The Azores Megillah at the National Library of Israel provides beautiful and early textual evidence of Jewish life in the Azores, and it has has recently been digitized for the first time.
Measuring just 12.7 cm (5 in) in height, this exquisite scroll was written in the 19th century and dedicated to David Sabach [i.e. Sabath], a well-known member of the Azorean Jewish community and a man eulogized as having great Torah knowledge. He was born prior to 1847, probably in Sao Miguel, Azores and died in 1915 in Portugal.
The Azores Islands belong to Portugal and are located some 1500 km (950 miles) from Lisbon. Jews fleeing persecution fled there in the 16th and 17th centuries, though they left no known written record of their Jewish lives or practices. The first written record we have of Jewish life on the islands comes with the arrival of Moroccan Jews in 1818. By the mid-19th century, the Azorean Jewish population was about 250, most of them living in Ponta Delgada, on Sao Miguel Island. The historic Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue in Ponta Delgada has recently been renovated and converted into a museum about the history of Azorean Jewish life.
The Azores Megillah came to the National Library of Israel as part of the famed Valmadonna Trust Library, the finest private collection of Hebrew books and manuscripts in the world, which was purchased jointly by the National Library of Israel and archaeology, book and Judaica collectors Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn through a private sale arranged by Sotheby’s. The Valmadonna collection is currently being digitized and it will be showcased in the National Library of Israel’s landmark new building, designed by award-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, and currently under construction in Jerusalem.
The Esther Megillah (or Esther Scroll in English) contains the story of the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is read in Jewish communities throughout the world every year on the holiday. The National Library of Israel holds hundreds of handwritten Esther Scrolls from across the world, some of which are hundreds of years old. Each was written in a different community. Many of them are decorated in a style which may reflect their origins, and they are often dedicated to prominent members of the community, sometimes the individuals or families who commissioned them.
Like the majority of ancient nations, the truth regarding the origins of the Samaritan sect is lost in the mists of time. Samaritan tradition claims that the members of the sect are the Shomrim [guards] – the guardians of the true Torah who refused to accept what they saw as the false Jewish version, which considers Mount Moriah in Jerusalem as the holiest site in the Jewish faith and which was traditionally compiled during the Second Temple period.
According to this tradition, only the Samaritans – “the true Israelites” – live according to God’s law. This is because they sanctified Mount Gerizim, the sites of the temporary alter built by Joshua when the Israelites people entered the promised land, and built their temple there.
The book of Kings II 17:24, the most ancient source containing information about the origins of the Samaritans, presents a different version:
“And the king of Assyria brought [people] from Babylonia and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and from Sepharvaim, and he settled them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel, and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.”
Based on this source, the Jews believe the Samaritans do not originate from the ancient Hebrews who were faithful to the original tradition concerning Mount Gerizim, but rather from a considerably later period. In their opinion, the Samaritans originate from nations brought by Esarhaddon king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib (who ruled between 681-669 BCE) to Samaria to take the place of the ‘ten lost tribes’. According to the book of Kings, the new settlers began to worship the God of Israel out of fear of the lions God sent against them (Kings II 17:26) and were therefore also referred to as ‘lion converts’. This is also the reason why the Jews who returned from Babylonia to the Land of Israel in the period of Cyrus refused to allow the Samaritans to help them rebuild their destroyed Temple.
Over time the two groups became so detached that the Samaritans, who branched off from the Jewish people over a thousand years ago, have their own version of the Torah, which they refer to as Sefer Abisha. The Samaritans do not accept the books of Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”), only the Torah, and they continue to use an ancient script known as Daatz. They similarly reject the Oral Torah.
Researchers who compared the traditional wording (that accepted by Jews) of the Torah and Sefer Abisha found some 6000 differences between the two versions. The majority stem from differences in spelling but others relate to the crux of the dispute between the two nations. The most prominent example is the question of the precise location of the holy place chosen by God.
