B"H
The latest video of the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows how the Hamas is using civilians as human shields.
Monday, January 12, 2009
"Neve Zedek" & "Florentin" in Tel Aviv
In Florentin
B"H
At the moment, all the reports about the ongoing war in Gaza are becoming a little too much. Is seems like Israel only consists of war and terror. However, besides some politics and especially religion, I want to show the beauty of our country.
There are actually many positive sides and throughout all my years of living here (I think almost 14 years), I got to know the country and its inhabitants from a very different point of view.
So, why not also show how we live in Israel ?
In one of my German blogs I have already started describing some neighbourhoods in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. In English, I am starting today with the famous and popular Tel Aviv neighbourhoods "Neve Zedek" and "Florentin".
Both neighbourhoods are easy to find, as their location is very central (near Allenby Street in downtown Tel Aviv).
What does a not necessarily haredi Israeli love to do on Shabbat ? Especially when the weather is nice ?
Right, he likes to go on hiking trips. Walking and getting to know the own environment much better. Discover unknown places and simply have fun and enjoy nature. I am myself a nature freak and don't like sitting too much inside on the Shabbatot.
Last Shabbat, I joined the hiking society and started walking downtown. Weather was great with almost 20 degrees Celsius and the sky was completely blue. So far about the romantic part.
I walked through Rothschild Boulevard (Sderot Rothschild), a street with a long history. Once the high society part of the city, in the 70ies and 80ies, Rothschild got neglected. However, suddenly in the 90ies until now, the street has been experiencing a revival by becoming the old / new Yuppie center.
If you walk through Rothschild, you automatically find your way to Allenby Street. If you cross, you get to the "Shalom Tower". For many years, the tower was THE symbol of modern Tel Aviv, as it used to be the highest building in the entire country. Now, Tel Aviv is full of much higher and more modern towers than the old "Shalom - Tower". Countless offices and shops are located in the tower as well as the Ministry of the Interior of Tel Aviv. In case you need to renew your visa, go to the Shalom - Tower.
Neve Zedek
Right behind it, towards the beach, you can find the "Ahad Ha'am Street" or Lilienblum. The "Shalom -Tower" and all the other new skyscrapers around represent a modern Hightech Tel Aviv. However, if you walk down Ahad Ha'am or Lilienblum, you get to the village - like neighbourhood "Neve Zedek".
Neve Zedek is the first Tel Aviv settlement; the first old "Yishuv" and thus, the first houses built. You are in the middle of a city and suddenly you are standing in the middle of a romantic small village. Away from the city life, you find a cozy atmosphere. The clocks are "moving slowly" and there is no hectic at all. A different world in the middle of the world surrounded by skyscrapers with banks and insurance companies.
Idyllic but surrounded by modern buildings
"Neve Zedek" offers a lot to its visitors. Cafes and shops, parts of them open on Shabbat. Lots of green and stylish housing.
If you turn left into Celouche and cross the small bridge, you get back into the "real life". Back in a dirty road full of garages and hardware stores. This is Abarbanel Street until you reach Florentin Street.
And here we are in the second "IN" - neighbourhood called "Florentin". Normal and crazy people, artists and those who see it as an art to remain alive. More Hippie style but anything but conservative or Yuppie.
Whoever feels like keep on walking can continue for another few minutes until he reaches the antique town of Yaffo with its port. Others, like me, can crawl back into downtown Tel Aviv. Tired and finished from all the walking. Have a nice walk back at the beach.
Florentin
Behind the old "Dolphinarium" (towards Yaffo), you can find a new promenade with a great view onto the Mediteranean. Today, the "Dolphinarium" is just a ruine with a huge parking lot in front of it. Abandoned and neglected.
Every time I pass there, I am being reminded of the terror attack taking place on 1st June 2001. More than twenty Russian teens died on the spot when a suicide bomber blew himself up while the kids were waiting for the entrance into the former disco "Dolphinarium". One day, the entire complex will just be demolished and, if you ask me, it won't take too long anymore.
Those of you visiting Tel Aviv shouldn't only go to the Carmel - Market or to the beach, as the city has much more to offer.
