Today in Israeli History: September 29 – October 5

September 29, 1923 — Syria Gains Golan Heights

The Golan Heights became part of Syria under borders drawn by British and French diplomats.

Under borders drawn primarily by Britain and France after World War I, the new nation of Syria gains control of the Golan Heights. The French, who held sway over the government in Damascus, block Zionist efforts to buy large portions of the Golan over the next two decades. The French and Syrians worry that such land sales will lead the British to annex the mountains to Palestine.

September 30, 1957 — Backdated Signature Facilitates Nuclear Program

Former French Prime Minister Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury visits Israeli Finance Minister Levi Eshkol in June 1958, less than nine months after he approved French participation in Israel’s nuclear project at Dimona. By Yaron Mirlin, National Photo Collection of Israel.

French Prime Minister Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury backdates to today his signature on a letter granting Israel’s request for cooperation on a heavy-water nuclear reactor. He actually signs the letter Oct. 1, the day he is voted out of office, but he uses Sept. 30 to ensure the validity of his approval. The agreement emphasizes peaceful power generation, but the project is meant to support weapons programs.

October 1, 1947 — Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover is Born

Aaron Ciechanover shared the 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry. By Amos Ben Gershom, Israeli Government Press Office.

Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Aaron Ciechanover is born in Haifa to parents who emigrated from Poland before World War II. A 1974 graduate of Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, he becomes one of Israel’s first Nobel laureates in 2004 when he shares the chemistry prize with fellow Israeli Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose for characterizing the method cells use to degrade and recycle proteins with ubiquitin.

October 2, 1187 — Saladin Captures Jerusalem

Bailin of Ibelin surrenders Jerusalem to Saladin.

Saladin, the sultan of Egypt and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, captures Jerusalem from crusaders after a siege that began Sept. 20. Saladin eventually signs a treaty with English King Richard the Lionheart to divide the Land of Israel between crusaders along the coast and Muslims in Jerusalem and the interior. Unlike the crusaders, Saladin is tolerant of Jews, and he allows them to live in the holy city again in 1190.

October 3, 2005 — Choreographer Sarah Levy-Tanai Dies

Jerusalem native Sarah Levy-Tanai won the Israel Prize in 1973. Israel Press and Photo Agency, Dan Hadani Collection, National Library of Israel, CC BY 4.0.

Sarah Levy-Tanai, a choreographer who incorporated Mizrahi and Ashkenazi elements and won the Israel Prize in art, music and dance in 1973, dies at age 94 or 95 (the Jerusalem native was never sure whether she was born in 1910 or 1911). The daughter of Yemeni parents, she founded the Inbal Dance Theater in 1949 and directed it into the 1990s. As a teacher, she also wrote plays and composed songs and dances for kindergartners.

October 4, 1992 — El Al 747 Crashes

An apartment complex in Bijlmermeer is damaged after being struck by an El Al cargo plane Oct. 4, 1992. By Jos Wiersema.

El Al Flight 1862, a 747 carrying cargo from New York to Tel Aviv, crashes into an apartment complex in Bijlmermeer, Netherlands, 16 minutes after taking off from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, where the plane had stopped for a crew change. The jumbo jet is trying to return to the airport for an emergency landing after a mechanical failure causes an engine to break off and strike another engine.

October 5, 1898 — Painter Nachum Gutman is Born

Nachum Gutman won prizes for art and for children’s literature. Dan Hadani Collection, National Library of Israel.

Painter Nachum Gutman is born in what is now Moldova. At 7, he moves with his family to Ottoman Palestine. Gutman paves the way for a new generation of Israeli artists, writers, painters and sculptors. He pioneers a style that moves away from European influences, and he rejects the lessons of his Bezalel teachers for being too European-centered. He also is a writer and wins the Israel Prize for his contribution to children’s literature.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.