1944 November 19, HAGANAH (Eretz Israel) - condemnation of Lord Moyne's assassination, the Haganah decided to actively help the British in tracking down the Irgun. In addition, on Ben Gurion's

Today in Jewish History - November 19 / Kislev 7

1944 November 19, HAGANAH (Eretz Israel) Haganah troops Courtesy of Encyclopaedia of the Orient In reaction to world condemnation of Lord Moyne's assassination, the Haganah decided to actively help the British in tracking down the Irgun. In addition, on Ben Gurion's, orders, all members of the undergrounds and their supporters were thrown out of work and even schools. Two executives of the Jewish Agency, Rabbi Yehuda Fishman-Maimon and Yitzhak Greenboim objected, and Greenboim even resigned in protest. Ironically, Lehi supporters - who ordered the assassination - were not hunted. According to Lehi sources, Natan Yellin Mor (one of Lehi's leaders) had warned Golomb, that unlike the Irgun (who decided not to take revenge and risk a civil war), they would pay a heavy price if any of Lehi's supporters were touched. Today in Jewish History - November 21 / Kislev 9 1985 November 21, JONATHAN POLLARD(USA) Jonathan Pollard Courtesy of Jacob Richman And his wife were arrested and charged with spying for Israel. Pollard, who had worked for Naval Intelligence, had passed on information to Israel regarding Arab capabilities. Pollard was caught as he was trying to enter the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The Pollard affair caused great embarrassment to Israel both from the American perspective and also due to Israel's refusal to support him once he was caught. He was given a life sentence, and despite numerous request from Israel for clemency he is still in prison. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 25 / Kislev 13 1942 November 25, JAN KARSKI (Poland - England -USA) Jan Karski Courtesy of Lodz Online A courier of the Polish underground and an eyewitness to the Holocaust reached England. Karski, who had met with Jewish leaders in Warsaw and had traveled to Belzec, gave details to British officials and directly to President Roosevelt in Washington the following year. Roosevelt decided not to react immediately and didn't mention the Holocaust in any of his press conferences until March 1944. To find out what else happened  Today in Jewish History - November 26 / Kislev 14 1944 November 26, HIMMLER DESTROYED EVIDENCE Himmler Courtesy of Aktion kinder des Holocaust As World War II entered its last phase, the Germans decided to hide all evidence of the mass murders. On orders from Himmler, the gas chambers and crematoria were to be blown up or dismantled. Pits were filled with human ash. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 27 / Kislev 15 1874 November 27, - 1952 CHAIM WEIZMANN (Belarus-England-Eretz Israel) Chaim Weizmann Statesman and scientist. Herzl inspired him, but their many clashes led him to pursue his scientific career withZionism as a sideline. In 1905 he moved to England where he made many useful contacts. These enabled him to take part in negotiations for the Balfour Declaration. Weizmann later became the head of theWorld Zionist Organization and was appointed the first president of Israel in 1948. Towards the end of his career he was no longer trusted and was considered to be too pro-British. He was sent on the eve of Independence to negotiate with Truman on the subject of partition. His autobiography is entitled Trial and Error. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 28 / Kislev 16 1938 November 28, APPEARANCE DECREE (Germany) Jews were banned from certain districts and the hours of any public appearance were restricted. 1939 November 28, FIRST GHETTO (Poland)  Was set up under the General Government in Piotrkow Trybunalski, about 16 miles (26 km) south of Lodz. 1941 November 28, HAJ AMIN al-HUSSEINI, MUFTI OF JERUSALEM (Berlin) Met with Hitler and called him the "Protector of Islam." Hitler promised the Mufti that, after a certain objective was reached, "Germany's only remaining objective in the region would be limited to the annihilation of the Jews living under British protection in Arab lands." 