“And it will be, that the place the Lord, your God, will choose in which to establish His Name there you shall bring all that I am commanding you: Your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the separation by your hand, and the choice of vows which you will vow to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 12:11)
The Samaritans continued to live in Samaria for centuries. However, the sect which had extensive influence and resources during the Byzantine period underwent a process of gradual, constant decline following the quashing of the violent revolts during the Byzantine period, and later with the influx of Arab tribes into the region following the Muslim conquest.
By the beginning of the 20th century the sect had only a hundred and fifty adherents and Western travelers who toured through Israel at the time predicted their impending demise. Despite this, the sect continued to cling to its holy sites and to hold its traditional ceremonies, including the ceremony of the Passover sacrifice on Mount Gerizim as in the days of old. The renewed interest of the Western world in the history of the sect and later the establishment of the State of Israel improved its social and economic standing. Due to this, the tiny sect expanded, and currently consists of eight hundred members some of whom live in the city of Holon and some who continue to live in Nablus, adjacent to their holy mountain.
A rare photograph album preserved in the National Library of Israel offers a rare glimpse into one of the most important of the Samaritan customs – the pilgrimage to Mount Gerizim on the festival of Passover.
We are unable to determine the precise year the photographs were taken, but it appears to be a ceremony held in the early 20th century, no later than 1911, the year of the death of the tour guide Rolla Floyd whose name appears on one of the tents in the photographs.
Pilgrimage to Mount Gerizim
The Samaritans are commanded to go on a pilgrimage to the holy mountain on three different festivals – Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. The pilgrimage on Passover is considered the most significant, a fact clearly seen in the photographs themselves.
The pilgrimage to Mount Gerizim is conducted as a journey infused with grandeur and holiness, during which the worshipers recite a series of special prayers.
After ascending to the holy mountain, the sacrifices must be prepared. In the photograph we see young boys in the camp of tents established on Mount Gerizim at the foot of the alter together with the sheep brought to be used as a Passover offering.
At sunset, as the sun begins to sink behind the hills of Samaria, the High Priest (who we identified as Yaacov son of Aharon) recited the sacrificial prayer while lifting up the Torah scroll he brought with him. The Aramaic piyut which accompanies the ceremony deals with Isaac and the ram Abraham sacrificed in his stead – an event which the Passover offering sacrificed by the members of the sect comes to replicate. This is an ancient custom no longer found in Judaism and was therefore an object of curiosity for contemporary European researchers and tourists.
Two final preparations for the central event – the offering of the sacrifices: shearing the fleece and igniting the coals.
When everything is ready for sacrificing the offerings, the sheep are slaughtered and hung to be roasted.
Guests who are not members of the sect are permitted to attend the ceremony, and several curious figures in European dress appear in the ceremony documented in the photograph album.
The Passoverl offering was the only festival in the Samaritan calendar in which women were permitted to ascend the mountain and participate in the prayers together with the men.
Only members of the sect are permitted to eat from the offerings, which are eaten under the supervision of the High Priest – standing in the center leaning on his staff. The parts not eaten are burned on the alter.
National Library of Israel Receives Major Gift from Stephen A. Schwarzman for New Landmark Building in Jerusalem
A major gift from Stephen A. Schwarzman will establish the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center in the new National Library of Israel campus currently under construction in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem – The National Library of Israel (NLI) has announced a major gift from Stephen A. Schwarzman to establish the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center in the new NLI campus currently under construction in Jerusalem adjacent to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). The new campus is being designed by celebrated architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, and is scheduled to open in 2021.
Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Blackstone, is a renowned philanthropist with a history of supporting transformational education programs. In 2013, Schwarzman established Schwarzman Scholars, a highly selective, one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing that is designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders to confront the most pressing challenges of their time. Other major gifts have included a new student center and performing arts hub at Yale University, and the transformation and renovation of the New York Public Library’s main branch.
The 3,900 sq. ft. Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center at the National Library of Israel will include a multi-purpose space with capacity of 100 people for classes, lectures, performances and more; three distinct spaces for facilitating a diverse range of activities and workshops; and state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure to connect with peers in Israel and around the world.
