Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
ליבי במזרח
Angaben zur Quelle:
ג (תשפא) 137-149
Keywords:
Widows Social conditions
;
Widows
;
Jewish women Social conditions
;
Ashkenazim History
;
Jerusalem (Israel) History 1517-1917, Ottoman period
Abstract:
Our knowledge of the history of Jewish society in Jerusalem in theMameluke and Early Ottoman periods is largely based on a limitedvariety of historical information – halakhic literature (responsa),certificates, legal deeds, letters and so on. An in-depth review of thesedocuments clearly shows that most of the figures active in public andreligious community life – lobbyists, shlichei mitzvah (emissariescarrying out religious duties on behalf of others), rabbis and others –are males. However, the fact remains that the actual number of Jewishwomen in Jerusalem in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centurieswas apparently rather high, and their contribution to life in JewishJerusalem has not earned its due recognition.One of the reasons for this large number of women was thephenomenon of elderly women who came to Jerusalem in their twilightyears specifically in order to die rather than live there. The presence ofelderly women in the old city of Jerusalem was a salient featurethroughout the ages, usually both Ashkenazi and Sephardi widows, whocame to Jerusalem after having fulfilled their traditional role of givingbirth to children and then marrying them off, or after they had lost theirfamilies. A select few sought to embark on a new chapter in theirfamily life due to their personal predicament and the limited supply ofmen. Their objective was to spend the remaining period of their life inthe holy city and to be buried there so as to benefit from theresurrection of the dead at the end of days.In this article, we try to shed light on the world of the elderly womenwho came to live in Jerusalem. Based on the scant sources available,we shall attempt to glean information regarding their economicsituation, their employment and living accommodation. The main focusof the article will deal with one of the most difficult challenges facingthe community leaders during those periods of time – saving the estate funds of those women who died without heirs, and according to thelocal Islamic sharia law, such sums were destined to be deposited in thestate coffers.
Note:
With an English summary.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
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