1.Jahrgang Nr. 13 1st year

The Geniune Jew

Organ for Yiddish matters

DER WAHRE JUDE

Organ für die Gesammtinteressen des Judenthums

The Geniune Jew costs

In Austria-Hungary	Abroad
For a whole year - 12 Kronen	For a whole year - 20 Francs
For a half year - 6 "	For a half year - 10 "
For a quarter year - 3.50 "	For a quarter year - 5.50 "

Lviv, March 29th 1904

Adverts are cheaply calculated

All letters and money send to:

Redaction "Der wahre Jude",Lviv, Sonnengasse 27

The Genuine Jew is published every Tuesday and Friday

Lemberg, den 29.März 1904.

To our readers.

The massive distribution of our paper in all circles of Galician Jews in the short time of its existence, has put us in the position of improving and extending it. After Passover and Baal we want to increase the paper, we want to publish important articles about everything which is concerning Jews and want to strive for the possibilities to satisfy our readers as we are satisfied with them.

We also want to introduce something completely new. After the holidays, we want to start publishing a

Jewish Encyclopedia.

We will add half a sheet of the encyclopedia in every Tuesday edition which will contain every important subject, interesting to every human - therefore, in the course of time, the subscribers will gather a large, important book, which will cost 10 crowns in total and will be one of the most important books in vernacular.

We will write about the encyclopedia’s content at length in the next papers. We also want to note that the encyclopedia will contain every important article found in every big encyclopedia. The chapters about Jewish matters will be described in great detail.

We hope that our readers will be content with our new supplement and will show greater interest to share our publication and we on our part will do everything to give satisfaction to them.

[1]

Antisemitic pogroms in Greece

(Telegrams)

Athens. A Jew and a Greek had a dispute in the port city Kalamata which turned into a brawl in which the Greek was killed. Several antisemites immediately started to yell that the Jews killed a Christian to use his blood for matzo. The people gathered in front of the house where the Jew lived and threw stones at it. The Jews lived in great fear, they closed their doors and windows and hid in the attics and basements. The military needed to intervene and occupy the Jewish quarter. The mob was agitated and incited. The antisemitic papers stir up hatred against Jews and excesses are feared to start in other Greek cities.

For a few years already, the antisemites have been thinking up stories for Passover, to refresh the old, foolish lies of ritual murders. No explanation or proof is helping. One word is enough for the mob to be ready to take revenge on the Jews. A lot of Jewish lives have been destroyed because of that. The Jewish people live in fear and terror. How long still, will the Jews be prosecuted ? !

What has changed!

Jews are used to answering a question with another question. “What’s new?” asks one Jew another one. - “What shall be new?” he replies. “How are you?” “How should I be?” - “What are you doing?” “What should I be doing?” This way of answering every question with another question, is so deeply rooted in every Jewish person that it is thought of a Jewish fashion and the humorous papers are making a mockery out of it.

Only once a year, a Jew answers the question not with another question, but with a positive reply. “What has changed?” “We are slaves!” The bigger meaning of Passover is deeply ingrained in their heart that after the question”What has changed” immediately a definite, positive reply follows.

We are slaves - these words are a distinct and obvious answer to all “what has changed” in our lives. When we ask ourselves “what has changed”, why are we Jews different from every other people, why can everyone live peacefully and satisfied and we are being persecuted and suppressed - the answer to that is “We are slaves” - we live in the diaspora… when we ask “what has changed”, why is our mental and religious life in ill condition like every other people. Why is no other nation embarrassed about their religion, about their customs, about their name, their language. This only happens for Jews, the answer to that is “We are slaves”. We are in a mental relationship with slavery, we do everything according to other people, we make ourselves dependent on them.

Even the pious Jews, our fearful and ultra-Orthodox brothers especially in Galicia when they ask themselves: “What has changed?” Why is our religious state here neglected like that, more than in other countries? - the explicit reply to that is “We are slaves” as well - We are slaves, we made ourselves dependent on these so-called “progressives”, they are our providers, our leaders, our representatives. We have great respect for them and do not dare to demand our religious relationships to become better.

