Jerusalem 1659: The Yeshiva That Defied a Sultan

In 1659, a small group of Jewish scholars from Eastern Europe arrived in Jerusalem bearing a bold mission: to re-establish a yeshiva in the Holy City, something that had not existed under Ottoman rule for centuries. This episode follows the story of Rabbi Jacob Hagiz and the founding of the Beit Yaakov yeshiva, which became a beacon of learning and a catalyst for the revival of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. We explore the challenges they faced—from Ottoman restrictions and local opposition to economic hardship—and how this institution sparked a renaissance of Jewish scholarship that would shape the city's religious and cultural landscape for generations. Along the way, we encounter the influential Jewish merchant Isaiah ben Joseph, the powerful Ottoman governor Muhammed ibn Farukh, and the tensions between the established Sephardic community and the newly arriving Ashkenazi immigrants. Through letters, community records, and the yeshiva's own chronicles, we uncover a story of resilience and intellectual ambition in a city where every stone is contested.

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