Florentin
Artistic walls in Neve Zedek
A real "Kiddush HaShem" ?
B"H
The following opinion is my personal opinion and, of course, other people with different opinions may claim that this is not true at all. However, I have been experiencing it this way.
Israeli national religious girls, in particular from the "Noam - Schools", love to search for heros. Heros from their own ideology and sometimes it is hard to suffer through their arrogance and ignorance when it comes to the Secular or even to the Haredim. Only national religious ideology counts and everythings else remains somewhere outside.
Those girls dream of a Shidduch (match) who has to be a religious Zionist, has served in the army and contains all these other Zionist ideals: love to Eretz Israel, fights the Arabs and everything else to serve G - d and the country. But note that G - d and the country don't always go together with the government.
What's wrong with that ?
Generally speaking nothing, but listen to what one of my private national religious students (from NOAM) told me last Thursday:
"Half of the nine fallen Israeli soldiers from the war in Gaza were national religious and went to the movement's educational institutions. And most of them knew each other more or less. And now they were killed which seems to be a "real Kiddush HaShem". Means, they died while fulfilling G - d's will fighting for the country.
When I made the remark that there are also secular pr even haredi soldiers fighting and dieing for our country, the girl kept her silence. She had no answer.
I am just wondering if "Noam" is teaching such ideology or if it is just the idea of naive teenie girls. Girls looking for their private heros within their own society.
However, a real Kiddush HaShem is this way of thinking not, as G - d created all kinds of Jews and not only the national religious "heros".
The following opinion is my personal opinion and, of course, other people with different opinions may claim that this is not true at all. However, I have been experiencing it this way.
Israeli national religious girls, in particular from the "Noam - Schools", love to search for heros. Heros from their own ideology and sometimes it is hard to suffer through their arrogance and ignorance when it comes to the Secular or even to the Haredim. Only national religious ideology counts and everythings else remains somewhere outside.
Those girls dream of a Shidduch (match) who has to be a religious Zionist, has served in the army and contains all these other Zionist ideals: love to Eretz Israel, fights the Arabs and everything else to serve G - d and the country. But note that G - d and the country don't always go together with the government.
What's wrong with that ?
Generally speaking nothing, but listen to what one of my private national religious students (from NOAM) told me last Thursday:
"Half of the nine fallen Israeli soldiers from the war in Gaza were national religious and went to the movement's educational institutions. And most of them knew each other more or less. And now they were killed which seems to be a "real Kiddush HaShem". Means, they died while fulfilling G - d's will fighting for the country.
When I made the remark that there are also secular pr even haredi soldiers fighting and dieing for our country, the girl kept her silence. She had no answer.
I am just wondering if "Noam" is teaching such ideology or if it is just the idea of naive teenie girls. Girls looking for their private heros within their own society.
However, a real Kiddush HaShem is this way of thinking not, as G - d created all kinds of Jews and not only the national religious "heros".
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Change in kabbalistic Thought after the Expulsion from Spain (1492)
B"H
In our times, we always think of the coming of the Meshiach as something having to do with the future. With our behaviour, with our capability of rectifying the world and overcome our own Yetzer HaRah (evil side within us). Something futuristic.
Everyone says that the Meshiach isn't too far anymore. He is almost here and we are already in his footsteps. Especially as we get closer to the Jewish year 6000 (now we are in the year 5769).
The Talmud Sanhedrin regards the year 6000 as the year of Meshiach. It is rather funny because in the same paragraphs (Passukim), the Talmud warns not to make any predictions about the days of Meshiach.
These 6000 years stand for the six days of Creation. "And G - d rested on the seventh day". The year 7000 will be the time of Meshiach, the time of rest.
After the expulsion of Spanish Jewry in 1492 through King Ferdinand and his wife Isabella, the Jews were in a state of shock. This shocking experience also found its way into kabbalistic thought.
Don't forget that for many centuries, the Jews in Spain had a great life. Philosophy, Kabbalah, poetry, everything was blossoming and was suddenly brought to an end. Not so suddenly but still surprisingly. What a great Jewish life was there in Spain ? The Rambam (Maimonides), the Abarbanel, Rabbi Moshe De Leon (Zohar), and all those famous Kabbalists. After the expulsion, the Kabbalah became more and more messianic. The shock was deep and people wanted Meshiach now. The same as we today !