The exodus from Egypt is one of the most important incidents in Jewish history. Countless times the holy Torah was bidden: “You shall commemorate the day you have left Egypt as long as you live”. And as a matter of fact this moment is very important for us. When we remember the exodus from Egypt, when we remember this important event, when we remember how God led us out of slavery into freedom, from the spiritual darkness into spiritual freedom, then this shall be an encouragement. We also shall strive to free ourselves from spiritual slavery. We shall be, like our ancestors in Egypt, worthy of salvation. Like our scholars say: “With three things, our ancestors were freed, because they have not changed their language, their names and their clothes. We also have to adhere to Jewishness, with the name Jew, not ashamed of our rites, then we will be worthy. We shall be freed from spiritual and physical slavery and we will speak out against it with all our hearts. We were (We have been enslaved), but today we are free people!

America and Russia.

The Russian government and the Russian newspapers are astonished as to why the American people sympathise with Japan instead of with Russia in the current war. The Russian leaders put up an air of innocence as if they don’t know what all of this is about and then sic their citizens against the Americans.

It is true that relations between Russia and the US were good, but diplomatic relations and the folk’s outlook are two different things. One can be in good business relations if interests demand it, but that doesn’t mean that one doesn’t know that the other is a mean fellow and hates him. The American government is still neutral and will probably stay that way. However, the American people know Russia and whoever knows Russia cannot sympathise.

The people leading the Russian government and newspaper want to talk the citizens into believing that they are being hated on by the Americans for no reason, but they know exactly why. The US cannot sympathise with Russia, only be against them because it is in our interest that Japan and not Russia should win the war.

When Japan wanted to take control over Manchuria after its war with China, it had the support of the American people because Japan promised an open door for all nations. However, Russia did not let it happen with the excuse of wanting to protect China’s interests and invaded Manchuria.

They said they would “establish order”, promising the USA to protect its trading interests. However, afterwards it turned out that they tricked us and just wanted Manchuria for itself. And if the war hadn’t started, Manchuria would have stayed in Russia’s control and all of humanity would have been lost.

The past three years the USA demanded Russia to relinquish its stronghold over Manchuria. It constantly promised to do so, but never fulfilled it. In St Petersburg the demand was answered with “We’ll leave soon”, but then never moved away from Manchuria. And now it has the audacity to demand America’s sympathy.

The American people have understood the situation quite well. Every American citizen in their right mind saw that Russia lies about just ending trade with the USA and does so in a foul manner. So why should the American people now sympathise with Russia?

It is simply not in the American interests for Russia to win the war because they will not fulfill their promises. However, there are reasons why

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the American people are allied with Japan and against Russia and those are more important.

The American is a practical person who defends his business interests, but he is also a noble, freedom loving person and as such he cannot sympathise with a dark force like Russia.

The American folk is one of the first which declared that all people are born equal and cannot be ruled by anyone and such people do not sympathise with a force which suppresses and oppresses 130 million people and exercises all its power to darken the world.

Not a year has passed since the USA heard from Russia’s nefarious actions in Chișinău. The blood of innocent Jewish women and children touched the American hearts which led them to sympathise with the innocent Jews. The diplomatic relations permitted the US to take action, but the hearts of the American folk are not bound to a diplomatic seal and turned to hatred against a government which kills innocent people.

What nerve does Russia have to expect sympathy from the American people?

Russia and the USA. Those are two countries which are not only stretched across thousands of miles, but also across centuries. Russia is a country of gloom, the USA is a country of freedom. Russia preaches and practises oppression and slavery while the US practises and defends freedom and love of humanity.

Almost one and a half centuries ago, the USA established a free republic and Russia is still sending people to Siberia who dare to demand a constitution. America is the land which promises lightness in every corner of the world while Russia seeks to cover more countries with its sinister veil and the world shall not see its actions.

The USA can be associated with Russia when it comes to trade, but the American people cannot sympathise with Russia if it wants to take over other countries and spread its gloom widely. The USA is a country if civilization and progress and light can never be united with darkness.

Jew. G.

Political News.

Austria-Hungary. The political situation in Austria has calmed down again by closing down the Imperial Assembly. Communication between the Germans and the Czechs, which was negotiated the last few days, did not happen, but there is hope that after the holidays, the discussion will continue and a conclusion will be reached. - In the Hungarian parliament meanwhile peace and quiet is kept; several important laws have been passed. It seems like everything has become alright already and obstruction will not happen any time soon. - The former minister president Khuen-Héderváry who is has been appointed minister of the imperial court and has now been elected to a representative in the Imperial Assembly in Timișoara.

