Iyar 29

Yahrtzeit of Shmuel (Samuel) the Prophet (930-878 BCE). Shmuel was born to Chana, who had been barren for many years and prayed intensely for a child. Shmuel was raised in an atmosphere of great holiness, and became a leading prophet in Israel. Shmuel's greatest contribution was in anointing the first king of Israel, Saul, and later anointing King David in his stead. (Some sources list Shmuel's yahrtzeit as Iyar 28.)