History1916 or 1917
Mendel Portugali Dies
Mendel Portugali, a founder of Hashomer, died after his weapon discharged following a night on guard. Accounts date his death to 1916 or 1917.
Topic · Living archive
Zionism
82 connected records
History5 Iyyar · observed date may vary
Yom HaAtzmaut
Yom HaAtzmaut’s nominal Hebrew date is 5 Iyyar, the anniversary of the 14 May 1948 declaration. Israeli law moves the observed date when 5 Iyyar falls on Friday, Saturday, or Monday. There is no fixed Gregorian anniversary.
HistoryMarch 11, 2021
Operation Tzur Israel Ends
On March 11, 2021, the last flight of Operation Tzur Israel landed, bringing the airlift to about 2,000 Ethiopian immigrants.
HistoryFebruary 5, 2021
Ruth Dayan Dies
On February 5, 2021, Ruth Dayan died in Tel Aviv at 103. She founded the Maskit fashion house in 1954.
HistoryApril 30, 2012
Benzion Netanyahu Dies
Benzion Netanyahu died at his home in Jerusalem on 30 April 2012. He was 102.
HistoryJune 25, 2006
Gilad Shalit Is Captured
On June 25, 2006, militants tunneled into Israel near Kerem Shalom, killed two soldiers, and took Gilad Shalit into Gaza.
HistoryAugust 22, 2005
Israel Completes the Evacuation of Gaza Settlements
On August 22, 2005, Israel finished removing residents from the Gaza settlements. Four West Bank settlements were cleared the next day.
HistoryFebruary 1, 2003
Columbia Breaks Apart, Killing Ilan Ramon
On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry. Israeli payload specialist Ilan Ramon died with the crew.
HistoryJune 1, 2001
The Dolphinarium Bombing
On June 1, 2001, a Hamas suicide bomber killed 21 people outside the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv.
HistoryMarch 9, 1992
Menachem Begin Dies
On this day, March 9, 1992, former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin died at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. He was buried the same day on the Mount of Olives beside his wife, Aliza.
HistoryJanuary 5, 1985
Operation Moses Ends
In early January 1985 the covert airlift of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan to Israel ended after public disclosure. Flights had begun in November 1984. Contemporary counts of those brought to Israel range from about 7,000 to 10,000.
HistoryApril 23, 1982
Israel Evacuates Yamit
On April 23, 1982, the Israel Defense Forces removed the last resisters from Yamit before the Sinai was returned to Egypt.
HistoryFebruary 26, 1980
Egypt and Israel Exchange Ambassadors
On February 26, 1980, Egypt and Israel exchanged ambassadors. Saad Mortada presented his credentials in Jerusalem.
HistoryNovember 25, 1979
Israel Returns the Alma Oil Field
On November 25, 1979, Israel returned the Alma oil fields on the Gulf of Suez to Egypt.
HistoryMarch 26, 1979
Egypt and Israel Sign a Peace Treaty
On this day, March 26, 1979, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington, witnessed by Jimmy Carter.
HistoryMay 30, 1972
The Lod Airport Massacre
On May 30, 1972, three Japanese Red Army gunmen opened fire at Lod Airport, killing 26 people.
HistoryMay 8, 1972
Black September Hijacks Sabena Flight 571
On May 8, 1972, four Black September members hijacked Sabena Flight 571 on the way from Vienna to Tel Aviv.
HistoryMay 18, 1971
The Night of the Panthers
On May 18, 1971, about 6,000 people rallied in Jerusalem against discrimination toward Mizrahi Jews. Police and protesters clashed.
HistoryMarch 3, 1971
Israeli Black Panthers Hold Their First Demonstration
On this day, March 3, 1971, the Israeli Black Panthers held their first demonstration in Jerusalem after a permit was denied and organizers were detained.
