"Jerusalem of the West" was a term historically used by Jews to describe a non-Jewish city west of Jerusalem where the Jewish diaspora nonetheless enjoyed significant influence, freedom (of religion), and numbers, usually in Western Europe or Maghreb. Possibly its most persistent use was that of the Jews of Amsterdam.
In Europe, Amsterdam was commonly associated with the term and was called Jeruzalem van het Westen in Dutch.[2]Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal first settled there in the 17th-century[3] and in 1672, there were an estimated 7,500 Jews living in the city.[4] Holland had a reputation of hospitality and tolerance which was rare in Europe at the time. It was "the first city in Europe where Jews were free from persecution and where they enjoyed religious liberty, ample economic opportunities and social equality."[5] The epithet signalled that the Jews felt comfortable in the city.[6] Prior to the Holocaust, there were about 80,000 Jews living in Amsterdam.[7]
TlemcenEdit
In Northern Africa, Tlemcen in Algeria was called "Jerusalem of the West". In the 15th-century, the town was considered a major Jewish spiritual centre.[8]André Chouraqui believed that there was a genuine geographical correspondence between the town and Jerusalem. He wrote: "We were living our dream in the midst of the beautiful countryside of the Maghreb. Tlemcen...resembles the city of David in altitude, climate, fauna and flora, to such an extent that we called in the Jerusalem of the Maghreb."[9]
OtherEdit
Prior to World War II—Vilnius, Lithuania was known as the Jerusalem of the North.[10] Other towns given the appellation include Toledo[10] and Antwerp.[11] Many others towns in northern Africa were also called symbolically after Jerusalem: Ghardaia, M'zab (Second Jerusalem), Djerba, Tunisia (Ante-chamber of Jerusalem, Jerusalem of Africa), Ifrane, Morocco (Little Jerusalem).[12]
See alsoEdit
Nowa Jerozolima (Warsaw), a small village established in 1774 for Jewish settlers in Mazovia, Poland.
Mokum, Yiddish word meaning "safe haven", given to a number of towns in Holland and Germany.
Wenzhou, called "Jerusalem of the East" due to its Christian population.
ReferencesEdit
^Dreamers of the Ghetto, Israel Zangwill, 1898. pg. 82.
^Ridley Haim Herschell. The Voice of Israel, 1845. pg. 27.
^Antonie Wessels. Muslims in the West: can they be integrated, Peeters Publishers, 2006. pg. 9. ISBN90-429-1684-2.
^D. van Galen Last, Rolf Wolfswinkel. Anne Frank and after, Amsterdam University Press, 1996. pg. 17. ISBN90-5356-177-3.
^Beth Hatefutsoth: the first years, Beth Hatefutsoth, the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, 1983. pg. 53.
^D. van Galen Last, Rolf Wolfswinkel. Anne Frank and after, Amsterdam University Press, 1996. pg. 12. ISBN90-5356-177-3.
^John Hunwick. Jews of a Saharan oasis: elimination of the Tamantit community, Markus Wiener Publishers, 2006. Back Cover. ISBN1-55876-346-5.
^Susan Slyomovics. The walled Arab city in literature, architecture history: the living Medina in the Maghrib "Geographies of Jewish Tlemcen." Routledge, 2001. pg. 81. ISBN0-7146-5177-X.
^ abJoshua D. Zimmerman (2004). Poles, Jews, and the politics of nationality. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 16. ISBN0-299-19464-7.
^Jonathan Irvine Israel, R. Salverda. Dutch Jewry: its history and secular culture (1500-2000), BRILL 2002. pg. 291. ISBN90-04-12436-5.
^Marie-Noëlle Bourguet, Lucette Valensi, Nathan Wachtel. Between memory and history, Volume 2, Taylor & Francis, 1990. pg. 81. ISBN3-7186-5067-3.