1944 November 28, BUDAPEST (Hungary)  As Soviet troops reached the outskirts of the city, the Germans forced 85,000 Jews on a death march towards Austria. Find out what happened Today in Jewish History - November 29 / Kislev 17 1947 November 29, UNITED NATIONS (New York City, USA) Rejoicing at the Jewish Agency Courtesy of the Knesset Voted in favor of the establishment of the State of Israel as a national homeland for the Jewish people in 55 percent of the country. The vote consisted of 33 in favor, 13 against, and 10 abstentions. Jews around the world reacted with dancing in the streets. The Arabs reacted with threats of violence. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 30 / Kislev 18 1947 November 30, WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (Eretz Israel) War of Independence Courtesy of The Jerusalem Post This day marks the beginning of the first stage of the Israeli War of Independence as a bus near Lydda (Lod) was attacked and five of its passengers killed. The Arabs proclaimed a general strike and attacked the commercial quarter near the Old City of Jerusalem. This stage, fought mostly against local Arabs with some foreign help, ended May 15, 1948, when the British left the country. The second stage of the war began on May 16, and was fought against regular Arab armies. This ended on July 20, 1949, with the signing of a cease fire agreement with Syria. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 1 / Kislev 19 1808 December 1, JEROME BONAPARTE Jerome Bonaparte Courtesy of Napoleonic Guide Granted full emancipation to the Jews in Westphalia. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 2 / Kislev 20 1938 December 2, Kindertransport (England) Kindertransport Courtesy of the Kindertransport Association The first children's transport arrived in Harwich, Great Britain bringing about 200 children from a Jewish orphanage in Berlin. After a strong appeal by the British Jewish Refugee Committee, the British government had decided to allow in unaccompanied refugee children. Almost 10,000 Jewish children succeeded in getting to Britain. The last train arrived two days before the war started. A similar appeal to allow Jewish children into Eretz Israel was rejected. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 3 / Kislev 21 1868 December 3, SAXONY (Germany) Saxony Courtesy of Schwalenberg One of the last German states to give Jews full legal equality. Jews had been living in Saxony since the 10th century in towns like Magdeburg, Halle, and Erfurt. It was only one year before the inauguration of the North German confederation that they were given equality. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 4 / Kislev 22 1762 December 4, CATHERINE II (1729-1796) (Russia) Catherine II Courtesy of the New Geneva Center Issued a proclamation allowing all foreigners to travel and to settle in Russia -“Kromye Zhydov ("except the Jews"), Within 8 years Russia acquired hundreds of thousands of Jews due to the partition of Poland. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 5 / Kislev 23 1936 December 5, IRGUN ZVAI LEUMI (Etzel)(Eretz –Israel) Book about the Irgun Zvai Leumi Signed an agreement with Vladimir Jabotinsky. The Irgun, which was known at that time as Haganah Bet, was under the command of Abraham Tehomi who had split with theHaganah five years earlier. The agreement was that Tehomi would be the commander under Jabotinsky's political guidance. Tehomi rejoined the Haganah a year later and took 30% of his forces with him. The Irgunbelieved that armed force was a prerequisite for the creation of a Jewish state, that Arabs who attacked Jews should expect retaliation and that no one had a right to prevent Jews from immigrating. The relationship between the Irgunand the Haganah was usually stormy, though they did have periods of cooperation. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 6 / Kislev 24 1943 December 6, MILAN JEWS DEPORTED (Italy) Auschwitz In one of the last major Italian deportations, 212 Jews from Milan were sent to Auschwitz. In all, out of a population of 35,000 before the war, approximately 8500 Jews were killed. An estimated 2000 Jews fought with the partisans, five of them winning Italy's highest medals for bravery. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 7 / Kislev 25 1941 December 7 - 9, RIGA (Russia) Simon Dubnow Within two days 80% of the Jews living in the ghetto (25,000 people) were shot including the famous historian Simon Dubnow. On December 8, at age 81, Dubnow was shot by a former student of his, now a Gestapo officer. His dying message to fellow Jews was: "Yidn, shreibt un farshreibt!" ("Jews, write and record!"). To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 8 / Kislev 26 1941 December 8, UNITED STATES DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN (USA) Attack on Pearl Harbor Courtesy of Paul Travers After the attack on Pearl Harbor. Before the war ended over half a million Jewish soldiers joined the American Army. Over 10,000 were killed, 24,000 wounded, and 36,000 received decorations for bravery. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 11 / Kislev 29 1917 December 11, GENERAL ALLENBY ENTERED JERUSALEM (Eretz Israel) General Allenby, head of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (of the British army) entered Jerusalem, forcing the Turks to retreat. Allenby, while "understanding" the aspirations of Zionism, had strong reservations regarding the British policy of establishing a Jewish national homeland. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 12 / Kislev 30 1920 December 12, HISTADRUT HAOVDIM (General Labor Federation) (Eretz Israel) Berl Katznelson Courtesy of the Jewish Agency Was founded in Eretz Israel. Its founder, Berl Katznelson, was a disciple of Borochov. He combined various labor groups to form a federation. In reality the federation became one major union which was divided into trade sections. The Histadrut had its own workers' bank, Bank Hapoalim, as well as an Agricultural Audit Union, and a wholesale purchasing organization, Hamashbir Hamerkazi. Tnuva was its agricultural marketing cooperative, Hamashbir Hamerkazi, its wholesale consumer cooperative and department store, and Solel Boneh its contracting organization. It even had its own insurance company, Hassneh, and sick fund. The Histadrut was forced to make major reforms and cutbacks in the 1990's because of the changed economic climate and economy of the state of Israel. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 13 / Tevet 1 1943 December 13, VLADIMIRETS-VOLYN (Ukraine) Jewish Partisans Courtsy of The Simon Wiesenthal Center As the SS began its extermination of the local population of Vladimiretz-Volyn, they were attacked by 30 armed Jews. A number of the SS officers were killed as well as half of the attacking force. The remainder fled to the forests to join the partisans. The Voroshilov Detachment and (Anton) Brynsky's partisan battalion were made up mostly of Jews who played an important role fighting against Ukrainian Nationalists and Germans, and later helping the Russians as they advanced. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 14 / Tevet 2 1760 December 14, BOARD OF DEPUTIES OF BRITISH JEWS (England) Board Of Deputies Logo Courtesy of The Board of Deputies of British Jews Was founded. It is the oldest Jewish communal organization in Great Britain. All Jews, whether Ashkenazi or Sephardi(and later the Reform) could elect their deputies, who would in turn represent the entire community. Membership was originally based on synagogues, but much later other organizations were added. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 15 / Tevet 3 1647 December 15, ISAAC DE CASTRO TARTAS (Portugal) Lisbon Jewish Quarter Courtesy of Antonio Sachetti Was burned at the stake in Lisbon. Originally born in France, where his parents had found refuge, he decided to travel to Bahia which was under Portuguese control. There he was arrested and sent to Lisbon for trial. Although a Dutch citizen, he was condemned when he steadfastly refused to accept Christianity. While being burned alive, he cried out the words of Shemah Yisrael... (Here oh Israel...) with such fervor and inner calm, that the local witnesses repeated the words to their friends. The inquisition became so obsessed with this that it banned Christians from repeating the words of Shema. He was twenty-one years old. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 10 / Cheshvan 28 1975 November 10, UN VOTE ON ZIONISM United Nations Consultwebs.com, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina The UN General Assembly voted to equate Zionism with Racism. This infamous proclamation was officially retracted 16 years later in December 1991. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 16 / Tevet 4 1991 December 16, UN RESOLOUTION REPEALED United Nations Consultwebs.com, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina The United Nations cancels the Zionism is Racism proclamation. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 17 / Tevet 5 1862 December 17, GENERAL GRANT (USA) General Grant In issuing his infamous order 11, he ordered all "Jews as a class" expelled from his lines. In New York City 7,000 Jews marched in protest against his decision. Lincoln rescinded Grant's order. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - December 18 / Tevet 6 1744 December 18, PRAGUE (Bohemia) Empress Maria Theresa Empress Maria Theresa ordered the expulsion of all the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia. Due in part, to the protests of the governments of England and Holland, the decree was dropped everywhere but in Prague. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 11 / Cheshvan 29 1922 November 11, MUNICH PUTSCH (Germany) Ludendorff Courtesy of Glenn Jewison General Ludendorff and an Austrian corporal named Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) were arrested after a short parade proclaiming the overthrow of the government. Hitler was sent to Landsburg prison where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Battle), a vicious harangue against democracy, communism, the Versaille diktatand, of course, the Jews as the root of all evil. The book became the "Bible" of the Nazis, and was published in almost every major country. Hitler himself soon rose (1925) to become leader of the Nazi Party and chancellor of the German Reich in 1933. Hitler's compulsive hatred of everything Jewish, coupled with his pathological personality, led him to become the first person in history to systematically conceive and implement the extermination of European Jewry. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 9 / Cheshvan 27 1938 November 9, KRISTALLNACHT (Germany) Kristallnacht Courtesy of Reinhard Claudi Goebbels called vom Rath's murder "a Jewish conspiracy" and a nation-wide pogrom was organized by the German government. Fifty thousand Jews were arrested and taken to concentration camps, five hundred synagogues were destroyed and the Jewish community of Germany was forced to pay one billion reichmarks ($400,000,000) for the damage. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 8 / Cheshvan 26 1744 November 8, PRAGUE (Bohemia) Frederick the Great Courtesy of Canada's Digital Collections Frederick the Great took Prague in the Wars of Succession and the populace ransacked the ghetto. He soon left and the Croats returned. They accused the Jews of treason and again their quarters were sacked, this time with the help of Austrian and Hungarian soldiers. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 7 / Cheshvan 25 1921 - 1944 November 7, HANNAH SZENES (Senesh) (Eretz Israel-Hungary) Hannah Szenes Courtesy of Steven Kreis Poet and freedom fighter. Born in Hungary, she immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1939 and joined kibbutz Sedot Yam. Her poem Halikha LeKesariya ("A Walk to Caesarea") is famous today as Eli Eli ( My God My God). In 1942 a call went out for volunteers for a special mission against Germany. She joined 32 other young Jews who were trained by the British to infiltrate behind enemy lines. While in Yugoslavia she wrote her famous poem wrote the poemAshrei ha-Gafrur ("Blessed is the Match"). She was captured in June 1944 and executed November 7, 1944 . Six other parachutists lost their lives during their missions. Her diary and many of her poems were published after her tragic death. She was reburied in 1950 on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 6 / Cheshvan 24 1884 November 6 - 8, HOVEVEI ZION (HIBBAT ZION)(Lovers of Zion) (Germany) Rabbi Samuel Mohilever Courtesy of The Jewish Agency Was founded in Kattowitz, Germany (which is now known as Katowice, Poland). Thirty-six delegates met in the first Pre-Herzl ZionistConference. Rabbi Mohilever was elected president and Leon Pinsker was elected chairman. Under their guidance they tried to secure financial help (from Baron Edmond de Rothschild and others) for the new Jewish settlements to organize educational courses as well as counsel them about religious guidelines. They are considered the forerunner and foundation of the modern Zionist movement. This movement was mostly active in Russia and Romania, but it had branches throughout Europe and even some in the USA. Due in part to their precarious position within Eastern Europe, theHovevei Zion did not deal with Zionism as a political movement. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 3 / Cheshvan 21 1860 November 3, MISHKENOT SHA'ANANIM (Jerusalem, Eretz Israel) Mishkenot Shaananim Courtesy of Hebrew University The first neighborhood outside the Old City's walls was dedicated. The site was purchased by Sir Moses Montefiore, five years earlier, with $60,000 from the estate of Judah Touro which was left for Montefiore to use at his discretion. Although there was initial resistance to leaving the "security" of the Old City's walls, it soon led to the establishment of dozens of new neighborhoods. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - November 2 / Cheshvan 20 1917 November 2, ARTHUR BALFOUR Arthur Balfour Courtesy of Pedagogic Center British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he sent Lord Walter Rothschild a letter declaring the British government's sympathy and support for the Zionist cause. Cloaked in ambiguity, the meaning of the declaration was to be long debated; the Arabs insisted on an independent Arab state in Syria and Eretz Israel, the French on keeping to the Sykes-Picot Treaty. In spite of this, Britain felt that a Jewish state would: 1) provide a base between India and the Suez, 2) promote Jewish financial support in America for the British war effort , 3) create British support by the Jews in the Central Powers and 4) convince Russian Jews to keep fighting in the war To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 31 / Cheshvan 18 1759 October 31, SAFED (Eretz Israel) Safed Courtesy of the Jewish Traveler A massive earthquake destroys much of the city killing 2000 people with 190 Jews among the dead. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 30 / Cheshvan 17 1902 October 30, HERZL Theodore Herzl Published a romantic utopian novel Altneuland (Old-New Land). In it, Herzl portrayed his vision of the Jewish state. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 26 / Cheshvan 13 1861 October 26, JOHANN PHILIP REISS (1834-1874) (Germany) Reis Receiver Courtesy of Atcaonline Invented and exhibited the telephone at a conference of physicians in Giessen (15 years before Bell). Unfortunately, due to his poor health and a lack of financial resources, he was not able to commercialize on his invention. In Europe he was recognized as the inventor of the telephone. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 24 / Cheshvan 11 1914 October 24, AMERICAN JEWISH RELIEF COMMITTEE (USA) Jacob H. Schiff Courtesy of Hebrew Union College Was established by Jacob H. Schiff, Louis Marshall, and Felix Warburg. It soon combined (November 27) with the Central Relief Committee founded by Orthodox leaders and the People's Relief Committee representing labor into one organization - the American Joint Distribution Committee. It campaigned and distributed funds wherever Jews were in need, especially in Eastern Europe. It is popularly known as the "Joint" or "JDC." During the First World War they spent almost $15,000,000 on relief efforts. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 23 / Cheshvan 10 1942 October 23, BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN (Egypt) General Erwin Rommel Photograph by Heinrich Hoffmann The British 8th Army, led by General Montgomery, began its push against Rommel's Afrika Korps. Its successes removed the threat of a German attack on Eretz Israel. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 22 / Cheshvan 9 1941 October 22, ODESSA (Russia) Ion Antonescu Courtesy of MERIDIANE Publishing House After a partisan explosion in the Romanian military building, Ion Antonescu ordered that 200 people be killed for each officer killed and one hundred for each soldier. Although only several dozen Romanian were killed, 19,000 Jews were doused with gasoline in the city square and burned alive. An additional 16,000 were massacred the next day by Romanian officers. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 20 / Cheshvan 7 1943 October 20, IRENA SENDLER (Warsaw, Poland) Irena Sendler Courtesy of The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous Photo Archives A Polish Catholic, was arrested by the Gestapo. Irena had worked for the Council for Aid to Jews, (Zegota), an underground unit in which Catholic democratic activists gathered to assist Jews. At great risk, Irena rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto and placed them with Christian families. She buried jars containing their real and assumed names in the garden, so that they could be reunited with their own families after the war. During her torture she refused to divulge any information regarding her activities Although sentenced to death, she managed to escape from prison and survived the war. In 1965 she was awarded with the title Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem and in 1991 she was made an honorary citizen of Israel. A play was also written about her life entitled "Life in a Jar". To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 19 / Cheshvan 6 1944 October 19, LATRUN INTERMENT CAMP (Eretz Israel) Map of Eritrea The British surrounded the camp and deported 251 members of the Irgun andLehi to Eritrea in Eastern Africa. Until the end of the British mandate, 439 people suspected of being associated with theIrgun and Lehi were deported. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 17 / Cheshvan 4 1882 October 17, LEON PINSKER (Poland) Leon Pinsker Published his Auto-Emancipation as a result of the Russian pogroms of the previous year. Pinskeradvocated establishing a homeland as a cure for anti-Semitism. Eretz Israel was not his original suggestion, and only later did he join the fledglingZionist movement. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 16 / Cheshvan 3 1886 October 16, - 1973 DAVID BEN GURION (Poland-Eretz Israel) David Ben Gurion Came to Eretz Israel as David Green in 1906. He joined theJewish legion, rose in the ranks of the Zionist Labor Party, and created the Histadrut or Labor Confederation. Ben Gurion formulated the official Zionist policies during the Second World War and became Israel's first Prime Minister. He founded his own party (MAPAI) and joined with the religious parties and the general Zionist party to form a coalition. He served on and off until 1963 as Minister of Defense and Prime Minister. He played an important part in the Israeli victory in 1956. After 1963 he retired to a kibbutz (Sde Boker) in the Negev, which he called on the younger generation to settle. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 15 / Cheshvan 2 1973 October 15, GENERAL ARIK SHARON LED ATTACK (YOM KIPPUR WAR) Ariel Sharon Courtesy of The Jewish Agency On the Egyptian side of the Suez Canal. Joined by Generals Adan and Magen, they cut off the main road from Cairo to the Suez within a week and cut off Egypt's 3rd Army alone in the Sinai Peninsula, and tried to advance more into Cairo. However the attack was stopped by stubborn Egyptian defences, led by the 1st and 2nd Field Armies. Note that during that time the 3rd Army was alone in Sinai. The hold on the west bank of the canal greatly improved Israel's negotiating position with the Egyptians and the morale of the country, at the time were they really needed it, although they do all the time. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 14 / Cheshvan 1 1942 July 23, - 1943 October 14, TREBLINKA II (Poland) Kurt Franz Death camp went into operation with the first transport of Warsaw's Jews. (Treblinka II was different from Treblinka I which was a labor camp and also housed political prisoners). Over 750,000 Jews were murdered there. The camp was closed and dismantled after a revolt.The camp was organized by Odilo Globocnik. Those that ran it included Joseph (Sepp) Hirtreiter and Kurt Franz, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, and Franz Stangl, who was caught in Brazil and sentenced in 1971 to life imprisonment but died the same year. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 13 / Tishrei 30 1843 October 13, B'NAI B'RITH (USA) Bnei Brit Courtesy of JAI Was founded under the leadership of Henry Jones at Sinsheimer's cafe on Essex Street in New York, to maintain orphanages and homes for the elderly and widows. It extended its work to many spheres of American Jewish life, including combating anti-Semitism (A.D.L.) and working with students on campus (Hillel). At the time of its founding, there were approximately 15,000 Jewsish in the United States. It was the first Jewish fraternal society in the world. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 11 / Tishrei 28 1911 October 11, LIBYA Tripoli Synagogue Was conquered by Italy. Jews received equal rights and for the next 25 years (until the onset of fascist anti-Jewish legislation), the community flourished. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 10 / Tishrei 27 1945 October 10, ATLIT (Eretz-Israel) Atlit In a daring raid, the Palmach freed 208 "illegal" immigrants from the internment camp set up by the British. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 5 / Tishrei 22 1880 October 5, - 1939 VLADIMIR JABOTINSKY (Odessa,Ukraine-Eretz Israel) Vladimir Jabotinsky Courtesy of WZO Founder of the New Zionist Organization (1935), theHaganah (1920), the Jewish Legion (1917), Betar (Brit Trumpeldor) (1923), Revisionist Party (1925), and theIrgun (1937). Until he joined the World Zionist Organization, Jabotinsky was considered by Tolstoy and Pushkin to be one of Russia's most promising writers. He was soon recognized as a distinguished statesman, linguist (he wrote in over seven languages, translating Poe and Dante into Hebrew) and orator par excellence. In 1935 he split with the World Zionist Organization, accusing them of procrastinating and developing defeatist policies. He believed in 90% immigration and 10% politics, as well as the use of Hebrew only as a state language (the Establishment considered him unrealistic). In the 1930's he organized an aviation and navy school in Europe, while at the same time calling for the complete evacuation of Eastern Europe. One of the last of the hundreds of pamphlets he wrote was entitled The Eleventh Hour (1939) and it called for the immediate resettlement of 600,000 Polish Jews. He was branded an alarmist. He died of a heart attack while visiting Camp Betar in Hunter, New York. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - October 4 / Tishrei 21 1946 October 4, PRESIDENT TRUMAN (USA) President Harry S.Truman In his holiday message on Yom Kippur Eve, President Truman announced his support for partition and the setting up of the Jewish state. To find out what else happened today, Click Here  Find out what happened Today in Jewish History - October 3 / Tishrei 20 1980 October 3, RUE COPERNIC SYNAGOGUE (France) Synagogue Terrorism Courtesy of Antisemitisme.info A bomb placed outside the synagogue exploded killing 3 people. Those responsible were never caught nor is it certain whether it was perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists or by the radical right. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - September 28 / Tishrei 15 1941 September 28, ROUNDUP OF JEWS IN KIEV (Ukraine) Babi Yar Courtsy of JewishGen.com Two thousand notices were posted around Kiev ordering all Jews to appear the next day with documents, warm clothes and valuables. These roundups were known asAktions and referred to all forced gathering of Jews for the purpose of deportation or extermination. In this case, although rumors were rife that the Jews were being rounded up to be sent to a labor camp, the result of this aktion was the Babi Yar massacres in which, according to German records, 33,771 Jews were slaughtered in a ravine outside of Kiev by SS Colonel Paul Blobel. The massacre is immortalized in Yevgei Yevtushenko's poem "Babi Yar." The monument placed on the site does not mention Jews. After WWII a dance hall was erected on the site of the massacre despite international protests. Flooding caused by severe storms washed away the dance hall before it could be opened, and caused many skeletons of the massacre's victims to be unearthed.rn To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - September 27 / Tishrei 14 1791 September 27, FRANCE Map of France Jews were granted full rights and declared citizens. This is the first time that Jews were declared full citizens in a European country since the Roman Empire. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - September 26 / Tishrei 13 1729 September 26, - 1786 MOSES MENDELSSOHN (Dessau, Germany) Moses Mendelsohn Courtesy of The Jewish Encyclopedia Born into an orthodox Jewish family, he was influenced by Rabbi David Hershel Frankel, whose knowledge of philosophy and Talmud was vast. At fourteen, he left on foot for Berlin, together withFrankel. There he metGotthold Lessing, who introduced him to German literature and helped him publish his philosophicalDialogues. In 1783, Mendelssohn and his pupil,Naphtali Wessely, translated the Pentateuch into German. He served as the subject ofLessing's play Nathan the Wise and was the founder ofHa Me'assef, a Hebrew magazine. Believing in Jewish-Christian friendship, he tried to awaken secular interests in his fellow Jews and make them less alien to the Christian world. This backfired, as many of his own grandchildren converted to Christianity. To find out what else happened Today in Jewish History - September 25 / Tishrei 12 1967 September 25, KFAR ETZION (Israel) Kfar Etzion Courtesy of Kfar Etzion Was re-established by the children of the original settlers. The Kibbutz was destroyed and its defenders (including women) massacred after surrendering in May 1948. To find out what else happened