However, the Kabbalists in those days changed their way of thinking and didn't see all those future Tikkunim (rectifications) as that important for bringing the Meshiach. They rather decided to go back to the source: to the time of Creation.
Retracing the path that leads to primordial beginnings of Creation and revelation and thus maybe return a unity and purity of the beginning of the Creation process.
In my eyes, those thoughts are rather interesting. Especially because today we hear so much about all these futuristic ideas. It could be that I just had enough of those and like the idea of something else.
The Kabbalists in those days loved to experiment with Kabbalah and caused new ideas. This is what we need today. Some really religious Kabbalists having the courage to invent something, not necessarily new, but cause some different aspects.
__________________
Source:
Gershom Scholem in "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism"
In our times, we always think of the coming of the Meshiach as something having to do with the future. With our behaviour, with our capability of rectifying the world and overcome our own Yetzer HaRah (evil side within us). Something futuristic.
Everyone says that the Meshiach isn't too far anymore. He is almost here and we are already in his footsteps. Especially as we get closer to the Jewish year 6000 (now we are in the year 5769).
The Talmud Sanhedrin regards the year 6000 as the year of Meshiach. It is rather funny because in the same paragraphs (Passukim), the Talmud warns not to make any predictions about the days of Meshiach.
These 6000 years stand for the six days of Creation. "And G - d rested on the seventh day". The year 7000 will be the time of Meshiach, the time of rest.
After the expulsion of Spanish Jewry in 1492 through King Ferdinand and his wife Isabella, the Jews were in a state of shock. This shocking experience also found its way into kabbalistic thought.
Don't forget that for many centuries, the Jews in Spain had a great life. Philosophy, Kabbalah, poetry, everything was blossoming and was suddenly brought to an end. Not so suddenly but still surprisingly. What a great Jewish life was there in Spain ? The Rambam (Maimonides), the Abarbanel, Rabbi Moshe De Leon (Zohar), and all those famous Kabbalists. After the expulsion, the Kabbalah became more and more messianic. The shock was deep and people wanted Meshiach now. The same as we today !
However, the Kabbalists in those days changed their way of thinking and didn't see all those future Tikkunim (rectifications) as that important for bringing the Meshiach. They rather decided to go back to the source: to the time of Creation.
Retracing the path that leads to primordial beginnings of Creation and revelation and thus maybe return a unity and purity of the beginning of the Creation process.
In my eyes, those thoughts are rather interesting. Especially because today we hear so much about all these futuristic ideas. It could be that I just had enough of those and like the idea of something else.
The Kabbalists in those days loved to experiment with Kabbalah and caused new ideas. This is what we need today. Some really religious Kabbalists having the courage to invent something, not necessarily new, but cause some different aspects.
__________________
Source:
Gershom Scholem in "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism"
The End of the World
B"H
When I was walking in downtown Tel Aviv this morning, I was stopped by a rather hippie looking elderly lady. She was so unbelievable nice that she even wanted to rescue me from the "End of the World". According to her, the endtime would be very close and if I don’t believe, I will go to hell.
Well, she didn't say it this way but put it into nicer words: "I won't survive the great catastrophe laying ahead of us".
I asked her from which group she is and she replied something strange. It could have been Scientology or the Witnesses so - and - so. Unfortunately, the Scientology Church is becoming more and more obvious in Tel Aviv.
The lady showed me this yellow paper with all kinds of verses on it. As she started reading, I interrupted and teased her that she cannot pronounce one of G - d's names E - lo - him but rather E - lo - kim. The woman was a little stunned, looked at me and said that only the religious say this. At the same moment, she packed her stuff and walked away.
She had probably thought that I am one of those secular ignorant Jews not knowing anything. This shows us that we shouldn't always go according to people's clothes, as you may be very much mistaken. But I still like my blue Jeans and black shirt.
When I was walking in downtown Tel Aviv this morning, I was stopped by a rather hippie looking elderly lady. She was so unbelievable nice that she even wanted to rescue me from the "End of the World". According to her, the endtime would be very close and if I don’t believe, I will go to hell.
