1834 Safed Arab Pogrom
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− | + | Under the rule of the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1750 to 1918|Ottoman Turks]] the Jews of [[Safed]] were subjected to arbitrary discrimination and violence, both from the ruling Turks as well as the Arab local population. | |
== Historical Overview == | == Historical Overview == | ||
− | By the early | + | By the early 1800s the Jewish population of Tzfat had begun to grow, due to the immigration of Eastern European Ashkanazi Jews. Although the population suffered from rampant disease and poverty, new immigrants continued to chose Tzfat as their home when they came to live in the Holy Land. By 1834 the Jewish population of Tzfat numbered approximately two to four thousand people. |
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== Revolt == | == Revolt == | ||
− | In 1834 the local Arabs rebelled against the new Egyptian governor who ruled Ottoman Palestine between 1831 to 1841. The rebellion against this governor, Muhammad Ali, expanded to include attacks against the Jews of Palestine. While the Jews of | + | In 1834 the local Arabs rebelled against the new Egyptian governor who ruled Ottoman Palestine between 1831 to 1841. The rebellion against this governor, Muhammad Ali, expanded to include attacks against the Jews of Palestine. While the rebels did not harm the Jews of other cities where they rebelled, such as Jerusalem, a Safed Islamic clergyman named Muhamad Damoor incited the Moslems to attack the Jews of Tzfat. On June 15, 1834, local Arabs and Bedouins, including Arabs who lived in the [[Artists-Quarter-Safed|Arab Quarter of Tzfat]] itself, invaded [[Old-City-Safed|Tzfat’s Jewish Quarter]]. |
=== Destruction === | === Destruction === | ||
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=== Shelter === | === Shelter === | ||
− | The majority of the Jews living in Tzfat escaped | + | The majority of the Jews living in Tzfat escaped and took refuge in villages in the area, including Arab villages. Some hid in caves and vineyards. One rabbi paid the local qadi of Safed (religious judge) to allow approximately one thousand Jews to stay in the qadi’s courtyard but after a few days the qadi expelled them and they were forced to find refuge in the mountains. The people had no clothing, food or shelter. Many had run from their homes blindly and were unaware if and where their families had survived. |
=== Within the Old City === | === Within the Old City === | ||
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== Revolt’s End == | == Revolt’s End == | ||
− | The Jews who were hiding in the surrounding mountains were finally able to make contact with outsiders who related the events to Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian ruler | + | The Jews who were hiding in the surrounding mountains were finally able to make contact with outsiders who related the events to Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian ruler. Pasha sent a contingent of Lebanese Druze to put down the revolt. Ibrahim Pasha made an attempt to collect money from the Arab rioters but the Jews received very little compensation for their losses. Several of the Arab leaders of the pogrom were hung by Ibrahim Pasha. |
{{Safed History}} | {{Safed History}} | ||
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[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] | ||
[[Category:Jewish History]] | [[Category:Jewish History]] |