AUGUST 12/MENACHEM AV 8

3827 (67 C.E.):

Fighting broke out inside the besieged city of Jerusalem between Jewish factions divided on the question of whether or not to fight the Roman armies encircling the city . One group set fire to the city's considerable food stores, consigning its population to starvation and its ultimate fall three years later.

1263:  

By order of King James I of Spain, Nachmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman—the RaMBaN) was compelled to participate in a public debate held in the king's presence, against the Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. His brilliant defense of Judaism and refutations of Christiani's claims served as the basis for many such future disputations through the generations. However, since his victory was an insult to the king's religion, Nachmanides was forced to flee Spain to Jerusalem, where he revived the Jewish community. The synagogue he built in the Old City is still in use today and is one of the oldest standing synagogues in the world.

Public Domain