| Revision as of 17:33, 29 March 2007 editJaakobou (talk | contribs)15,880 editsm adding categories.← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:13, 30 March 2007 edit undoYonatan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users8,398 edits typos, grammar, copyeditingNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''Haim Farkhi''' (also '''Chaim''', '''Farhi''') (] - August 21, ] by assasination) was the ] advisor for the rulers of the ] in the days of the ], and during ]'s travels in the land of ]. | '''Haim Farkhi''' (also '''Chaim''', '''Farhi''') (] - August 21, ] by assasination) was the ] advisor for the rulers of the ] in the days of the ], and during ]'s travels in the land of ]. | ||
| He was a central figure in the pilgrimage of the students of the ], in the year 1777, and their absorption in the Galilee and also in the repulsion of the Napoleon |
He was a central figure in the pilgrimage of the students of the ], in the year 1777, and their absorption in the Galilee and also in the repulsion of the Napoleon siege over the city of ] in 1799. | ||
| ==Historical |
==Historical Background== | ||
| After the occupation of Israel by the hands of the Ottoman empire in the year 1516, Israel became part of the empire. Still, the central Turkish rule was weak. Throughout the empire, lasting over vast areas of ], ], ], the ] and ], came many local rulers, which created a neat ] rule, whose connection to the main rule in ] was loose. | After the occupation of Israel by the hands of the Ottoman empire in the year 1516, Israel became part of the empire. Still, the central Turkish rule was weak. Throughout the empire, lasting over vast areas of ], ], ], the ] and ], came many local rulers, which created a neat ] rule, whose connection to the main rule in ] was loose. | ||
| The central rule at |
The central rule at northern Israel was supposed to come from ], where the governor of Damascus would be the person responsible in from of the throne in Turkey. During the 18th century rose a strong local leader by the name of ], who cut ties with the empire. This leader was defeated at 1775 by the Turkish officer ], and the Turkish re-established their control over the north of the land. | ||
| In the days of Dhaher El-Omar and Ahmad Al-Jazar, the Galilee was being resettled by Jews. Dahar invited ]<sup></sup> of ] to return to his homeland and resettle ]. | In the days of Dhaher El-Omar and Ahmad Al-Jazar, the Galilee was being resettled by Jews. Dahar invited ]<sup></sup> of ] to return to his homeland and resettle ]. | ||
| An |
An existence of a strong local ruling, which enforced and prevented road robbery, as in the days of Dahar and Al-Jazar, turned the Galilee to a center of attraction for many - ] from ] and ], and also Jews from the east and the west. | ||
| ==Al-Jazar's Advisor== | ==Al-Jazar's Advisor== | ||
| Haim Farkhi was born to a respected Jewish family in ], and some say he was related to the royal house of ]. For many years the family members, among them Haim Farkhi's father Shaul Farkhi, as the treasurers of the Damascus district |
Haim Farkhi was born to a respected Jewish family in ], and some say{{who}} he was related to the royal house of ]. For many years, the family's members, among them Haim Farkhi's father Shaul Farkhi, worked as the treasurers of the Damascus district. It is also possible that they were used to mediate between the Jewish community and the law. It is known that they tried to alleviate the burden of the taxes on the Jews of ]. Haim Farkhi was the banker of the ruler of Damascus. He gained a lot of influence with the Turkish government, and became the advisor for the ruler of ], ]. Al-Jazar recognized his advisor's talents and acted upon his advice. In addition, he also relieved taxation of the Jewish community on Farkhi's request. | ||
| Notwithstanding this, Al-Jazar was a violent and cruel individual who's title "Al-Jazar" means "The Butcher". In violent attacks he would find pretext and do harm to his Jewish advisor and as a result he had pierced his eye and cut off the edge of his nose. A famous illustration of those days shows Al-Jazar sitting in Justice in front of his Jewish advisor who is wearing an eye patch. | Notwithstanding this, Al-Jazar was a violent and cruel individual who's title "Al-Jazar" means "The Butcher". In violent attacks he would find pretext and do harm to his Jewish advisor and as a result he had pierced his eye and cut off the edge of his nose. A famous illustration of those days shows Al-Jazar sitting in Justice in front of his Jewish advisor who is wearing an eye patch. | ||
| In the days of Al-Jazar, in the year ], Napoleon tried to |
In the days of Al-Jazar, in the year ], Napoleon tried to conquer the ]. His journeys in the land started in ] ] when ] and his army arrived from the south, captured ] and massacred 2000 Turkish prisoners within it. They then moved north, captured ] and the ] and lay siege upon Akko. Al-Jazar's troops lasted the siege for a month and a half and refused to surrender. These soldiers used the help of English sailors who were under the command of ]. Also, they have used a ] expert by the name of Antwan De Filippo. | ||
| The mind behind the defence of Akko was Farkhi. As the advisor and right hand man of Al-Jazar, Farkhi had a direct hand at the way the war was run. Farkhi and DeFilippo fought against Napoleon a |
The mind behind the defence of Akko was Farkhi. As the advisor and right hand man of Al-Jazar, Farkhi had a direct hand at the way the war was run. Farkhi and DeFilippo fought against Napoleon a war full of cruelty and trickery. At it's peak, the siege as managed to breach the wall and with many casualties Napoleon's soldiers had tried entering into the city only to discover that within the weeks since the seige has started, Farkhi and DeFilippo have built a second wall, several Feet into the city where Al-Jazar's garden was. The construction of the second wall made Napoleon and his men realise that they will probably not be able to take over the city. The siege was removed and Napoleon returned on his way to Egypt. Some say that Napoleon's articulation during the war, that if he would succeed and conquer the land it will be returned to the Jews, was meant to capture the heart of Farkhi and make him switch sides. | ||
| == Decline and Murder of |
== Decline and Murder of Farkhi == | ||
| After the death of Al-Jazar in 1804, the role of ruler of the Galilee was given to his son Suliman. Suliman ruled over the region until his death in 1819. where he gave the power to his adopted son Abdallah. | After the death of Al-Jazar in 1804, the role of ruler of the Galilee was given to his son Suliman. Suliman ruled over the region until his death in 1819. where he gave the power to his adopted son Abdallah. | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| Suliman continued working with Haim Farkhi and utilized him the same way his father did, however, his adopted son, Abdallah has made the decision to get rid of Farkhi. Farkhi did get word on the decision but he did not escape since he feared for the Jews of the kingdom. | Suliman continued working with Haim Farkhi and utilized him the same way his father did, however, his adopted son, Abdallah has made the decision to get rid of Farkhi. Farkhi did get word on the decision but he did not escape since he feared for the Jews of the kingdom. | ||
| On 21 August 1819, soldiers appeared at Farkhi's residence, announced to him that he is a traitor and killed him on the spot with strangulation. His house was |
On 21 August 1819, soldiers appeared at Farkhi's residence, announced to him that he is a traitor and killed him on the spot with strangulation. His house was ransacked by the soldiers and his body was refused burial. His family escaped to Damascus but his wife was unable to withstand the hardship of the journey and she died along the way in Safed. | ||
| ==Blood |
==Blood Vengeance for Farkhi== | ||
| When word has arrived to the Farkhi family in Damascus about the events his brothers, Solomon, Refael and Moshe Farkhi, swore to avenge his killing. They had hired Turkish officers in Damascus and ] and produced a ] by "He who belongs to Islam" (the supreme religious authority in the Ottoman empire) that Abdallah was to be killed. | When word has arrived to the Farkhi family in Damascus about the events his brothers, Solomon, Refael and Moshe Farkhi, swore to avenge his killing. They had hired Turkish officers in Damascus and ] and produced a ] by "He who belongs to Islam" (the supreme religious authority in the Ottoman empire) that Abdallah was to be killed. | ||
Revision as of 03:13, 30 March 2007
Haim Farkhi (also Chaim, Farhi) (1760 - August 21, 1819 by assasination) was the Jewish advisor for the rulers of the Galilee in the days of the Ottoman Empire, and during Napoleaon's travels in the land of Israel.
He was a central figure in the pilgrimage of the students of the Baal Shem Tov, in the year 1777, and their absorption in the Galilee and also in the repulsion of the Napoleon siege over the city of Akko in 1799.
Historical Background
After the occupation of Israel by the hands of the Ottoman empire in the year 1516, Israel became part of the empire. Still, the central Turkish rule was weak. Throughout the empire, lasting over vast areas of Turkey, ], North Africa, the Balkans and Europe, came many local rulers, which created a neat autonomeous rule, whose connection to the main rule in Istanbul was loose.
The central rule at northern Israel was supposed to come from Damascus, where the governor of Damascus would be the person responsible in from of the throne in Turkey. During the 18th century rose a strong local leader by the name of Dhaher El-Omar, who cut ties with the empire. This leader was defeated at 1775 by the Turkish officer Ahmad Al-Jazar, and the Turkish re-established their control over the north of the land.
In the days of Dhaher El-Omar and Ahmad Al-Jazar, the Galilee was being resettled by Jews. Dahar invited Rabbi Chaim Abulafia of Izmir to return to his homeland and resettle Tiberius.