October 22, 2023
jerusalem, west, term, historically, used, jews, describe, jewish, city, west, jerusalem, where, jewish, diaspora, nonetheless, enjoyed, significant, influence, freedom, religion, numbers, usually, western, europe, maghreb, possibly, most, persistent, that, je. Jerusalem of the West was a term historically used by Jews to describe a non Jewish city west of Jerusalem where the Jewish diaspora nonetheless enjoyed significant influence freedom of religion and numbers usually in Western Europe or Maghreb Possibly its most persistent use was that of the Jews of Amsterdam Contents 1 Applications 1 1 Amsterdam 1 2 Tlemcen 1 3 Other 2 See also 3 ReferencesApplications EditAmsterdam Edit Is Amsterdam then A Jewish town Nay but tis the Jerusalem of the West Dreamers of the Ghetto Israel Zangwill 1898 1 In Europe Amsterdam was commonly associated with the term and was called Jeruzalem van het Westen in Dutch 2 Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal first settled there in the 17th century 3 and in 1672 there were an estimated 7 500 Jews living in the city 4 Holland had a reputation of hospitality and tolerance which was rare in Europe at the time It was the first city in Europe where Jews were free from persecution and where they enjoyed religious liberty ample economic opportunities and social equality 5 The epithet signalled that the Jews felt comfortable in the city 6 Prior to the Holocaust there were about 80 000 Jews living in Amsterdam 7 Tlemcen Edit In Northern Africa Tlemcen in Algeria was called Jerusalem of the West In the 15th century the town was considered a major Jewish spiritual centre 8 Andre Chouraqui believed that there was a genuine geographical correspondence between the town and Jerusalem He wrote We were living our dream in the midst of the beautiful countryside of the Maghreb Tlemcen resembles the city of David in altitude climate fauna and flora to such an extent that we called in the Jerusalem of the Maghreb 9 Other Edit Prior to World War II Vilnius Lithuania was known as the Jerusalem of the North 10 Other towns given the appellation include Toledo 10 and Antwerp 11 Many others towns in northern Africa were also called symbolically after Jerusalem Ghardaia M zab Second Jerusalem Djerba Tunisia Ante chamber of Jerusalem Jerusalem of Africa Ifrane Morocco Little Jerusalem 12 See also EditNowa Jerozolima Warsaw a small village established in 1774 for Jewish settlers in Mazovia Poland Mokum Yiddish word meaning safe haven given to a number of towns in Holland and Germany Wenzhou called Jerusalem of the East due to its Christian population References Edit Dreamers of the Ghetto Israel Zangwill 1898 pg 82 Ridley Haim Herschell The Voice of Israel 1845 pg 27 Antonie Wessels Muslims in the West can they be integrated Peeters Publishers 2006 pg 9 ISBN 90 429 1684 2 D van Galen Last Rolf Wolfswinkel Anne Frank and after Amsterdam University Press 1996 pg 17 ISBN 90 5356 177 3 Beth Hatefutsoth the first years Beth Hatefutsoth the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora 1983 pg 53 D van Galen Last Rolf Wolfswinkel Anne Frank and after Amsterdam University Press 1996 pg 12 ISBN 90 5356 177 3 Jewish identity in football clubs John Hunwick Jews of a Saharan oasis elimination of the Tamantit community Markus Wiener Publishers 2006 Back Cover ISBN 1 55876 346 5 Susan Slyomovics The walled Arab city in literature architecture history the living Medina in the Maghrib Geographies of Jewish Tlemcen Routledge 2001 pg 81 ISBN 0 7146 5177 X a b Joshua D Zimmerman 2004 Poles Jews and the politics of nationality Univ of Wisconsin Press p 16 ISBN 0 299 19464 7 Jonathan Irvine Israel R Salverda Dutch Jewry its history and secular culture 1500 2000 BRILL 2002 pg 291 ISBN 90 04 12436 5 Marie Noelle Bourguet Lucette Valensi Nathan Wachtel Between memory and history Volume 2 Taylor amp Francis 1990 pg 81 ISBN 3 7186 5067 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jerusalem of the West amp oldid 1145172204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
