Next week we will observe the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, marking the beginning of the siege that led to the destruction of the Temple and the difficult exile of the Jewish people. At this point began a journey of suffering and torment that lasted some two thousand five hundred years - the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the exile of the Jewish people from their land, terrible extermination decrees, cruel persecutions and pogroms, the terrible Holocaust of European Jewry only eighty years ago, and until the horrific massacre of the last Simchat Torah.
In fact, in the history of the Jewish people, the same elements of abysmal hatred for the people of Israel recur again and again. There were periods when Jewish communities believed in the good neighborly relations they cultivated with the Gentiles. Jews did business with non-Jews, hosted them in their homes, lived with them in friendship and peace.
Until the moment when evil erupted and hatred swept through everything.
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''The Peasants' Revolt''
In certain circles, a perception has taken root that in ancient times Jews and Arabs lived in peace and friendship with each other, and only in modern times did the Arabs begin to murder Jews. This is a legend that has no basis in reality. Indeed, there were beautiful and peaceful periods here and there, but at a certain point the lust for murder shattered the illusions.
Here is an example that many are not familiar with: the brutal riots of 1834, which took place during the 'Peasants' Revolt.' The revolt had nothing to do with Jews at all. It broke out due to resentment over compulsory conscription into the Egyptian army imposed by Wali Muhammad Ali. But when the governmental order was violated, the Jews immediately became its victims.
During the uprising, rebels from surrounding villages rose up and committed riots against Jews - in Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias and Safed. The exact same cruel acts that took place in the communities around Gaza during the last Simchat Torah took place there. Jews were murdered, beaten and tortured. Their property was robbed and looted. This was preceded by incitement sermons in mosques, just like today.
The result was terrible destruction. The homes of many Jews were destroyed or set on fire. Jews who tried to find refuge in synagogues were beaten to death. The rioters took hundreds of Torah scrolls from the sacred coffins and desecrated them in the streets of the cities in the most shameful way. The savages also blocked the roads leading out, so that the Jews could not inform the government officials, the military forces, and the foreign consuls about the terrible pogroms.
The spreading hatred
There was no problem then of 'occupation' or 'oppression', and all the other vain excuses with which gullible people of all kinds try to explain the murderous lust that is revealed before our eyes again and again. It was pure hatred of Israel, which is constantly simmering in the hearts of many Arabs, and found an opportunity to break out.
But the people of Israel proved time and again their ability to rise and recover, to grow from the ashes, to build and prosper. After every blow and break, the forces of building and healing were reawakened. Time and again, the verse "In your blood I live" was fulfilled in us – out of blood and pain, life bursts forth. And as it was with the Israelites in Egypt: "And as they afflict him, so shall he multiply and so shall he break forth.".
The fast of the 10th of Tevet reminds us of the story of the suffering of the Jewish people, and our deep commitment to rise and recover, and continue to walk toward true and complete redemption.