Innovative educational programming is a centerpiece of the renewed mission of the NLI, as it opens access to the cultural treasures of the Jewish people, Israel and its region to diverse users and audiences in Israel and around the globe. NLI educational programming generates meaningful learning experiences based on the Library’s extensive collections, which include manuscripts, printed works, images, music and more relating to Jewish, Muslim and Christian history, traditions and cultures. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center will function as the primary location for these activities, serving people of all faiths, including tens of thousands of student visitors annually, and millions more online.
The new National Library of Israel campus will feature an open and transparent building showcasing the Library’s treasures with an iconic three-level main reading hall at its center. It will house a 430 seat auditorium, permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, digitization and conservation laboratories, state-of-the-art facilities for storing and presenting rare items and more. A landscaped park with a commissioned sculpture, “Letters of Light,” by renowned Israeli artist Micha Ullman, will feature prominently.
The new National Library of Israel building has been made possible through the generosity of the Rothschild Family (Yad Hanadiv), the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Family of New York and the Israeli Government.
“My hope is that the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center will serve as the crossroads for its new campus, bringing together future generations of students from around the world and creating a hub for cutting-edge innovation and education. Now, more than ever, our focus must be on fostering cross-cultural relationships. I’m pleased to support the NLI as it furthers this mission by sharing artifacts and resources from Jewish, Muslim and Christian history and encouraging deep cultural understanding.”
David Blumberg, Chairman, National Library of Israel:
“The new center will enable us to optimize impact for generations to come, engaging learners of all backgrounds with meaningful educational programming based around the National Library treasures. It will certainly be a highlight of our new home and we are very grateful to Mr. Schwarzman for his generosity and vision.”
Lord Rothschild:
“I couldn’t be more delighted that Steve Schwarzman has decided to establish the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center in our new National Library of Israel building. It is a truly great project, and I am happy indeed that Steve’s name will be there. With a wide range of cultural, educational, and technological initiatives, the National Library will attract new audiences, connect Jewish communities throughout the world as well as carry out its principal function of being the pre-eminent library not only to Israel and Jewish communities worldwide but, in addition, to all faiths.”
Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) is home to the intellectual and cultural treasures of the Jewish people, the State of Israel and its region throughout the ages. It is home to the largest collection of textual Judaica ever amassed, as well as world-class collections related to Israel, Islam and the Middle East, and the Humanities. NLI has recently embarked upon an ambitious initiative to transform itself into a cutting-edge global center at the forefront of knowledge dissemination and cultural creativity. This process is being driven by the principle of opening access to its treasures through a wide range of cultural, educational, and technological initiatives, as well as through the construction of its new home adjacent to Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) in Jerusalem. The new home of the NLI, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is schedule to open in 2021 and will provide a world-class venue for NLI to engage new audiences, while continuing to serve as Israel’s pre-eminent library for people of all faiths.
About Stephen A. Schwarzman
Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Blackstone, Stephen A. Schwarzman founded the Schwarzman Scholars program in order to give the most talented future leaders the power to change the course of history. An active philanthropist, Mr. Schwarzman has personally donated $100 million to this effort and is leading a campaign to raise $500 million more to fully endow the program—the single largest charitable effort in China’s history coming from largely international donors. In both business and education, Mr. Schwarzman has dedicated his career to developing transformative solutions to some of the world’s great challenges. His charitable giving has included anchor support for the New York Public Library, the establishment of the Schwarzman Center at Yale University, and sponsoring educational opportunity for talented children.
About Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron is a partnership led by five Senior Partners – Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Christine Binswanger, Ascan Mergenthaler and Stefan Marbach. Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron established their office in Basel in 1978. The partnership has grown over the years – Christine Binswanger joined the practice as Partner in 1994, followed by Robert Hösl and Ascan Mergenthaler in 2004, Stefan Marbach in 2006, Esther Zumsteg in 2009, Andreas Fries in 2011, Vladimir Pajkic in 2012, Jason Frantzen and Wim Walschap in 2014 and Michael Fischer in 2016. An international team of about 40 Associates and 380 collaborators is working on projects across Europe, the Americas and Asia. The firm‘s main office is in Basel with additional offices in Hamburg, London, Madrid, New York City, and Hong Kong.
