Today (Elul 5) in History

Just in case you thought there was no Jewish history in Israel between the Roman expulsion and Zionism:

The first group of Chassidim, led by R. Mendel of Vitebsk, R. Avraham of Kalisk, and R. Yisroel of Polotzk, reached Eretz Yisrael, 5537 [1777].

Source: Chabad Chodesh

By the way: August 15th, 2005, when the Gaza pullout started, was (incredibly) Av 10, the day after Tisha B'Av.