing. Remember too that many people in the U.S. in its early days (and who knows how many still think this today) were very much "into" freedom of religion, but considered it applicable to various forms of Christianity only. It took time until freedom of religion was extended to include Jews. [January 21th] Jews of Majorca were guaranteed protection by the governor, 1393. This followed the horrible massacres of 1391 and was followed by persecution at the hands of Ferdinand of Aragon in 1413. The Jewish community was destroyed in 1435. [27 Tevet] Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, 1888. Diplomatic recognition was extended to Israel by Australia, Belgium, Chile, Great Britain, Holland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand, 1949. (I guess they wanted to make sure we were still here before they committed themselves.) [January 22th] The Iron Guard Revolt in Rumania, 1941, led to the first massacre of Jews there in World War II. The Jews of Colmar, Germany were ordered expelled, 1510. Von Lubomirski demolished Jewish homes on the outskirts of Warsaw, in the settlement of New Jerusalem. All Jews were subsequently expelled from Warsaw, 1775. [28 Tevet] R. Shimon b. Shetach reorganized the Sanhedrin by eliminating its Sadducean members. The day was observed as a holiday to mark the occasion. Czar Nicholas I ordered the discontinuation of all arrangements to establish Jewish settlements in Siberia, 1837. Jews of Switzerland were granted civic rights, 1866. (This resulted from American pressure on behalf of Jewish Americans who were doing business with the Swiss.) [January 23th] Francisco Maldonado da Silva Solis, Peruvian Marrano poet, was burned at the stake, 1639. You know the Chushaim that also have the 5 Megilot in them? Have one? Well, the first edition was published in 1492. What edition is yours? [29 Tevet] Recife, Brazil fell to the Portuguese, 1654, ending the legal existence of its prosperous Jewish community. Purim of Tripoli was celebrated annually to mark the downfall of Burgel Pasha, 1793. [January 24th] The first Jewish newspaper (the Judeo-Spanish Gazette of Amsterdam) was published, 1678. France recognized Israel, 1949. Dr. Jacob Lumbrozo, the first (of many, many) Jewish physician to settle in North America, came to Maryland, 1656. (Was his mother-in-law proud of him?) [1 Shvat] The Biblical plague of ARBEH. Moshe began to review the Torah prior to his death an the people's crossing of the Jordan River. G-d commanded Moshe to observe the Land and to prepare Yehoshua to lead the people. Jews of Genoa, Italy, were expelled, 1598. Yahrzeit of the Maharam Schick, 1879. [January 25th] Elections to the first Knesset were held, 1949. The custom of tree-planting on TU b'Shvat was initiated by children of Jerusalem, 1910. The ghetto in Lodz, Poland was established by Nazi decree, 1940. First commencemnet exercises of Hebrew University were held, 1932. [The Sh'mot Homepage]
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