Herzog & de Meuron have designed a wide range of projects from the small scale of a private home to the large scale of urban design. While many of their projects are highly recognized public facilities, such as their stadiums and museums, they have also completed several distinguished private projects including apartment buildings, offices, and factories. The practice has been awarded numerous prizes including The Pritzker Architecture Prize (USA) in 2001, the RIBA Royal Gold Medal (UK) and the Praemium Imperiale (Japan), both in 2007. In 2014, Herzog & de Meuron were awarded the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP).
How a Kid Who Liked to Saw Rifles Became the Inventor of the Uzi
While imprisoned in a notorious British jail, this youth came up with the design of a submachine gun which would gain worldwide popularity. This is the unbelievable story of Uzi Gal.
Gotthard Glas was a child with a dangerous hobby: weapons.
When he was ten years old, young Gotthard managed to burn his hand in a freak accident. The boy grew up in Munich, Germany, in a home full of pistols, swords and other antique weapons. One day he decided to saw down an old, long rifle and transform it into a new and more compact sort of weapon – this bright idea led to the unfortunate injury.
From “Uzi Submachine Gun: Lesson Plans” which the IDF distributed to officers in 1970
When the child became a teenager, after moving to Kibbutz Yagur in the Land of Israel, his great passion for guns returned. He heard that the geography teacher in his district school owned a tiny Italian B.P. gun. He sold his stamp album, bought the weapon and began working on his dream: to turn it into a well-oiled instument of war. Unfortunately, a teacher in the school caught him at work on the gun, and his plans were foiled once again. Glas did not give up: at the age of 15 he invented a bow which shot arrows automatically – a “submachine bow and arrow”, if you will.
When Glas joined the Palmach, the underground Haganah organization’s elite fighting force, he found the perfect occupation: Weapons development. Just as in his school days, however, he was caught once again – and sentenced to 7 years in prison by the British Mandate authorities for his work with illegal weaponry. To his joy, he was pardoned after just over two years in Acre Prison. You will not be surprised to hear that Gotthard passed the time behind bars by designing a submachine gun.
In 1949, while still a cadet in an officer training course and after making an intimate acquaintance with all the weapons the IDF had to offer, the young boy, who had meanwhile become Uziel Glas (and would later be known by the name Uzi Gal) chose to write a letter to his commanders:
“To: The Commanding Officer of the Officers’ School, Lieutenant Colonel Meir Zorea.
From: Cadet Uziel Glas 120946.
Date: October 20, 1949″
The long letter contains a detailed description of his dream of the perfect submachine gun.
An IDF soldier prays at the Western Wall while carrying an Uzi. Photograph: Yaacov Elbaz. The Dan Hadani Collection at the National Library, June 11, 1969.
Five and a half years later, on April 27, 1955, the IDF held the traditional Independence Day Parade. It was at this parade that the army revealed the new submachine gun which bore the name (what else?) “Uzi”. By the way, Guthard/Uziel/Uzi Glas/Gal didn’t want the submachine gun to be named after him, but the decision was out of his hands.
“An Innovative Weapon for the IDF”. An article published in “Zemanim”, April 27, 1955
Within a few years the Uzi was not an exclusively Israeli weapon, it became a phenomenal success throughout the world.
The Uzi, Chuck Norris’ weapon of choice!
The entire State of Israel encountered this unassuming young man when he received the Chief of Staff Citation in 1955, and was then awarded the “Security Prize” by David Ben-Gurion.
Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir shooting an Uzi, December 16, 1986. Photograph: Nati Henrik, GPO
When asked about his invention he simply replied: “I did my duty in the army. Just like a cook, just like everyone else”.
From: “Uzi Submachine Gun: Lesson Plans”, which the IDF distributed to commanders in 1970.
This article makes use of information found in volume 17 of the IDF Encyclopedia of Military & Security Issues (צה”ל בחילו – אנציקלופדיה לבא וביטחון), and Eli Eshed’s article “Sixty Years of the Uzi Submachine Gun”.