Well, she didn't say it this way but put it into nicer words: "I won't survive the great catastrophe laying ahead of us".
I asked her from which group she is and she replied something strange. It could have been Scientology or the Witnesses so - and - so. Unfortunately, the Scientology Church is becoming more and more obvious in Tel Aviv.
The lady showed me this yellow paper with all kinds of verses on it. As she started reading, I interrupted and teased her that she cannot pronounce one of G - d's names E - lo - him but rather E - lo - kim. The woman was a little stunned, looked at me and said that only the religious say this. At the same moment, she packed her stuff and walked away.
She had probably thought that I am one of those secular ignorant Jews not knowing anything. This shows us that we shouldn't always go according to people's clothes, as you may be very much mistaken. But I still like my blue Jeans and black shirt.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Shabbat Shalom
B"H
I am staying in Tel Aviv this Shabbat. Mostly relaxing but going to the Synagogue at least once. Nothing exciting but lots of relaxing after the busy weeks with lots of nightshifts at the bakery.
Shabbat Shalom to everyone and try to relax as well !
I am staying in Tel Aviv this Shabbat. Mostly relaxing but going to the Synagogue at least once. Nothing exciting but lots of relaxing after the busy weeks with lots of nightshifts at the bakery.
Shabbat Shalom to everyone and try to relax as well !
You must be Jewish !
B"H
Tourists from all over the world come to Israel which is good for our economy and nice. But, as we are all humans, no one is perfect. Not every Israeli and not every tourist.
Many tourists come here with their own package full of problems and even prejudices against Jews. The moment one Israeli doesn't behave in a nice patient expected way, lots of tourists remind all of us that we are Jewish.
In an Arab shop I once heard from a Gentile tourist that all the Jews cheated him with the prices. The Arab started gossiping his political ideology, laughed and cheated the tourist the same way.
Other tourists tell Israelis straight away that because they are unfriendly, they must be Jewish. It is our fault that we increase anti - Semitism in this world.
My question is:
Would anyone say this to a Catholic or Protestant ?
Tourists from all over the world come to Israel which is good for our economy and nice. But, as we are all humans, no one is perfect. Not every Israeli and not every tourist.
Many tourists come here with their own package full of problems and even prejudices against Jews. The moment one Israeli doesn't behave in a nice patient expected way, lots of tourists remind all of us that we are Jewish.
In an Arab shop I once heard from a Gentile tourist that all the Jews cheated him with the prices. The Arab started gossiping his political ideology, laughed and cheated the tourist the same way.
Other tourists tell Israelis straight away that because they are unfriendly, they must be Jewish. It is our fault that we increase anti - Semitism in this world.
My question is:
Would anyone say this to a Catholic or Protestant ?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
War & Army
B"H
We are having another war going on in Israel. Since the existence of the present State of Israel, we have been fighting for our country. Some Jews may claim their anti - Zionist ideas and say that this country doesn't belong to the Jews and Meshiach should come first. Others like me, who actually live in this country think in a different way. For me, Israel is my homeland and I don't care if the present state is a religious one or not.
Okay, we don't have a country run according to Torah law but, at least, we Jews have our own place. A place where we don't have to justify ourselves that we are Jewish. We can live freely, have kosher food, find thousands of Synagogues and I don't need to make a fuss at a company when taking a day off because my boss doesn't know what Pessach or Rosh HaShana is. Here we are Jews and no matter if secular or religious, people know a Synagogue, Yom Kippur and Shabbat. It is a great feeling living among Jews and having an own country. And as everything depends on G - d and goes according to His will anyway, so why should this present state not be included in His will ? Why not being a forerunner of Meshiach and a country run by Torah law ?
Years ago, I even wanted to join the army. Not because I was totally crazy about being in this country but rather because I felt it was my duty. I am glad to be in Israel and wanted to do my share as every other soldier does. Unfortunately, I was too old.
One should be in the early twenties and I was already 30. A pity but the army offered me to volunteer at a checkpoint around Jerusalem. The only problem is that I need a steady income and the volunteer job would have only paid for my health - and social insurance.
