May 27

1096 (3rd
of Sivan): Count Emicho and the Crusaders entered Mayence, Germany. The Jews
took refuge in the Episcopal Palace and committed mass suicide rather than
convert. One Jew by the name of Isaac, his two daughters and a friend called
Uriah…

May 24

1218:  The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt.
The driving forces behind the crusade were two Popes who broke new ground in
the mistreatment of the Jews – Innocent III and his successor, Honorius
III.   One of their mo…

 May 16

0942(21st
of Iyar, 4702): Saadia Gaon passed away. Born in 882, Saadia Gaon was the head
of the Talmudic Academy of Sura (Babylonia). He was a recognized authority on
the Talmud, and a profound student of philosophy and philology. Saadia …

 May 15

392:
Theodosius I, who had been emperor of the eastern half of the Roman Empire
became the last ruler of the entire Roman Empire (east and west) “A general of
Spanish origin, and the son of another general, was chosen to replace Valens
wh…

May 1

305:  Due to age and ill health and a desire to
provide stability for the Roman Empire Diocletian resigned as Emperor of
Rome.  Relatively speaking, Diocletian’s
reign was a positive period for the Jews. 
Diocletian was not overly…