Germany. The German emperor who is travelling in the Mediterranean for relaxation met with the King of Italy in Naples on Saturday. The Italian King paid the emperor a visit on his ship “Hohenzollern” where lunch was served in his honour during which both rulers gave a toast which is of great political importance. Both mentioned the importance of the “Triple Alliance” as a keeper of world peace and included the Austrian emperor as the third party in this league. - It is well-known that when they came together last year, both rulers did not mention Austria which caused a stir. This was used as proof that relations between Austria and Italy are not good. Now it seems that it has improved.

France. Important political changes are set up in France. France negotiates with England about forming an alliance according to which England shall stay in Egypt and France shall occupy Morocco again. If they do not reach a conclusion, France will not see it necessary to be aligned with Russia and the Franco-Russian Alliance will be dissolved. This is well-known in Russia. Hence why worry about the negotiation between France and England prevails.

Turkey. The Balkan situation has not been solved yet. The negotiations between Turkey and Bulgaria concerning the establishment of order in Macedonia are still going on and it seems that the sultan is causing more and more trouble to postpone the resolution.

Telegrams.

The war

between Japan and Russia.

London. The Russian government grows more afraid of the Chinese and suspects a secret alliance between them and Japan. Admiral Alekseyev demanded of the government to expel the Chinese officials from Manchuria. Only then it will be possible to establish order.

London. The last bombardment on Port Arthur was undertaken by the Japanese to supply some merchant ships in the harbour so the Russian ships could not escape to secondly drop off the Japanese military close to Port Arthur. The second task was fulfilled while the Russian ships were occupied. While they fought back against the Japanese attacks, a large part of the Japanese military had been dropped off at land. The first task did not succeed because the trading vessels were sunk before the harbour as to why the Russian battleships can move in and out at their will.

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St Petersburg. The donations for new Russian battleships amount to almost 3.5 million ruble until now (this is enough for 1/10 of a ship!).

Beijing. The Russians claim that the Japanese want to invade China and march into Manchuria from there, this would be a shortcut compared to marching through Korea.

St Petersburg. The supreme commander of the Russian army, general Kuropaktin has arrived in Manchuria, but the war will not commence too soon. Kuropaktin wants to defer until he has amassed a bigger army and until the Japanese will march further into the country (The question stands whether the Japanese will wait that long and not attack earlier, before he is strong enough).

St Petersburg. The tsar is said to proceed to the battleground.

Paris. According to China, large gangs of “Boxers” are gathering there which want to invade Manchuria.

Shenyang. On March 23rd the Cossacks clashed with Japanese cavalry and infantry. The Japanese lost one official and six soldiers. The Cossacks retreated with great losses.

News.

Jewish News.

(St Petersburg). The tobacco farmers of Crimea sent a petition to the government to allow Jews to come and reside in Crimea in March, April, September, and October, because it is necessary for the tobacco trade. The government asked all farmers, planters, and farmers about that and everyone declared to the government to allow it.

(Gdańsk). Since last Saturday, a 19 year old Christian girl has gone missing. The antisemites immediately turned this into a story, they called out Jews to have killed the girl to use the blood in their rituals. Some days ago, part of the girl’s clothes were found in the city moats. The whole moat was searched but the girl has not been found. - The Jewish population is deeply troubled about the coming agitation which antisemites will justify with this story.

(Würzburg). During a fight between a farmer and a Jew did the former beat the latter with a pitchfork vigorously enough that the Jew’s sleep ruptured and he died a few days later.

(Kostrzyn nad Odrą). The local magistrate banned “ritual slaughter” in the municipal slaughterhouse. - The cities which ban slaughter increase steadily lately. The Jews in Germany should defend themselves heavily against the reputation.

(Paris). The supreme court interrogates the witnesses in the Dreyfuß-trial. The investigation is still held in secret. The actual final hearing will take place only in June publically.

(London). Over 5,000 foreigners immigrated to England in the last month, more than half of them are Jews.