Women in the army ?
Most religious, even the national religious, consider this as immodest or unnecessary. Honestly, what can you achieve as a female serving in the army ? Nothing. Has there ever been a famous female general ? No.
Thus, the national religious send their daughters so a social service (Sherut Le'umit) and the haredi daughters get married at a young age anyway. Nevertheless, the national religious guys anxiously join the army but their haredi colleagues don't at all. They sign up in Yeshivot and are thus, not obligated to serve in the army forces.
But especially now in these days, I look at all the young soldiers walking around in the streets and there are the Haredim on the other side. In times of war, the country looks up to his soldiers because they secure our existence.
Secure ?
Isn't it only G - d securing our whole being including our country ?
Yes, and we definitely need religious people praying all the time. However, you also have to take action and do something (fight) and not sit the entire day relying on G - d and hoping for His help to come. Do something, as King David or King Salomon did.
Young soldiers are dieing and I feel terribly sorry for their parents. Sacrifizing their child for the country. On the other hand, I see Haredim praying which is necessary. But I simply cannot get rid of the feeling that I wish the Haredim would join the army. At least in times of war. Do something and not only read the news and stare curiously at all the army equipment while passing by in the streets.
Avraham went out to war, Yaakov got prepared before meeting his brother Esav, Moshe went out to war, the later Kings of Israel did, the fighters in the Warzaw Ghetto did. Anyone in Jewish history did. And where are you, the Haredim, today ???
We are having another war going on in Israel. Since the existence of the present State of Israel, we have been fighting for our country. Some Jews may claim their anti - Zionist ideas and say that this country doesn't belong to the Jews and Meshiach should come first. Others like me, who actually live in this country think in a different way. For me, Israel is my homeland and I don't care if the present state is a religious one or not.
Okay, we don't have a country run according to Torah law but, at least, we Jews have our own place. A place where we don't have to justify ourselves that we are Jewish. We can live freely, have kosher food, find thousands of Synagogues and I don't need to make a fuss at a company when taking a day off because my boss doesn't know what Pessach or Rosh HaShana is. Here we are Jews and no matter if secular or religious, people know a Synagogue, Yom Kippur and Shabbat. It is a great feeling living among Jews and having an own country. And as everything depends on G - d and goes according to His will anyway, so why should this present state not be included in His will ? Why not being a forerunner of Meshiach and a country run by Torah law ?
Years ago, I even wanted to join the army. Not because I was totally crazy about being in this country but rather because I felt it was my duty. I am glad to be in Israel and wanted to do my share as every other soldier does. Unfortunately, I was too old.
One should be in the early twenties and I was already 30. A pity but the army offered me to volunteer at a checkpoint around Jerusalem. The only problem is that I need a steady income and the volunteer job would have only paid for my health - and social insurance.
Women in the army ?
Most religious, even the national religious, consider this as immodest or unnecessary. Honestly, what can you achieve as a female serving in the army ? Nothing. Has there ever been a famous female general ? No.
Thus, the national religious send their daughters so a social service (Sherut Le'umit) and the haredi daughters get married at a young age anyway. Nevertheless, the national religious guys anxiously join the army but their haredi colleagues don't at all. They sign up in Yeshivot and are thus, not obligated to serve in the army forces.
But especially now in these days, I look at all the young soldiers walking around in the streets and there are the Haredim on the other side. In times of war, the country looks up to his soldiers because they secure our existence.
Secure ?
Isn't it only G - d securing our whole being including our country ?
Yes, and we definitely need religious people praying all the time. However, you also have to take action and do something (fight) and not sit the entire day relying on G - d and hoping for His help to come. Do something, as King David or King Salomon did.
Young soldiers are dieing and I feel terribly sorry for their parents. Sacrifizing their child for the country. On the other hand, I see Haredim praying which is necessary. But I simply cannot get rid of the feeling that I wish the Haredim would join the army. At least in times of war. Do something and not only read the news and stare curiously at all the army equipment while passing by in the streets.
Avraham went out to war, Yaakov got prepared before meeting his brother Esav, Moshe went out to war, the later Kings of Israel did, the fighters in the Warzaw Ghetto did. Anyone in Jewish history did. And where are you, the Haredim, today ???
