It was on this day, in 1492, that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain signed a decree expelling all Jews from Spain. This expulsion culminated on August 2nd of that same year, which was the 9th of Av on the Hebrew calendar. It just so happened that the Jewish expulsion coincided with the preferred […]
According to tradition, it was on this day that Egypt was afflicted with the plague of the frogs. This plague, along with the other plagues, was designed to bring the king of Egypt into submission to God’s plan, which was to let Israel go into the wilderness. But Pharaoh’s response was, “Who is the Lord […]
It was on this day, in 1955, that the Yarkon water project was opened. This project supplied water to the Negev, which is a desert region in southern Israel. Since 1948, the Israeli people have worked very hard to transform what was a vast wasteland into a veritable garden spot capable of feeding its citizens […]
It was on this day, in 1733, that Jewish settlers arrived on the second ship ever to reach the colony of Savannah, Georgia. Accompanying them on this voyage was the first ever Torah scroll to find its way to the colony of Georgia. This particular Torah scroll, and other articles were brought from England made […]
It was on this day, in 1205, that Pope Innocent III decreed, as church doctrine, that all Jews were to be considered as perpetually doomed to servitude and subjugation because of their involvement with the crucifixion of the Messiah. This remained official church doctrine until sometime in the 1960s. Obviously, the attitude that inspired this […]
It was on this day, in 1970, that Israeli Airmen encountered and shot down four Russian MiGs being flown by Russian pilots over the Suez front. As far as we know, this was the very first time that Israeli and Russian military forces had encountered on another. However, according to a certain prophet, we have […]
It was on this day, in 1808, that Napoleon Bonaparte decreed that all Jews living in the French Empire must adopt a family name. Before that, many people were not commonly known as John Smith or Mary White as they are today. In the Biblical era, God’s people were identified by their father’s name; for […]
In consideration of the fact that, in order to be called “the sons of God,” we all have to be born again, should babies be regarded as innocent? It’s a cold and calloused person who can look upon a small infant and not be touched by the fact that these little ones are precious. How […]
It was on this day, in 1099, that European Crusaders captured the city of Jerusalem from the Muslim Turks in a very bloody battle. History records that tens of thousands of Muslims, Jews and some Christians were slaughtered by the Crusaders. Records indicate that, as these armies made their way through the city streets, in […]
It was on this day in 1852 that poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, author of such poems as “Paul Revere’s Ride,” visited the Jewish cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. His visit to the centuries-old cemetery inspired him to write a poem about those who were laid to rest there. Here is an excerpt: “How come they […]
It was on this day in 1969 that the remains of 25 members of those who had committed suicide at Masada in the year 73 A.D. were interred at the foot of Masada with full military honors. To most Israelis, the story of Masada is equivalent to what the Alamo is to many Americans; the […]
It was on this day in 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln revoked orders that had been issued by Ulysses S. Grant expelling all Jews from military districts under his command. Grant’s General Order #11 ordered Jews off of their property simply because they were Jews. This was the first time this happened in America. General […]
