The jihadist pogroms of 1929 referred to as “Meora’ot Tarpat” (literally, the “events of 5689”) claimed the lives of 133 Jews, and injured hundreds more. In cities across Eretz Yisrael, mobs of Muslim rioters rampaged through Jewish communities murdering and pillaging as incited and encouraged by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husayni, yemach shemo. Later, this embodiment of evil would collaborate with the Nazis and recruit Muslims to join the Waffen-SS.
The attack on the Jewish “ghetto” of Chevron was particularly horrific. Hordes of jihadis swarmed in and killed 69 Jews, including 24 talmidim of Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael, the famed Slabodka Yeshiva. Defenseless women, children, and elderly were butchered in unimaginably cruel ways, and the Jewish community of Chevron was all but destroyed, shaking the international Jewish community.
Rav Simcha Raz’s classic biography of the Rav Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, zt’l, An Angel Among Men (translated by Rav Moshe D. Lichtman), describes the tzaddik’s actions behind the scenes:
When news of the deadly rioting in Chevron reached the Jewish leadership in Yerushalayim, a delegation including Rav Kook hurried to meet Sir Harry Luke, the acting British High Commissioner. They urged him to immediately act to protect the Jews of Chevron and take measures against the Arab rioters, but were met with a cold, response:
“What can be done?” asked Luke. Rav Kook’s face turned red with emotion. “They must be stopped,” he cried. “Shoot them!” “I have not received any such orders,” retorted the British official. “In the name of human dignity, I am ordering you!” The soul-less commissioner dismissed the rav’s pleas, and the carnage continued.
When the riots finally subsided, it became clear that the British authorities had actually cooperated with the jihadist rioters. Rav Kook publicly held the commissioner responsible for British inaction during a subsequent massacre. Sometime later, the rav crossed paths with Luke who cordially held out his hand to greet the Chief Rabbi. To the shock of many, Rav Kook refused to shake it, protesting sharply, “I will not shake a hand stained with Jewish blood!”
The rav’s bold stance made a profound impression upon those gathered, and word spread throughout the Jewish world. “Israel Prize”-winning author Avigdor HaMe’iri testified: “If not for one unique, extraordinary man, who stood guard over our national pride, we would now be rending our garments over the loss of our honor as well.”
Six months after the massacre, still reeling and in shock, grieving crowds of survivors and family members gathered in Yerushalayim at the old Beit Knesset Yeshurun for an azkarah. Rav Kook, regal in his shtreimel, ascended to the podium.
“The holy martyrs of Chevron do not need a ‘memorial’ service,” he announced. “The Jewish people can never forget the holy and pure souls who were slaughtered by those murderers and vile thugs. Rather, we must remember and remind the Jewish people not to forget the city of the Patriarchs. Am Yisrael must know what Chevron means to us.
“We have an ancient tradition: Maaseh avos, siman labanim, ‘The actions of the fathers are signposts for their descendants.’ When the weak-hearted meraglim, the Biblical spies, arrived at Chevron, they were frightened by the fierce nations inhabiting the Land. But Calev quieted the people for Moshe. ‘We must go forth and conquer the Land,’ he said. ‘We can do it’ (Bamidbar 13:30).
“Despite the terrible tragedy that took place in Chevron, we hereby announce to the world, ‘Our strength is now like our strength was then!’ We will not abandon our holy places and sacred aspirations. Chevron is the city of our fathers and mothers, of Me’aras HaMachpeilah… It is the city of David haMelech, the cradle of our sovereign monarchy.
“Those who discourage the efforts to restore the Jewish community in Chevron with arguments of political expediency; those who scorn and say, ‘What are those wretched Jews doing?’—those who refuse to help rebuild Chevron—they are attacking the very roots of our people. In the future, they will be held accountable for their deeds. If ruffians and hooligans have repaid our kindness with malice, we have only one eternal response: It will yet be rebuilt—Jewish Chevron will once again be built up, in all its honor and glory!
“The inner meaning of Chevron is to draw strength and galvanize ourselves with the power of Netzach Yisrael, the Eternity of Israel. That proud Jew, Calev, announced years later, ‘I am still as strong today as on the day that Moshe sent me; my strength is the same now as it was then, for battle and for action’” (Yehoshua 14:11).
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While we have experienced striking similarities and painful parallels to the horrors of 1929 in our own generation, much has changed since Tarpat. Sovereignty and statehood have empowered us to defend ourselves and to fight back. As we witness over and over in the faith and sacrifice of our chayalim and their families, “Our strength is even greater now than it was then, for battle and for action!” We are on the path of redemption and rebuilding, reclaiming our national honor and k’vod shomayim. As Rav Kook, zt’l, concluded his moving words of hesped and chizuk almost a century ago: “We shall reestablish Chevron in even greater glory, with peace and security for every Jew. With G-d’s help, we will merit to see Chevron completely rebuilt, speedily in our days!”
In the merit of our Avos and Imahos, and in the merit of the awesome heroism and dedication of our soldiers, so may it be in the South, the North, and throughout all of Eretz Yisrael haShleimah. n
Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the mashpia of OU-NCSY, founder of Tzama Nafshi, and the author of “Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva.” Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife, Ora, and their family.