Prayer for Soldiers at Kever Rachel
B"H
The Morrocan Rabbi Raphael Abuchazeira and his Chassidim prayed for the well - being of injured Israeli soldiers at Kever Rachel (Rachel's Grave) outside Bethlehem (Beit Lechem).
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Wake up, America !!!
B"H
Americans just look what you let into your country during the past years. As it is sad on the video: This is not Gaza but Fort Lauderdale / Florida.
To the Palestinian woman screaming for putting the Jews into the "Auschitz ovens": I thought that the Holocaust is only Zionist propaganda and not true at all. So, how come you are demanding ovens ? Are you unaware of your own stupid propaganda ?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The "Chmielnicki Massacres"
B"H
The "Chmielnicki Massacres" started in 1648 and basically ended in 1649. I am saying "basically" because there were some further pogroms following.
When we look at Jewish history, it is nothing unusual at all that from time to time, someone claimed to me the Meshiach or that the redemption (Ge'ulah) wouldn't be too far away anymore. Some rabbis even gave specific dates, hence years, when the Meshiach would be due to arrive.
Especially after the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Jewish mysticism changed. The Middle Ages hardly included any good times for Jews and if so, they didn't last for too long. Although Spain had been the new almost perfect homeland of the Jews for many centuries, everything came to an end in the 15th century. Some years later, the same happened to the Jews in Portugal.
Due to all the traumatic experiences, Kabbalah became more and more apocalyptic and the Jews started to long for Meshiach. And as I already mentioned, specific dates for the arrival of the Meshiach were stipulated and one of those dates was the year 1648. But instead of the redemption, the year 1648 only brought disastrous events for the Jews in Eastern Europe.
The "Chmielnicki Massacres" actually took place in a vast area. Today the names of most of the places are unknown to us unless someone is dealing with chassidic history.
More than 300 years ago there were areas called Podolia, Volhynia, Cherginov and Poltava. Today those are parts of the Ukraine and Poland. And in those days, these areas were ruled by Poland and the economy was in the hands of the noblemen whereas the Jews suffered from the conflict between the nobility and the serfs as well as the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. And, as in most centuries before, also the Jews had high positions in the country's economy system which made the Polish Gentiles look at them as supporters of the rich (of Capitalism).
Already in 1637, militant Cossacks called for killing the Jews but were stopped by the Polish army. Unfortunately, the Jews missed getting the hint. The hint that if a pogrom was about to start and be stopped, there may be another one just around the corner. The Jews didn't understand any warning and instead proclaimed that they were saved due to kabbalistic influences. And the year 1648 should be the year of Meshiach anyway.
Until 1648, the Cossacks, however, had improved a lot and became much more organized. Their leader was Hetman Bogdan Chmielnicki whose goal was to get the Cossacks officially recognized and, at the same time, getting rid of the Jews. First, the Jewish communities in the Dnejper region were wiped out. Survivors either converted to Christianity or were sold into slavery.
Afterwards the Cossacks continued their massacres in Nemirov where 6000 Jews were slaughtered. I am using the word "slaughtered", as it was more than only a brutal murder. The Cossacks cut throats, drowned Jewish children and used any kind of torture one can imagine. Synagogues and Torah scrolls were destroyed and the parchment of the Torah scrolls was used for making sandals. Later, the following communities were wiped out: Tulchin, Polonnoye and Narol.
Eventually Chmielnicki made an agreement with the Polish King John Casimir about the recognition of the Cossacks. Jews, on the other hand, weren't allowed living in places where Cossacks lived.
But not only in Poland, the massacres took place. The Jews in Lithuania and White Russia also had to suffer. There, the Cossacks stormed the communities Moghilev, Vitebsk and Vilna. When Sweden conquered Poland in 1665, there was a short period of time when the Jews could return to their normal lives, as they were friendly with the Swedes. The Polish, on the other hand, saw this kind of friendliness as a betrayal and it came to further massacres. There is an official opinion that during the years 1648 – 1658, 300 Jewish communities were wiped out.
