1838 Safed Plunder
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|data6 = Attack on the Jews of Tzfat in 1834 by invading Druzes and local Arabs. | |data6 = Attack on the Jews of Tzfat in 1834 by invading Druzes and local Arabs. | ||
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| + | The '''1838 Safed Plunder''' was led by local Druze tribes as part of their revult against Egyptian governor Ibrahim Pasha who had taken over the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|Ottoman rulership of the area]]. Druze rebels, joined by local Arabs attacked the [[Old-City-Safed|Jewish Quarter]] looting the homes and [[Tzfat-Synagogues|synagogues]] over a three-day period. | ||
The population of [[Safed|Tzfat]] had already been severely reduced in the early 19th century by a plague in 1812 and the month-long [[1834 Safed Arab Pogrom|Arab attack of 1834]]. Following the [[Safed-1837-Earthquake|1837 earthquake]], few Jews returned to the city, but those who did found themselves under attack again in 1838. | The population of [[Safed|Tzfat]] had already been severely reduced in the early 19th century by a plague in 1812 and the month-long [[1834 Safed Arab Pogrom|Arab attack of 1834]]. Following the [[Safed-1837-Earthquake|1837 earthquake]], few Jews returned to the city, but those who did found themselves under attack again in 1838. | ||
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
| − | The ruling [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|Ottoman Turks]] lost control of Palestine for ten years between 1831 and 1841 to the Egyptians. Local tribes revolted against Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian governor during this time. In January 1838 the Druze revolted and captured an Egyptian garrison outside of Tzfat. The Jews of Tzfat relied on the protection of the Arab governor but he was not able to withstand the attack. The local militia fled Tzfat and the Druze rebels attacked the [[Old-City-Safed|Jewish Quarter]]. | + | The ruling [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|Ottoman Turks]] lost control of Palestine for ten years between 1831 and 1841 to the Egyptians. Local tribes revolted against Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian governor during this time. In January 1838 the Druze revolted and captured an Egyptian garrison outside of Tzfat. The Jews of Tzfat relied on the protection of the Arab governor but he was not able to withstand the attack. The local militia fled Tzfat and the Druze rebels, the very same people that defended the Jews 4 years earlier during the [[Jews 1834 Safed Arab Pogrom|Arab riots]], attacked the [[Old-City-Safed|Jewish Quarter]]. |
== Plunder == | == Plunder == | ||
Revision as of 11:30, 7 August 2013
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| Hebrew: | |
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| ביזת צפת בשנת תקצ"ד | |
| Description: | |
| Attack on the Jews of Tzfat in 1834 by invading Druzes and local Arabs. |
The 1838 Safed Plunder was led by local Druze tribes as part of their revult against Egyptian governor Ibrahim Pasha who had taken over the Ottoman rulership of the area. Druze rebels, joined by local Arabs attacked the Jewish Quarter looting the homes and synagogues over a three-day period.
The population of Tzfat had already been severely reduced in the early 19th century by a plague in 1812 and the month-long Arab attack of 1834. Following the 1837 earthquake, few Jews returned to the city, but those who did found themselves under attack again in 1838.
Overview
The ruling Ottoman Turks lost control of Palestine for ten years between 1831 and 1841 to the Egyptians. Local tribes revolted against Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian governor during this time. In January 1838 the Druze revolted and captured an Egyptian garrison outside of Tzfat. The Jews of Tzfat relied on the protection of the Arab governor but he was not able to withstand the attack. The local militia fled Tzfat and the Druze rebels, the very same people that defended the Jews 4 years earlier during the Arab riots, attacked the Jewish Quarter.
Plunder
The local Arabs joined the Druze in plundering the Jewish Quarter. The Druze and Arabs believed that the Jews had hidden treasures and they looted the homes and synagogues of the Jewish Quarter over a three-day period. There were no fatalities but this episode convinced almost all of Tzfat’s remaining Jews to leave.
Survivors
According to a census taken by Judith and Moses Montefiori, who visited Safed in 1839, only 1,357 Jews were left in Safed after the pogrom. Most were Sephardic and a few Ashkenazi. Montefiori donated large sums of money to restart the community and fund its institutions and the residents who were prepared to stay and revitalize the city.
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