26 Elul

Second day of Creation- G-d divided between the upper waters and the lower waters. According to the Midrash, Gehinnom (Hell) was also created today.

September 21, 1348- The Jews of Zurich, Switzerland, were accused of causing the Black Plague by poisoning wells and ritual murder. Some Jews burned to death and the rest were driven out of town.

September 28, 1655- Peter Stuyvesant barred Jews from military service in the American colonies.

September 21, 1710- Hodel, daughter of Moshe Kikinish of Lemberg, was martyred after falsely confessing to blood-ritual charges in order to save the lives of other Jews.

September 10, 1882- The Congress for the Safeguarding of Non-Jewish Interests, which opened in Dresden, Germany, was the first international assembly to promote anti-Semitism.

September 18, 1941- The Jewish community of Shirvint, Lithuania, was massacred by the Nazis.

September 5, 1972- Eleven Israeli athletes are murdered at the Munich Olympic Games.