An existence of a strong local ruling, which enforced and prevented road robbery, as in the days of Dahar and Al-Jazar, turned the Galilee to a center of attraction for many - Arabs from Syria and Lebanon, and also Jews from the east and the west.
Al-Jazar's Advisor
Haim Farkhi was born to a respected Jewish family in Damascus, and some say he was related to the royal house of David. For many years, the family's members, among them Haim Farkhi's father Shaul Farkhi, worked as the treasurers of the Damascus district. It is also possible that they were used to mediate between the Jewish community and the law. It is known that they tried to alleviate the burden of the taxes on the Jews of Safed. Haim Farkhi was the banker of the ruler of Damascus. He gained a lot of influence with the Turkish government, and became the advisor for the ruler of Akko, Ahmad Al-Jazar. Al-Jazar recognized his advisor's talents and acted upon his advice. In addition, he also relieved taxation of the Jewish community on Farkhi's request.
Notwithstanding this, Al-Jazar was a violent and cruel individual who's title "Al-Jazar" means "The Butcher". In violent attacks he would find pretext and do harm to his Jewish advisor and as a result he had pierced his eye and cut off the edge of his nose. A famous illustration of those days shows Al-Jazar sitting in Justice in front of his Jewish advisor who is wearing an eye patch.
In the days of Al-Jazar, in the year 1799, Napoleon tried to conquer the Land of Israel. His journeys in the land started in February 1799 when Napoleon and his army arrived from the south, captured Yafo and massacred 2000 Turkish prisoners within it. They then moved north, captured Haifa and the Jezreel Valley and lay siege upon Akko. Al-Jazar's troops lasted the siege for a month and a half and refused to surrender. These soldiers used the help of English sailors who were under the command of Admiral Sidney Smith. Also, they have used a gunning expert by the name of Antwan De Filippo.
The mind behind the defence of Akko was Farkhi. As the advisor and right hand man of Al-Jazar, Farkhi had a direct hand at the way the war was run. Farkhi and DeFilippo fought against Napoleon a war full of cruelty and trickery. At it's peak, the siege as managed to breach the wall and with many casualties Napoleon's soldiers had tried entering into the city only to discover that within the weeks since the seige has started, Farkhi and DeFilippo have built a second wall, several Feet into the city where Al-Jazar's garden was. The construction of the second wall made Napoleon and his men realise that they will probably not be able to take over the city. The siege was removed and Napoleon returned on his way to Egypt. Some say that Napoleon's articulation during the war, that if he would succeed and conquer the land it will be returned to the Jews, was meant to capture the heart of Farkhi and make him switch sides.
Decline and Murder of Farkhi
After the death of Al-Jazar in 1804, the role of ruler of the Galilee was given to his son Suliman. Suliman ruled over the region until his death in 1819. where he gave the power to his adopted son Abdallah.
Suliman continued working with Haim Farkhi and utilized him the same way his father did, however, his adopted son, Abdallah has made the decision to get rid of Farkhi. Farkhi did get word on the decision but he did not escape since he feared for the Jews of the kingdom.
On 21 August 1819, soldiers appeared at Farkhi's residence, announced to him that he is a traitor and killed him on the spot with strangulation. His house was ransacked by the soldiers and his body was refused burial. His family escaped to Damascus but his wife was unable to withstand the hardship of the journey and she died along the way in Safed.
Blood Vengeance for Farkhi
When word has arrived to the Farkhi family in Damascus about the events his brothers, Solomon, Refael and Moshe Farkhi, swore to avenge his killing. They had hired Turkish officers in Damascus and Halab and produced a Fatwa by "He who belongs to Islam" (the supreme religious authority in the Ottoman empire) that Abdallah was to be killed.
On April 1821 the Farkhi brothers arrived with a large army to the land of Israel. they went past the Galilee defeating Abdallah's armies along their way and appointing new rulers in his place at each place they reached. Afterwards, they had seiged Akko for 14 months. During the seige the eldes brother, Solomon, was poinsoned by emissaries of Abdallah and the brothers grew despair of the seige and went back with their troops to Damascus.
Haim Farkhi's Legacy
Farkhi's residency stands until today in Akko, but it is not open for visitors. In Akko there is a central city square at the old city in his name. Farkhi will be remembered as a contributor to the pilgrimage of the students of the Baal Shem Tov, in the year 1777, and their absorption in the Galilee. This pilgrimage is considered an important milestone in the Jewish resettlement in the Galilee.
Further Reading
- Avraham Yeari, "Memories of the land of Israel" (זכרונות ארץ ישראל), published by the dept. of youth matters of the Zionist Histadrut, 1947.