Safed 1759 Earthquake
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{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
|title = Tzfat 1759 Earthquake | |title = Tzfat 1759 Earthquake | ||
− | |image = [[File: | + | |image = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Tzfat 1759 Earthquake]] |
|header1 = Hebrew: | |header1 = Hebrew: | ||
|data2 = רעידת האדמה בצפת של שנת 1759 | |data2 = רעידת האדמה בצפת של שנת 1759 | ||
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|data8 = Destruction and after-effects of the 1759 earthquake in Tzfat.}} | |data8 = Destruction and after-effects of the 1759 earthquake in Tzfat.}} | ||
− | + | By the mid 1700s the Jewish community in [[Safed|Tzfat]] had declined from [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1517 to 1759|its height of the 16th century]]. New Jewish immigrants preferred to establish their residence in Jerusalem or Tiberias. The destruction wrought by the 1759 earthquake cemented Tzfat’s decline as a center of Jewish life in Palestine. | |
== Population == | == Population == | ||
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=== Abuhav Synagogue === | === Abuhav Synagogue === | ||
− | + | Some historians believe that the original Abuhav synagogue was built in the 15th century near the base of the mountain, above the cemetery. They claim that it was rebuilt in its present site, on Abuhav Street further up the mountain, after the 1759 earthquake. Others cite the legend that the original synagogue existed in its present site, was destroyed in 1759 and rebuilt in the same spot. Both versions relate that the southern wall which held the Ark of the Torah scrolls did not collapse after the 1759 earthquake. | |
− | One of the Torah scrolls in the Ark had been written in the 15th century by Rabbi | + | One of the Torah scrolls in the Ark had been written in the 15th century by Rabbi Abuhav. According to Safed legend, Rabbi Abuhav warned that the Torah scroll was “not to be removed not in its proper time” -- meaning that the scroll could not be removed from the Ark other than ritual Torah-reading times. |
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+ | After the 1759 earthquake, ten men immersed in a mikve -- ritual bath -- so as to remove the Torah scroll and place it in a safe place as the synagogue was rebuilt. They succeeded in moving the scroll to safer quarters but within a year, all ten men died. | ||
[[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on the [[Abuhav Synagogue]]''' | [[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on the [[Abuhav Synagogue]]''' |
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