(Odessa). Last week, the city captain gave the order to all local doctors to draw by lot who should voluntarily go to the battlefield where the war between Russia and Japan is happening.

A certain Jewish doctor H. Rubenstein, whose wife is dangerously ill, picked the number to drive there.

He asked to be freed from this deed and he was allowed to, on the condition that he sends another Jewish doctor in his place.

Rubenstein asked Dr Garfunkel to take his place and Dr Rubenstein sent 4,000 rubles to the hospital on the battlefield in Dr Garfunkel’s name.

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller

(Tosafos Yom Tov)

(A biography).

a.

Who was rabbi Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller? Not many of our common brothers could answer this question. But if we tell them “the Tosafos Yom Tov” - they at once know who we are talking about. Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller is the author of the Tosefet Yom-Tov and lived 300 years ago. He is a person who has made his mark with his teachings, niceness, intelligence, profundity, rare morals, and piousness not with a tombstone of granite and marble which would erode by the sharp teeth of time, but with the story of his life…

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller was born in Wallerstein (Germany) in the year 5339 according to our calendar or 1579 according to the European calendar. He did not know his father as he died when his mother was still carrying him under her heart. He was raised by his grandfather Rabbi Moses Ha-Levi Heller who was the chief rabbi of Germany.

The young Yom-Tov, who descended from a popular family was gifted with exceptional ability and everyone predicted him to grow up to be a great scholar.

With 18 years Rabbi Yom Lipmann was already an assistant to the rabbi and soon after the head of the yeshiva in the renowned Jewish community in Prague. From then on, he could live a happy, calm life without worry, but full of pursuit and work; he studies with others and he studies alone. He became engrossed in rabbinic literature and his name became well-known with 19 years when he published his first work: an explanation to the “Bechinat Olam”. Afterwards he writes his other works, which we will talk about later. He was well cared for with his livelihood, he even lived rather comfortably. The community appreciated him and saw that he wanted for nothing.

In the year 5384 (1624) he became chief rabbi of Mikulov and soon after in the same year he was called by the community

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in Vienna to be chief rabbi and leader. He stayed there until Purim in 1627. In his works he wrote about how he tried to reach an agreement with the government to have a Jewish quarter to not live far apart and spread across the big city. The government gave them the quarter “Leopoldstadt”.

For us today these endeavours seem strange to us: Jews should live together in a “Ghetto”. But back then, as the Jew was without protection or rights, defiled and persecuted, we shouldn’t be surprised what Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann wanted, that his sheep may be at least together in one place not spread around separately.

In 1627, the community in Prague called him back to be the chief Rabbi. Happy and cheerful he went there, in the city where he had spent his adolescence. With joy and pleasure, he took a seat on the rabbinic chair, but - luck stands on shaky legs, it can disappear very quickly. All of a sudden the light vanished. The joyful son of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann’s life, his sky is overcast with black, dark clouds and soon hardship and misery came down on him.

Because of the Thirty Years' War that happened back then, the government demanded high payments from all Jewish communities in Bohemia, including Prague. Against his will, the chief rabbi, who was the main leader of the community, had to be part of a committee which the government set up to estimate how much taxes everyone should pay. Bad people who unfortunately are not rare and especially not in times like these, denounced him with the commission before the government that they are estimating wrongly, sparing the rich. Emperor Ferdinand II sent the rabbi and the committee a severe censure and told them to not repeat their behaviour. The enemies however did not leave the chief rabbi alone and continued with far more dangerous denunciations that in his books “Sefer Yede Mosheh” and “Maadanei Melech” he insults Christians and their religion. Two “learned” Jews were found who translated several words from these books to prove that the denunciations are correct.

On June 25 1692 the government ordered the bringing of Yom-Tov Lipmann to Vienna shackled in chains. One can only imagine the horrible impression the chief rabbi in chains like the most dangerous criminal would have on the entire community, the shame on all Jews. This can also easily instigate the people against the Jewish people, to attack them, rob their houses and kill them.

So, the reputable people of the community in Prague tried with constant effort for the rabbi to travel as a free man to Vienna, to face the judge alone. They took upon them the responsibility and the viceroy of Prague who had known his orderliness, agreed that the Rabbi should travel alone, without a guard and without shackles.