History17 March 1969
Golda Meir Becomes Prime Minister of Israel
On this day, March 17, 1969, Golda Meir presented the government that made her Israel’s first woman prime minister, succeeding Levi Eshkol.
HistoryJuly 23, 1968
The PFLP Hijacks El Al Flight 426
On July 23, 1968, El Al Flight 426 landed in Algiers after three PFLP members seized it on the way from Rome.
HistoryAugust 30, 1966
The Knesset Dedicates Its Building
On August 30, 1966, the Knesset dedicated its building in Jerusalem. About 6,000 guests attended.
HistoryMay 18, 1965
Syria Hangs Eli Cohen
On this day, May 18, 1965, Syrian authorities hanged Eli Cohen in Damascus. He had been convicted of spying for Israel.
HistoryAugust 7, 1955
Bar-Ilan University Opens
On this day, August 7, 1955, Bar-Ilan University opened in Ramat Gan. The plan had been formed by American Mizrachi leaders around 1950.
HistorySeptember 10, 1952
Israel and West Germany Sign the Luxembourg Agreement
On this day, September 10, 1952, Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany signed the Luxembourg reparations agreement. It entered into force on 27 March 1953.
HistoryJuly 5, 1950
Knesset Passes the Law of Return
On this day, July 5, 1950, the Knesset passed the Law of Return, stating that every Jew has the right to come to Israel as an oleh.
HistoryFebruary 14, 1949
First Knesset Convenes
On this day, February 14, 1949, Israel’s First Knesset held its inaugural session in Jerusalem. Yosef Sprinzak was elected speaker.
HistoryJanuary 25, 1949
Israel Holds Its First Knesset Election
On this day, January 25, 1949, Israel held its first national election. Mapai, led by David Ben-Gurion, won the largest share of the 120-seat assembly.
HistoryJune 22, 1948
The IDF Shells the Altalena
On June 22, 1948, IDF guns set the Altalena on fire off Tel Aviv. Sixteen Irgun fighters and three soldiers were killed in the confrontation.
HistoryMay 26, 1948
The Israel Defense Forces Are Established
On May 26, 1948, David Ben-Gurion signed the ordinance that established the Israel Defense Forces and barred any other armed force.
HistoryMay 14, 1948
Israel Declares Independence
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence at the Tel Aviv Museum, eight hours before the British Mandate ended.
HistoryMay 13, 1948
Kfar Etzion Falls
On May 13, 1948, Kfar Etzion fell. Defenders who had gathered after a cease-fire were fired on, and only four survived.
HistoryApril 9, 1948
Irgun and Lehi Attack Deir Yassin
On April 9, 1948, the Irgun and Lehi attacked Deir Yassin. Later counts of the dead cluster around 100, not the early figure of about 250.
HistoryFebruary 22, 1948
The Golani Brigade Is Formed
On February 22, 1948, the Golani Brigade was formed in the Galilee from part of the Levanoni Brigade.
HistoryJuly 11, 1947
Exodus 1947 Sails from Sète
On this day, July 11, 1947, the former President Warfield left Sète, France, carrying more than 4,500 Jewish displaced persons toward Mandatory Palestine.
HistoryApril 16, 1947
Britain Hangs Four Irgun Men at Acre
On April 16, 1947, British authorities hanged Dov Gruner, Yehiel Dresner, Mordechai Alkahi, and Eliezer Kashani at Acre Prison.
HistoryFebruary 18, 1947
Britain Refers Palestine to the United Nations
On February 18, 1947, Ernest Bevin told the House of Commons that Britain would submit the Palestine problem to the United Nations.
HistoryJune 16, 1946
The Night of the Bridges
On the night of June 16, 1946, the Palmach attacked bridges linking Mandatory Palestine to neighboring countries. Fourteen fighters were killed at Akhziv.
HistoryNovember 7, 1944
Hannah Szenes Is Executed
On this day, November 7, 1944, Hannah Szenes was executed by firing squad in Budapest. She was 23.