And what does all of this has to do with us ? Isn't that history and today we are facing other problems ?
It could be but today, at least for another two hours or so, we are fasting. Today is "Asarah be' Tevet – the 10th of Tevet". And secondly, those massacres had an important impact on later history.
_____________________
Sources:
"The Encyclopedia of Hasidism" by Tzvi M. Rabinowicz
Furthermore, some writings of the Jewish philosopher Gershom Sholem.
The "Chmielnicki Massacres" started in 1648 and basically ended in 1649. I am saying "basically" because there were some further pogroms following.
When we look at Jewish history, it is nothing unusual at all that from time to time, someone claimed to me the Meshiach or that the redemption (Ge'ulah) wouldn't be too far away anymore. Some rabbis even gave specific dates, hence years, when the Meshiach would be due to arrive.
Especially after the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Jewish mysticism changed. The Middle Ages hardly included any good times for Jews and if so, they didn't last for too long. Although Spain had been the new almost perfect homeland of the Jews for many centuries, everything came to an end in the 15th century. Some years later, the same happened to the Jews in Portugal.
Due to all the traumatic experiences, Kabbalah became more and more apocalyptic and the Jews started to long for Meshiach. And as I already mentioned, specific dates for the arrival of the Meshiach were stipulated and one of those dates was the year 1648. But instead of the redemption, the year 1648 only brought disastrous events for the Jews in Eastern Europe.
The "Chmielnicki Massacres" actually took place in a vast area. Today the names of most of the places are unknown to us unless someone is dealing with chassidic history.
More than 300 years ago there were areas called Podolia, Volhynia, Cherginov and Poltava. Today those are parts of the Ukraine and Poland. And in those days, these areas were ruled by Poland and the economy was in the hands of the noblemen whereas the Jews suffered from the conflict between the nobility and the serfs as well as the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. And, as in most centuries before, also the Jews had high positions in the country's economy system which made the Polish Gentiles look at them as supporters of the rich (of Capitalism).
Already in 1637, militant Cossacks called for killing the Jews but were stopped by the Polish army. Unfortunately, the Jews missed getting the hint. The hint that if a pogrom was about to start and be stopped, there may be another one just around the corner. The Jews didn't understand any warning and instead proclaimed that they were saved due to kabbalistic influences. And the year 1648 should be the year of Meshiach anyway.
Until 1648, the Cossacks, however, had improved a lot and became much more organized. Their leader was Hetman Bogdan Chmielnicki whose goal was to get the Cossacks officially recognized and, at the same time, getting rid of the Jews. First, the Jewish communities in the Dnejper region were wiped out. Survivors either converted to Christianity or were sold into slavery.
Afterwards the Cossacks continued their massacres in Nemirov where 6000 Jews were slaughtered. I am using the word "slaughtered", as it was more than only a brutal murder. The Cossacks cut throats, drowned Jewish children and used any kind of torture one can imagine. Synagogues and Torah scrolls were destroyed and the parchment of the Torah scrolls was used for making sandals. Later, the following communities were wiped out: Tulchin, Polonnoye and Narol.
Eventually Chmielnicki made an agreement with the Polish King John Casimir about the recognition of the Cossacks. Jews, on the other hand, weren't allowed living in places where Cossacks lived.
But not only in Poland, the massacres took place. The Jews in Lithuania and White Russia also had to suffer. There, the Cossacks stormed the communities Moghilev, Vitebsk and Vilna. When Sweden conquered Poland in 1665, there was a short period of time when the Jews could return to their normal lives, as they were friendly with the Swedes. The Polish, on the other hand, saw this kind of friendliness as a betrayal and it came to further massacres. There is an official opinion that during the years 1648 – 1658, 300 Jewish communities were wiped out.
And what does all of this has to do with us ? Isn't that history and today we are facing other problems ?
It could be but today, at least for another two hours or so, we are fasting. Today is "Asarah be' Tevet – the 10th of Tevet". And secondly, those massacres had an important impact on later history.
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Sources:
"The Encyclopedia of Hasidism" by Tzvi M. Rabinowicz
Furthermore, some writings of the Jewish philosopher Gershom Sholem.
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