Today in Jewish History

[phkrause]

13 Tevet

In 1944, Simon Wiesenthal barely escaped death at the Janwska concentration camp. Wiesenthal had been imprisoned in a total of 12 concentration camps, and at the time of his liberation from Mauthausen in May 1945, his six-foot frame weighed just 99 pounds. Nearly all of Wiesenthal's close relatives were murdered by the Nazis, and after the war he worked for the U.S. Army gathering documentation for Nazi war crimes trials. Wiesenthal continued this work privately, and became known as the "Nazi hunter" whose research led to capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, and dozens of other war criminals including Karl Silberbauer, the Gestapo officer responsible for the arrest of Anne Frank. Wiesenthal said: "When history looks back I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it." The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which operates the Museums of Tolerance, is named in his honor. In 1981, the Center's film, "Genocide," won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Wiesenthal died at age 96 in Vienna and was buried Herzliya, Israel.

My father spent his time in 3 different concentration camps, and was also lucking to be alive.

pk

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Tevet 15

In 1963, Israel's first desalinating water facility opened in Eilat. Israel is inherently poor in water bodies -- about 90% of the land area is dryland, and 60% of the country is covered by the Negev desert. Desalination is a process of producing water from salty and/or contaminated water. Today, Israel's national water company, Mekorot, operates 29 desalination plants, mainly in the south of the country.

pk

ps: I understand that they share water with syria in the north!

[phkrause]

Tevet 16

In 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant was instructed to revoke Order No. 11, which had called for the expulsion of all Jews from Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. During the Civil War, smugglers were illegally selling southern cotton to the northern textile factories. Grant, commander of U.S. Army forces, believed that Jews were primarily behind this illegal cotton trade, and he decided to expel all Jews from southern territory. Grant wrote: "No Jews are to be permitted to travel on the railroad southward from any point... The [region] must be purged of them." Based on Grant's orders, Jews were expelled from their homes, including 20 families from the town of Paducah alone. Some Jews were denied rail transportation and had to flee northward on foot. Those who did not cooperate were thrown into prison. Jewish community leaders immediately arranged a meeting at the White House with President Lincoln, who cancelled the expulsion order. Grant, who would later become U.S. president, never offered any explanation or apology.

pk

[phkrause]

Tevet 17

In 1728, Congregation Shearith Israel purchased a plot of land in lower Manhattan, site of the first structure ever designed and built as a synagogue in continental North America. At the time, New York had the only Jewish community in the country; it would be some two decades later before organized Jewish settlement began in Philadelphia, Lancaster and Charleston. Shearith Israel was the only Jewish congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825, having been founded by Brazilian Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin. Governor Peter Stuyvesant, known for his anti-Semitic views, had initially denied Jews the right to worship in a public gathering; these Jews fought for their rights and won permission. Today, Shearith Israel occupies a grand structure at 70th Street and Central Park West.

I believe the synagogue that they mentioned at the beginning is in the China town area of manhattan now. I forget the name of that building now.

pk

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Tevet 19

In 1901, the Jewish National Fund was founded for the purpose of purchasing settlement land in Israel. JNF had the idea of placing a collection box in every Jewish home, and by the 1920s about one million of the famous "Blue Boxes" were in Jewish homes throughout the world. Besides purchasing land throughout Israel, JNF expanded into afforestation, water projects, agricultural innovation, roadworks, schools, and immigrant services. JNF operates under the principle that the Land of Israel belongs to the entire Jewish people; based on this, the Israeli Knesset later adopted a law stating that JNF lands cannot be sold, but only leased for periods of 49 years at a time. Over the past century, JNF has planted over 220 million trees throughout Israel -- the only nation in the world to end the 20th century with more trees than it had at the beginning.

pk

[phkrause]

Tevet 20

Yahrtzeit of Maimonides (1135-1204), also known as the Rambam (an acronym for his name, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon). Maimonides was born in Spain, but was forced to flee due to a radical Muslim regime that gave the Jews a choice of accepting Mohammed or leaving. Maimonides finally settled in Cairo, where in addition to leading the Jewish community, he was a top physician who served in the royal court of the Sultan of Egypt. Maimonides' magnum opus is Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive 14-volume code of Jewish law which has since been the subject of more than 300 commentaries. Maimonides' great philosophical treatise, Guide for the Perplexed, explains Jewish theology in light of Aristotelian philosophy and science. A popular saying is that "from Moses [of the Torah] to Moses [Maimonides], there has never been one like Moses." Maimonides is recognized today as the greatest medieval Jewish philosopher. He is buried in Tiberias, Israel.

