Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
אורשת; כתב עת ליהדות, לחברה ולחינוך
Angaben zur Quelle:
י (תשפא) 81-103
Keywords:
Rabbis History 20th century
;
Land settlement History
;
Moshavot History 20th century
;
Aliyah, 2nd (1904-1914) Religious aspects
;
Orthodox Judaism Relations 20th century
;
Nontraditional Jews
;
Tverya (Israel) History 20th century
Abstract:
This article deals with the relationship that was forged between therabbinic leadership in Tiberias- Tverya with the agricultural settlementmovement, from the beginning of the 20th century until the end of theFirst World War, which was the time that the British Mandate beganto enforce new governmental regulations.The interaction between the settlements and the inhabitants of Tveryaserved the interests of both sides. Aside from the need of the settlersfor the merchants and tradesmen in Tverya which served thesettlements as a logistic and administrative center, they also neededthe Sephardic community which had close ties with the Ottomanauthorities in order to promote various matters relating to thesettlements. On the other hand, the settlements provided temporaryjobs during the "hot" agricultural seasons for the city people whosuffered from poverty, and the arrival of the settlement people to shopin the city also contributed to its economic development.The denigrating attitude of the members of the Second Aliya towardsreligion, and the "mentality gap" between them and the Sephardicworkers created a disconnect between the members of the older andmore established Tverya Yishuv with the agricultural settlementworkers. The rabbinic leadership, both the Ashkenazi and Sephardi,which felt threatened by the displays of heresy, decided to defenditself and set out in a struggle against their trampling of religion.A new chapter in this relationship began with the appointment ofRabbi Chaim Yissachar Abulafia to the position of the Chacham Bashi– the Chief Rabbi, in the year 5 671(1911). The new Chacham Bashirefused to take part in these acts of protest and the distancing whichhis predecessor Rabbi Aharon Bechor Al-Hadif had employed. Heviewed the settlers as a positive force which could assist in raising the city from its degenerative state, and therefore he worked diligently todevelop relationships of trust and cooperation between both sides.Within a short time the ‘Joint Committee of Tverya and theSettlements’ was established, though in reality it did not bring aboutany significant changes, it did signal the change in trend in therelationship between the city and the settlements. Rabbi Abulafia’sapproach was not accepted by all the members of the Sephardiccommunity which continued to support the more conservativeapproach that his predecessors had implemented.There was an attempt also from within the Ashkenazi community tobridge the gap between the city and its neighboring settlements. Thisbridging initiative had come from the national Ashkenazi leadership,and not from the local Tverya leadership. However this ‘RabbinicCampaign’ targeting the settlements of the Galilee did not succeed inbridging the gap, and the more separatist approach of the localAshkenazi leadership remained unchanged, and over time becameeven more extreme.
Note:
With an English abstract.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
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