In Vienna soon after Yom-Tov Lipmann went to the chancellor (five days into Tammuz 5389 / June 26th 1629) who took on him very strictly, accused him furiously of his crime of insulting Christians and put him in prison between the greatest criminals and bandits.

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller, who described the whole story alone later on in the special work “Megilat evah”. He talks about benevolence, about hardship, that none of the dangerous criminals did anything bad to him, but that he was respected and served him like loyal servants.

The leader of the Viennese community did not rest until they managed to at least get him out of the most horrible prison and get him to a decent place instead.

The government put together a rabbinical court of twelve ministers, including the chancellor and the trial then started. The accused defended himself smartly, proved his innocence with wit and his verdict was: Heller should receive the death sentence for his crime, but the emperor has mercy and gives him his life and sentences him to pay 12,000 thaler at once (his enemies said he was very rich). His books shall be burnt and he must not be a rabbi from this day on anymore, not in Prague, not in Austria.

His friends tried to relieve his verdict a bit: he should only pay 10,000 thaler, not at once, but in installments and his books should also not be burnt and he should be allowed to be a rabbi in Austria - not in Prague.

He was imprisoned for 40 days. 28 days in the month Av he was freed, but - as it is said - hollow and naked: without money, without rabbinate, without hope. Older, darker, he had to give away all his belongings to the government and even needed to look for a loan because he was not able to pay this huge sum.

However, the rich people of Prague protected him; soon he was able to pay off his punishment and take on a new position. Three years later he was chief rabbi in Nemirov (Russia) where Khmelnytsky started the well-known revolution with the Cossacks. There was a great and important Jewish community.

Three years he spent there in peace and was highly esteemed before he was called to the community of Volodymyr to be the chief rabbi there. In 1643 he became chief rabbi in Krakow. There he lived his last years until his last day. He died on the 26th day of Elul at 75 years old. His tombstone stands in the Krakow cemetery until today.

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller was a rare rabbi with a healthy, logical mind, a sharp brain, great in the Torah, great in Jewish sciences and partly foreign, general sciences. We have already touched upon his writings which he wrote as a young man of 18 years. Later he wrote several other books, for example: commentary on the works of the Rosh (these are the books “Lechem Chamudos” and “Ma’adanei Melech” which brought him great misery), the work “Malbushe Yom Tov” and others. But the most important, most known of his writings is the “Tosafos Yom Tov” - commentary on the Mishnah. Here we can witness his entire glorious form: genius in explaining new things, perceptive to ask and answer and balance difficult parts and questions clear in every angle of the great rabbinic literature, studied in maths, geography, astronomy, and an invested researcher. The Tosafos Yom Tov was not well accepted without a reason, the Mishnah is not printed without it anymore. The people know from the innermost part of their hearts that only because of

[5]

the Tosafos Yom Tov was the Mishnah completed like the bible and Talmud because of the commentary of Rashi.

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann has written in the Jewish language besides his Hebrew works for the common people. He translated into Jewish-German the text “Orchos Chaim”, customs and virtues; how a Jew is supposed to lead his life and he even printed explanations of salt meat.

Following the horrors the Jews had to suffer in 5408 (1648) in Ukraine as the entire community was slaughtered and whole cities were ravaged he wrote dirges which were printed in part in prayer books.

Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann left a big, branched family from which great gaon and rabbis descended.

May the memory of the righteous be a blessing!

Feutellion

A horrible Passover night with the Marrano in Spain.

The name “Marrano” (Anusim) was given by Christians to Jews who were Christians in pretence, from the outside, but actually deep inside their hearts they continued to be faithful Jews. The glimmer of our belief did not burn out several generations after their parents were baptised. A lot of Jewish blood was spilled until the Jewish people agreed to renounce the faith of our parents, but the new faith was forced upon us with force. All of that caused the Marrano to return to their old faith which has been ripped out of their hearts with a big part of their life, of their souls.

Two things were important for the Marrano for which they would step into the fire. This was the order of Passover and the Kol Nidre in Yom Kippur. The Kol Nidre was very important for them because it is a prayer to distract from all oaths to be true Catholics. The order of Passover was very important because it is a reminder for freedom which God has given to our parents when they were exiled from Egypt. Both customs have been started in a group, together with their brothers. To do that, they have looked for remote places in the holes of mountains.