HistoryAugust 1944
Berl Katznelson Dies
In August 1944, Berl Katznelson, editor of Davar, died in Jerusalem.
HistoryJuly 16, 1943
Saul Raphael Landau Dies
Saul Raphael Landau, a Zionist journalist and lawyer, died in New York on 16 July 1943.
HistoryFebruary 12, 1942
Avraham Stern Is Killed
On this day, February 12, 1942, British police shot Avraham Stern, founder of Lehi, in a Tel Aviv apartment. The circumstances of the shooting remain disputed.
HistoryMay 15, 1941
The Palmach Is Established
On May 15, 1941, the Haganah national command ordered the Palmach formed as a countrywide combat reserve.
HistoryJuly 1940
Max Bodenheimer Dies in Jerusalem
In July 1940, Max Bodenheimer died in Jerusalem. He had accompanied Theodor Herzl to Constantinople and Palestine in 1898.
HistoryJanuary 3, 1939
Arik Einstein Is Born
On January 3, 1939, Arieh Einstein was born in Tel Aviv. He became a pioneer of Israeli rock and died there in 2013.
HistoryAugust 21, 1933
The Eighteenth Zionist Congress Opens
On 21 August 1933, the Eighteenth Zionist Congress opened in Prague.
HistoryJune 7, 1930
Magen David Adom Is Founded
On this day, June 7, 1930, physicians in Tel Aviv founded the emergency-aid society that became Magen David Adom.
HistoryAugust 11, 1929
The Enlarged Jewish Agency Convenes
On August 11, 1929, the council of the enlarged Jewish Agency opened in Zurich at the close of the Sixteenth Zionist Congress.
HistoryFebruary 26, 1928
Ariel Sharon Is Born
On February 26, 1928, Ariel Sharon was born in Kfar Malal. He later served as prime minister of Israel.
HistoryApril 9, 1923
Shlomo Hillel Is Born
On April 9, 1923, Shlomo Hillel was born in Baghdad. He later organized the airlift of Iraqi Jews to Israel.
HistoryJuly 24, 1922
League of Nations Confirms the Palestine Mandate
On this day, July 24, 1922, the Council of the League of Nations confirmed the Mandate for Palestine. The instrument is dated London that day. It is not a ratification of a Jewish state.
HistoryApril 26, 1920
San Remo Conference Ends
The Allied San Remo conference ended on April 26, 1920. The day before, the Supreme Council had allocated the Palestine mandate to Britain and required it to put the Balfour Declaration into effect.
HistoryAugust 24, 1919
Tosia Altman Is Born
On this day, August 24, 1919, Tosia Altman was born in Lipno. She later served as a Hashomer Hatzair courier during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Some records give 1918.
History1918
Yoel Palgi Is Born
Yoel Palgi, born Emil Nussbacher in Cluj, was born in 1918. Biographical records do not agree on the day.
HistoryMarch 12, 1915
Alexandria Refugees Resolve to Form a Jewish Legion
On March 12, 1915, Jewish refugees in Alexandria signed a resolution to form a Jewish legion and offer it to Britain.
HistoryAugust 16, 1913
Menachem Begin Is Born
Menachem Begin was born in Brest-Litovsk on 16 August 1913.
HistoryFebruary 23, 1913
Solomon Schechter Founds the United Synagogue of America
On this day, February 23, 1913, Solomon Schechter founded the United Synagogue of America, later the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
History1910
Natan Alterman Is Born
Natan Alterman was born in Warsaw in 1910. He moved to Tel Aviv in 1925.
HistoryAugust 29, 1910
Georges Loinger Is Born
On this day, August 29, 1910, Georges Loinger was born in Strasbourg. He later helped about 350 Jewish children escape from occupied France into Switzerland.
HistoryApril 11, 1909
Tel Aviv Is Founded
On this day, April 11, 1909, families gathered on the dunes north of Jaffa and drew lots for the plots that became Ahuzat Bayit, later Tel Aviv.