pk

[phkrause]

Tevet 21

In 1485, the first printed edition of Rabbi Yosef Albo's Ikkarim was published -- an exposition on the Jewish fundamentals of faith. Israel Nathan Soncino had founded the first Hebrew printing house in Soncino, Italy 24 years after Gutenberg brought movable type to the world's attention. Soncino's first publication was a volume of the Talmud, and over the next 70 years more than 130 Hebrew books were printed by the Soncino family. In 1988, an Italian postage stamp was issued to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the printing of the Soncino Bible.

pk

[phkrause]

PKARUSE

well this is interesting about the man and also

about the stamp in his honor

dgrimm60

Yes, I'm still waiting for the stamp in my honor...

pk

[phkrause]

Thanks dgrimm.

pk

[phkrause]

Tevet 22

In 1798, mobs attempted to torch the Jewish ghetto of Rome, but rains put out the fire. The day was then designated as a holiday by Roman Jews. The Roman Ghetto had been in existence since 1555, when the Pope segregated the Jews in a walled quarter with three gates that were locked at night. The Jews were also subjected to various restrictions and degradations, including having to attend compulsory Catholic sermons on Shabbat. During Rome's annual carnival, scantily-clad Jews were forced to race along the main street, while the crowd mocked them, threw trash, and reigned heavy blows. (The event often proved fatal.) Hygienic conditions inside the ghetto were terrible, and there was constant flooding from the nearby Tiber River. Outside the ghetto, Jews were required to wear identifying yellow clothing. When Napoleonic forces occupied Rome, the ghetto was legally abolished in 1808, and the city of Rome tore down the ghetto walls in 1888.

pk

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Tevet 23

Yahrtzeit of Nathan Straus (1848-1931), an American merchant and philanthropist. Straus was a co-owner of R.H. Macy & Co., yet he never amassed personal wealth because he was always using his money to help people. For example, in New York's winter of 1893, he gave away more than two million five-cent tickets good for coal, food and lodging. His greatest devotion, however, was to Israel. He gave more than two-thirds of his fortune and devoted the last 15 years of his life to this cause. The Israeli city of Netanya is named for "Nathan" Straus.

pk

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Tevet 23

Yahrtzeit of Nathan Straus (1848-1931), an American merchant and philanthropist. Straus was a co-owner of R.H. Macy & Co., yet he never amassed personal wealth because he was always using his money to help people. For example, in New York's winter of 1893, he gave away more than two million five-cent tickets good for coal, food and lodging. His greatest devotion, however, was to Israel. He gave more than two-thirds of his fortune and devoted the last 15 years of his life to this cause. The Israeli city of Netanya is named for "Nathan" Straus.

pk

It's people like Nathan Straus who deserve the Nobel Peace Prize...not someone...welll...I'll let it go at that.

[phkrause]

You don't have to say, I think I can guess. I think sometimes they give the award to quickly, even though I do believe that particular award that was given went to the right person at this particular time. But you are right about Mr. Straus.

pk

[phkrause]

24 Tevet

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (1892-1953), an influential philosopher and dean of students at the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Israel. Rabbi Dessler was born in Lithuania and later moved to England, before finally settling in Israel. He was a student of the Mussar (ethics) movement, while also drawing from mystical teachings of the Maharal of Prague. Rabbi Dessler's legacy is recorded in the six-volume Michtav M'Eliyahu (translated in English as Strive for Truth), which illuminate ideas such as the Jewish philosophy of love: "The more you give to another, the more you will love that person." Tevet 24 also marks the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady (1745-1813), author of the chassidic work, Tanya, and founder of the Lubavitch movement.

pk

[abelisle]

Hey Pete,

Since when did you become an expert in Jewish history?

Always had you pegged as an expert on the NY Yankees LOL

Alex

[phkrause]

Hey Pete,

Since when did you become an expert in Jewish history?

Always had you pegged as an expert on the NY Yankees LOL

Alex

I have lots of talents besides my expertise on them NYY.

pk

[phkrause]

25 Tevet

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses Levi Ehrenreich (1818-1899), chief rabbi of Rome. Through his efforts and under his direction, the Collegio Rabbinico Italiano was reopened in 1887. Rabbi Ehrenreich was also instrumental in translating part of the Bible into Italian.