The Marrano in Spain have suffered especially during the rule of King Ferdinand and his wife Isabella whose names are written with blood in the Jewish history.

The inquisition was started in Spain and the grand inquisitor was appointed the well-known cruel man-eater Tomás de Torquemada who bathed in the blood of the Marrano and burnt thousands of them.

At this time, Don Isaac Abrabanel came to Toledo, the capital of Spain with his family. The Toledo Jews were very happy about this famous man, this notable man. Abraham Senior who held the shares of the royal repayments who took him in as a partner for his bigger trades. Some months after that Don Isaac received an invitation to the royal court. There the king appointed him to be his finance minister.

He had this position for eight years, became very wealthy during that time and was loved and appreciated by everyone on court. During that time he concluded two marriage deals for his sons. His older son Judah Leon Abravanel married the daughter of his father’s associate, Don Abraham Senior. His younger son, Don Joseph who married the daughter of the well-known leader of the city of Málaga Rabbi Solomon ibn Verga (author of the famous Scepter of Judah). All three in-laws, Don Isaac, Don Abraham, and Rabbi Solomon were three good rulers to protect our people in Spain. During this time the bloodhound Torquemada was ordered by Ferdinand to dispel all Jews from their land. He told him that because of their merits war prospers in his lands. It is God’s will to exile the people who are God’s enemies. A strict decree was passed that in four months time, not a single Jew shall remain in Spain, however their riches must stay in the country. Whichever Jew wants to take something of it with them will be punished with death. Lament and sorry met every Jewish person. Don Isaac and every great Jewish person proposed to spend all their wealth to nullify this decree, but nothing helped. The calamity could not possibly be averted.

The emigrants spread across all lands, across all seas. A part went to Turkey where Jews did not know any hardship. Another part went to Israel, another part to Navarre, a country to the north of Spain to where Don Abraham Senior and his whole family should emigrate to. Another part went to Italy, to Africa and wherever their feet carried them. However, the biggest part went to Portugal, because the country is next to Spain - in hopes that the kingship of Spain will realise that without Jews their trades would be ruined forever and that they will surely soon call off the edict and allow them back into the country.

The two in-laws, the biggest Jewish magnates Don Isaac Abrabanel and Don Abraham Senior were ready to emigrate with their unhappy brothers to Navarre and Naples. But Don Abraham had unexpectedly been called to the queen Isabella. She explained to him that they cannot dismiss faithful attendants like him and that he and his family need to be baptised and stay at his position. No wisdom will be able to help him. He should not be under the impression that he can free himself with death. Because if he does not follow her orders, she will take revenge on all Jews who will pay with their lives.

If it was addressed to him, he would choose his own death a thousand times instead of yielding his old faith. But this was about the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews. No prayer, no tears would help this situation. Isabella’s heart was hard as stone and the old Rabbi Abraham with a broken heart had to do as he was told. He let his only son be called to him, Don David Senior. The father entered a cabinet with him and explained his bitter situation. Both of them cried a long time, they shed an ocean of tears for God in heaven. The father swore a holy oath with the son that he shall stay a devoted Jew in his heart and to raise his children with Judaism. On the same day, Don Abraham drove in a royal cart with his pious wife, with his married son, his daughter-in-law, and his young granddaughter, a one-year old girl to the monastery Santa Maria. The king and the queen were already waiting there with their bishop. Everyone was baptised and given new names: Don Abraham was given the name Don Fernando after his royal godfather, this means he belonged to the Spanish crown. However, they have not lived long in their new faith. Don Fernando Coronel, former Don Abraham Senior, died soon after, caused by sorrow and heartache. His wife, who saw the ceremony during which catholic clergymen buried his body in Christian manner, silently dropped dead on his grave because her soul left her body at this sight. Don Juan Coronel, formerly called Don David Senior, was offered his father’s position by the king. But he declined and instead demanded to be made envoy to the royal courts of the allied kingdoms. His intention was to be close to his brothers and wherever possible help them and support them in their suffering.

(To be continued).

[6]

The Jews in Egypt

According to Egyptian documents.

