Historic Document From Hebron, Dated 1772
I now publish a very different, very dramatic letter from the same community of Hebron that carries only seven signatures -- also of great rabbis -- but bears a specific date: 1772, during the week of the Torah portion "Vayakhel" (during spring).
The interesting feature here is that it is written in pure, classical Portuguese. Considering that most of the Sefardic Jews of Eretz Yisrael spoke Spanish or Ladino, the appearance of Portuguese is surprising. However, since the letter was addressed strictly to the Jews of the Americas -- which in those days meant the Caribbean islands, such as Barbados, Jamaica, Curacao, and Surinam, the greatest of all American congregations at that time -- it had to be written in Portuguese since the vast majority of Jews in the Americas then were of Portuguese Brazilian origin and spoke Portuguese! Among the signatories one rabbi clearly has a Portuguese sounding name -- Gomes Pato -- and he was undoubtedly the author of this highly literate letter.
The historic aspect of the letter is obvious: Hebron had a large, old Jewish population, which had lived there uninterruptedly since the days of the Jewish Kingdom. After all, King Herod built the monumental structure over the Machpelah Cave using the same style as that used for the Temple itself in order to accommodate the countless Jewish worshippers who prayed there, just as they do today. We also see proof of the fighting and warlike character of the local Arabs. Even today the Hebron Arabs are known as the most ferocious tribe of Arabs. The oppression of Jews, the onslaught on their synagogues, the confiscation of their property and places of worship, the tragedy of women and children being sold by the Arabs to slavery -- a practice that Arabs still pursue today in many parts of Africa -- all this shows that nothing has changed in Hebron.
Attacks on Jews in Hebron today have nothing to do with the "settlers." The hatred of Hebron's Arabs for Jews is the same hatred they had in 1772 -- and also in 1839 -- when Sir Moses Montefiore and his wife Judith were almost killed by an Arab mob inside the Machpelah, when they paid a visit accompanied by the Turkish governor.
I herewith present my own personal translation from the Portuguese, a language I have known for some years. Let the letter speak to us with all the strength and fervor of Jews suffering throughout history:
Publication by Their Excellencies the Hakhamim of the Holy City of Hebron (Which G-d May Restore)
We who have signed below, with tears in our eyes and sadness in our heart, make this notification to all the excellencies parnasim, treasurers and individuals, in all the Holy Congregations of Israel, who live in parts of the Americas, of our misery, of our great oppression and consternation, of decadence and miserable condition, in which we find ourselves at present (1772, portion Vayakhel), the inhabitants of the populous and Holy City of Hebron (which G-d may restore in our days), full of sages, virtuous and G-d-fearing men, a site that G-d publicized of being the most famous of all sites and lands, where our three forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are buried, the pillars of the world.
By motive of the war raging here between the governors and lords of this city, which has caused great suffering, shortages and hunger, which has already lasted for three years during which this city has been cut off from the sea and from land, making entry and exit impossible, during which we have lost all our property, which has caused us to be impoverished, augmenting our debts in such a manner that it has reached the sum of 30,000 gold pieces at 25 percent due our creditors. We begged the Lord of the City for relief, but he confiscated all the sacred objects of our Synagogue to satisfy our creditors.
We have in vain sought relief and help, but now because of our sins, we find ourselves again persecuted with further persecutions and decrees, brought about by our creditors, who have determined to expel us from this Holy Place, having imprisoned the leaders of this holy congregation, as prisoners and their wives and children sold into slavery. They have taken possession of our Holy Synagogues, so that all we have left is our mere miserable lives, being constantly exposed to revolutions, disgrace and misfortune.
This is the reason why we have deliberated and resolved to do what we have never done before from this city: send as a Sheliach Mitzva, His Excellency the Hakham Shmuel ha Cohen, to all the sacred congregations of your parts of the world, so that he may be able to communicate orally the inexplicable misery, disgrace and consternation in which we find ourselves -- begging, soliciting, asking, prostrating ourselves before you with our souls, that as charitable, pious, compassionate, G-d-fearing persons, neighbors who will always defend your great countries, of which we have often heard, you will understand our circumstances and will take part in our feelings with compassion and will not close your eyes before the peril and consternation in which we find ourselves, but that you will open your generous hands to participate in G-d's work in this Holy City, matron of Israel, so that it not be surrendered to strangers, and for the great Mitzva of Pidyon Shevuyim, in this manner, through divine favor, bring about relief and for the redemption of our souls and of our wives and children, delivering us from this unbearable depression. For this meritorious work we will pray for our divine clemency through the merit of out Patriarchs who are buried here to bring good fortune to all those who participate in this pious work, so that you may have a happy life, in the company of your homes and noble families, accompanied by corporal and spiritual happiness.
Amen!
Ahron Alfandery
Hiya Zeevy
Eliahu Ibn Archa
David Azulay
Gomes Pato
Haim Yosef
Haim Yehuda
Pinhas Mordechai Bagaydo
Isaac HaCohen