March 22

1144: This
date marks the first ritual murder libel which took place in in Norwich,
England. It set the pattern for subsequent accusations that would be made into
the 20th century all across Europe. A 12-year-old boy, William, was found dead
…

March 18

37: The Roman Senate
annuls Tiberius’ will and proclaims Caligula emperor. Caligula ruled from 37
until his death in 41. From the Jewish perspective he was not so much an
anti-Semite as a lunatic whose crazy behavior affected the Jews. The bi…

March
12

515
BCE: On the secular calendar the construction of the Second Temple was
completed. (Book of Ezra, 6:15 “And this house was finished on the third day of
the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the
king.”  Dar…

March 11

222: Severus Alexander began his reign as Roman
Emperor during which a table in Intercisa (Hungary) was inscribed as follows:
“To the Eternal God! For the salvation of our Lord; the pious, felicitous
Emperor Severus Alexander and the Empress …

March 8

1126: Alfonso VII is
proclaimed king of Castile and Leon, after the death of his mother Urraca.
Under the reign of Alfonso Christian Spain “became a refuge for the persecuted
Andalusian Jews.  The capital city of Toledo
became a new cente…

February 28

628: Persian
Shah Khosrau II who “conquered Jerusalem after a brief siege in 614 during the
Byzantine – Sasanian War” came passed away today.

1255: Bishop
Richard of Worms transferred to the chapter of the local cathedral, among other
rev…

February
26

11
BCE: According to some sources, the day on which Herod dedicates the renovated
Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to Heinrich Graetz, the building project
began in 20 BCE, the 18th year of Herod’s reign. A year and half
later, (18 BCE)…