For the longest time, we only had one source for the old Jewish history - the Bible. Only in the past 19th century did the discoveries being made in Egypt and Babylonia open a new world for human research which has also illuminated darker times in the old Jewish history. The many monuments in Egypt including their depictions and inscriptions lay buried below the ground for thousands of years. The great pyramids, the numerous stone figures and pillars stood like an enigma and were witnesses to a life which is long gone, a life full of power and glory. The questing human mind has found a key for the mystery. After a lot of speculation and work they came to a conclusion regarding the Egyptian language which had become extinct a long time ago. The old inscriptions originating in the Egyptian kingdoms revealed a marvelous picture of a sophisticated people which had glorious 4,000 years of history. Old, sunken cities are still being unearthed today and will reveal more mysteries of their old lives.

For us Jews are the speculations about the old Egyptian history are important as they reveal a lot about our own ancient history. The Egyptian monuments tell us about the stories in the Torah about the Jewish history in Egypt, about their hardships and redemption.

Egypt as a country which has been characterised with its fertility, and great populated cities attracted different barbaric tribes which lived in the desert and in the mountains between Egypt and Canaan. Since always, the Egyptians tried with all their might to bar the war of various Asian people which were, in the Egyptians inscriptions, called Am (from the … word Amalek) and from the barbarians (known in Egypt under the name Shasu).

Semitic tribes travelled closer and closer to Egypt described by an image which remained from the period when the 12 royal family (dynasty) ruled. Depicted on the image are 37 semites who stand before the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and ask for permission to cultivate the lands. The image dates back circa 2000 years before the European calendar. The leader’s name is Abu-Sha which sounds really semitic, the faces look semitic as well and the colour is the one with which Egyptians like to paint the Semits compared to other tribes.

The picture is a pretty illustration of the narrative told in the Torah, which says that when there is a famine in Canaan, people flocked to Egypt.

The constant friction between the Egyptians and the Asian tribes finally led to a great group of Asian pastoral tribes Hyksos settling in Egypt and taking over the whole Northern country. The Asians settled in the land and founded their own royal dynasty. However, the Hyksos soon started to adapt the Egyptian culture. They started to build the same pyramids like the Egyptians rulers did before. They adopted the Egyptian gods and started to lead the same life with the same state as the Egyptian pharaohs. But at the same time they imported a lot of customs from Asia. A lot of semitic words started to spread in Egypt that time around, several high-level officials in the government started bearing semitic names and the semitic idols Bel and Astarte became deities like the Egyptian Gods.

Under the rule of the Hyksos the semitic people in Egypt expanded with newly arriving semitic tribes including from the Jewish people in Egypt who were welcomed with open arms.

The stories in the Torah provide a clear picture from the life in Egypt back then which correspond with the Egyptian life as we know it from the Egyptian monuments.

From the Egyptian images we also know that the number of Jewish slaves in Egypt was also very large. We also know according to the Egyptian inscriptions that frankincense (incense) was a common article being brought from Canaan to Egypt. The Torah also talks about this during the sale of Joseph into slavery by his brothers. The honour Joseph received by being able to interpret dreams thanks to God. That is also proven by Egyptian documents which show how highly regarded an interpreting was. The narrative told by Genesis that the Pharaoh put on Joseph’s ring, put him in silken clothes and a golden chain on his necklace is also found in Egyptian monuments. Other higher officers, we find the word “Taba” in the Egyptian monuments, the highest officers are also called “Odn” in the Egyptian scripts with the addition “the second after the king”. In the Pentateuch the pharaoh says to Joseph: “You shall be above my house”, in the Egyptian inscriptions we also find an honorific meaning “the one seated above the house”. The word abork which is said to be yelled by Joseph is an Egyptian one and means: Your word is our wish. Joseph’s second name which he has taken on in Egypt - Zaphnath-Paaneah - is Egyptian and means “God speaks and he lives”. The Egyptian inscriptions also tell us from the custom of giving new names to high officials. Potipherah is also Egyptian and means “He whom Ra has given” (the son in Egypt was thought of a deity).

The descriptions of the Egyptian period, which is described in the Torah, about the life on the royal court, about the situation of the Egyptian priests - are all aligning with the information acquired about Egypt from the monuments and inscriptions in their own language.

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