(Hebrew: טבח בצפת 1838 / Translation: 1838 Massacre in Tzfat / Definition: Arab pogrom in Tzfat 1838 / Description: Arab attack on the Jews of Tzfat in 1838)

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 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.