The interesting thing is this rabbi's name is german, he must have moved there, but I need to check it out.

pk

[phkrause]

PKRAUSE

YES YOU better check it out

dgrimm60

Well here's a link to him. Doesn't say much about him. So I'm gonna guess that maybe his parents were from germany. Anyway I guess I was wrong.

pk

[phkrause]

26 Tevet

In 1826, Maryland adopted a law which allowed Jews to hold public office, on condition that they accept the concept of reward and punishment in the afterlife. Maryland was founded as an asylum for Catholics in 1634, and in the early days the denial of Christianity was a capital crime in Maryland. Anyone speaking negatively about Mary or the Apostles was subject to a fine or public whipping. The practice of Judaism was finally legalized in Maryland in 1776, but other restrictions remained in place. It was not until 50 years later that Jews became qualified for public office.

pk

[phkrause]

27 Tevet

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch (1808-1888), the leader of Torah Judaism in Germany during the tumultuous times of Enlightenment. Rabbi Hirsch argued that the era of Enlightenment meant not that Jews should abandon Jewish practice, but that religious freedom was an opportunity to observe Judaism without persecution and ridicule. He promoted a philosophy of "Torah im Derech Eretz" -- combining Torah with the modern world. Rabbi Hirsch's written works include: a six-volume commentary on the Torah; Horeb, a philosophical analysis of the 613 mitzvot; and an etymological analysis of the Hebrew language.

pk

[phkrause]

28 Tevet

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi David Nieto (1654-1728), leader of the Sephardic community in London. Rabbi Nieto came from Venice and was highly respected as both a rabbi and a medical doctor who wrote extensively on scientific topics. In 1698, Nieto became spiritual leader of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, the oldest Jewish synagogue in London that came to be regarded as the religious center of the Anglo-Jewish world. Today, the original building is still in use, and the synagogue interior retains its original furnishings. In the 1990s the synagogue was badly damaged by terrorist bombings in London; the structure has since been renovated and repaired.

pk

[phkrause]

In 1808, Ezekiel Hart, the first Jew elected to Canadian Parliament, was denied his seat when he swore the oath of inauguration on a Jewish Bible. At the time, British laws prohibited Jews and Roman Catholics from such positions, and Hart was expelled from the assembly. Hart returned to private life and enjoyed success as a businessman until his death in 1843.

pk

[phkrause]

Shevat 1

On this date, as the Jewish people were completing 40 years of wandering in the desert, Moses gathered the entire nation and began his farewell address. Moses' speech would continue for 40 days until his death, as described in the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses reviewed the commandments of the Torah, gave a historical reflection, prophesized about future events, and offered poetic blessings. Also during this time, Moses wrote 13 Torah scrolls -- one for each tribe, plus one to place in the Ark of the Covenant.

pk

[phkrause]

2 Shevat

This date marks the death of evil King Alexander Yannai (Jannaeus), a Hasmonian king of Judea from 103 BCE to 76 BCE. While serving as High Priest at the Temple in Jerusalem, Yannai mocked the Sukkot service, at which point the crowd showed their displeasure by pelting him with etrogs. Yannai responded by having his soldiers kill 6,000 people in the Temple courtyard. Yannai aligned himself with the Hellenist faction known as the Sadducees, and opposed the mainstream rabbis, the Pharisees. On various occasions Yannai ordered the killing of Pharisees, and feasted while watching the executions. According to traditional sources, Yannai later repented and cooperated with the Pharisees.

pk

[phkrause]

4 Shevat

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira, the great Sephardic sage and kabbalist known as the Baba Sali (1889-1984). Born in Morocco, the Baba Sali made aliyah following the creation of the State of Israel, eventually settling in the Negev town of Netivot. There he served as a central address for Jews seeking advice, blessings, and in many cases, miracles. Stories abound of his supernatural abilities -- if someone complained about a physical malady, he would prescribe a spiritual action to rectify it. If he was presented with money as a gift, he could identify if it was earned in a "kosher" way or not. He had elevated beyond the physical to the extent that he would eat only small morsels each day. Today his grave in Netivot is a popular place of pilgrimage and prayer.

pk