Jehoaikim, King of Judah, burnt a scroll dictated by the prophet Jeremiah and written by his disciple Baruch son of Neriah. This scroll was the book of Lamentations, and was written to forewarn the king of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah ch. 36. Megilat Taanit, perek ha’acharon. It should be noted that other sources provide alternate dates—see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:1 and Magen Avraham ad loc.)
Link: Jehoahaz and Jehoaikim
Death of Herod, King of Judea. Herod seized the rule from
the Hasmoneans, after killing them all. Fearing that the rabbis would challenge
his authority, he killed them all, leaving only Bava ben Buta. Later, out of
remorse for his cruelty, he had the
Link: Herod the Great
Once a month, as the moon waxes in the sky, we recite a special blessing called Kiddush Levanah, "the sanctification of the moon," praising the Creator for His wondrous work we call astronomy.
Kiddush Levanah is recited after nightfall, usually on Saturday night. The blessing is concluded with songs and dancing, because our nation is likened to the moon—as it waxes and wanes, so have we throughout history. When we say this blessing, we renew our trust that very soon, the light of G‑d's presence will fill all the earth and our people will be redeemed from exile.
Though Kiddush Levanah can be recited as early as three days after the moon's rebirth, the kabbalah tells us it is best to wait a full week, till the seventh of the month. Once 15 days have passed, the moon begins to wane once more and the season for saying the blessing has passed.
Links:
Kiddush Levana: Sanctification of the Moon
Brief Guide to Kiddush Levanah: Thank G‑d for the Moon!
From a letter to one who had fallen into extreme debt, could find no way out, and had become depressed (paraphrased for clarity):
When spirits are down, your confidence in G‑d is weakened. That’s not good, because everything depends upon that spirit of confidence.
Your confidence when things get rough is the measure of how tightly you have tied your material world in with your Creator.
Tighten that rope, ramp your confidence in G‑d up to its fullest, and you will not lack anything—because your world will be synchronized with a higher world where nothing could possibly be lacking.
How do you tighten it? Only by working on yourself when challenges such as these come along.
Real confidence means that even when all natural means have been exhausted, you are perfectly confident, beyond any doubt, that everything is going to be 100% good, visibly and obvious to all—a good livelihood, good health, everything. For G‑d, the natural order poses no obstacle.
As soon as you will raise yourself just a little higher than the earth—as soon as you will get yourself to be a believing Jew, absolutely confident that you have no master over you other than G‑d—then you will be able to make His reality your reality as well.
For you, here in this world, nothing within the natural order will be able to affect you in any way other than for the good.