HistoryJuly 3, 1904
Theodor Herzl Dies
On July 3, 1904, Theodor Herzl died at Edlach in Lower Austria. He was 44.
HistoryAugust 23, 1903–August 28, 1903
Herzl Proposes a Jewish Settlement in East Africa
At the Sixth Zionist Congress in August 1903, Theodor Herzl proposed a British offer of land in East Africa.
HistoryMarch 28, 1900
Mordechai Bentov Is Born
On March 28, 1900, Mordechai Bentov was born in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. He later signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
History28 August 1898
Second Zionist Congress Opens
The Second Zionist Congress opened in Basel on August 28, 1898, and sat through August 31. About 400 delegates attended. The Jewish Colonial Trust was founded.
History29 August 1897
First Zionist Congress Opens
The First Zionist Congress opened in Basel on August 29, 1897, and sat through August 31. Delegates adopted the Basel Program.
HistoryFebruary 14, 1896
Theodor Herzl Publishes Der Judenstaat
On this day, February 14, 1896, Theodor Herzl’s pamphlet Der Judenstaat was published. It argued for a sovereign Jewish state as a political answer to modern antisemitism.
HistoryFebruary 19, 1888
Rachel Cohen-Kagan Is Born
On February 19, 1888, Rachel Cohen-Kagan was born in Odessa. She later signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Historyc. 1878
Naphtali Herz Imber Writes Hatikvah
In 1878, Naphtali Herz Imber wrote the poem that became Hatikvah, probably in Iași.
HistoryMarch 1865
Max Bodenheimer Is Born
Max Isidor Bodenheimer was born in Stuttgart in March 1865. A Tübingen student file records the day as 21 March.
History1864
Nathan Birnbaum Is Born
Nathan Birnbaum was born in Vienna in 1864. He later turned from Zionism to religious Judaism.
HistoryMay 2, 1860
Theodor Herzl Is Born
On this day, May 2, 1860, Theodor Herzl was born in Budapest. He later organized political Zionism and convened the First Zionist Congress.
History1856
A. D. Gordon Is Born
Aaron David Gordon, later a Labor Zionist thinker of the Second Aliyah, was born in Troyanov in 1856. Later biographies give 9 or 10 June.
HistoryJanuary 18, 1854
Judah Touro Dies
On this day, January 18, 1854, Judah Touro died in New Orleans. His will funded Jewish congregations, civic institutions, and relief in Ottoman Palestine.
HistoryMarch 22, 1851
Mordecai Manuel Noah Dies
On March 22, 1851, Mordecai Manuel Noah died in New York. In 1825 he had tried to found a Jewish refuge called Ararat.
HistoryJuly 29, 1849
Max Nordau Is Born
Max Nordau was born Simon Maximilian Südfeld in Pest on 29 July 1849.
HistoryJanuary 31, 1848
Nathan Straus Is Born
On January 31, 1848, Nathan Straus was born in Otterberg, Bavaria. He later co-owned Macy’s and funded pasteurized milk.
HistoryJuly 24, 1834
Egyptian Troops Attack the Jews of Hebron
On July 24, 1834, Ibrahim Pasha’s troops took Hebron. Jews who had not joined the revolt were killed and robbed.
HistoryFebruary 10, 1831
Isaac Rülf Is Born
On February 10, 1831, Isaac Rülf was born in Rauischholzhausen. He later became rabbi of Memel and an early Zionist.
HistoryDecember 25, 1821
Leon Pinsker Is Born
Leon Pinsker was born in Tomaszów Lubelski. The civil date is 25 December 1821.
HistoryMarch 24, 1795
Zvi Hirsch Kalischer Is Born
On this day, March 24, 1795, Zvi Hirsch Kalischer was born in Lissa, in the Prussian province of Posen. He later argued for Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel.