Tiberias Late Ottoman Era
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| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| טבריה בתקופת האוטומנים | |
| Pronunciation: | |
| T’ver-ia | |
| Other Names | |
| Tiberias of the 19th and early 20th centuries | |
| Description: | |
| The Jewish population surge begun by Rabbi Chaim Abulafia’s settlement in Tiberias in the 18th century continued to bring new Jewish residents to Tiberias |
Contents |
[edit] Tiberias of the 18th - 20th centuries
The resurgence of Tiberias’s Jewish settlement was bolstered by the “aliyah” -- immigration -- of the late 18th and early 19th century. Ashkanazi Jews, both Hassidim and Perushim, moved to israel in increasing numbers and many settled in Tiberias.
[edit] Earthquakes
The two large earthquakes that devastated much of Northern Israel in the 18th and 19th centuries affected Tiberias as well. The repopulation of Tiberias had just begun when the 1759 earthquake struck so the damage was not as great as might otherwise have occurred. However, the 1837 earthquake, which almost completely destroyed nearby Safed, inflicted considerable damage on Tiberias.The entire population of the city, including Jews, Christians and Muslims was estimated at approximately 2000 people before the earthquake of which an estimated 500 died.
The northern section of Tiberias, the Jewish quarter, was the most severely damaged. The wall which had enclosed the Jewish quarter collapsed and many of the homes in the quarter fell down. Rabbi Chaim Aboulafia’s Etz HaChaim synagogue was destroyed and a new synagogue, named "Senior" in honor of Rabbi Haim Shamuel Hachohen, was built.
[edit] Municipality
The Ottoman Turks conferred the title of “municipality” on Tiberias in 1877 and the city grew as new Jewish immigrants began to settle the area and establish agricultural villages and collectives along the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias became a commercial center for these new settlers who conducted trade in Tiberias and used the medical and governmental services available in the town.
The Jewish Colonization Association, under the auspices of Baron De Rothschild, established three farms in the region surrounding Tiberias. More Jews moved to Tiberias and a new Jewish suburb of Tiberias, “Moarris” (later renamed “Akhva”) was built which subsequently merged with Baron De Rothschild’s farms.
[edit] Medical Care
In 1884 Dr. David Torrance, a Scottish physician, was appalled to find that there were almost no medical services available to Tiberias residents. He determined to rectify the situation while ridding the city of its open sewage lines and rampant disease. He established the Scottish Church’s Mission Hospital to preach Christianity while healing the sick and infirm. Many Jews refused to use the hospital’s services because of its practice of trying to convert Jews but some Jews did use the hospital’s service and slowly, medical care improved.
[edit] World War I
At the outset of World War I, 6000 of Tiberias’ 8000 inhabitants were Jewish. The war cut off ties with Europe, denying the community the “Halouka” -- distribution -- of charity funds which many residents had previously depended upon. Some money came from American Jews until America entered the war.
The wartime population of Tiberias increased due to the arrival of Jews from other areas of Israel who had been exiled from their cities by the Turks.