An official ceremony marking 100 years since the Kishinev pogrom was held today in Moldova, between the Ukraine and Romania. Representing the Israeli Government was Kishinev-born Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who told Arutz-7 today, "The pogrom in 1903 shocked not only the Jewish world, but the entire enlightened world as well. It was the first time that the Christian world, such as Tolstoy and others, arose to help the Jews… Today, the President of Moldova and other officials took part in the ceremony, and said things that were very pleasant for me as an Israeli to hear."
Close to 50 Jews were slaughtered in the 1903 murderous riot that lasted two days; more than 500 were injured, many homes and businesses were destroyed, and 2,000 families were left homeless. Two years later, in yet another massacre in Kishinev, 19 Jews were murdered - but this time, some of the Jews were prepared and fought together in self-defense units.
The earlier pogrom had led to charges that the Jews were too passive and did little to help themselves. "The Haganah was established by Ze'ev Jabotinsky," said Lieberman, "following the increasing realization that Jews had to defend themselves and that we could not rely on anyone else. In every generation, enemies arise against us - and it wasn't spontaneous; the Russian government gave its backing - just as today, the terrorism is not spontaneous, but rather organized by the Palestinian Authority leadership…"
He said that the 1903 slaughter is being commemorated in three days of events, including "a scientific seminar, an Israeli Culture day, with international participation, etc. - all in all, it's quite impressive." He said that the Jewish community in Kishinev appears quite comfortable: "They number some 15,000 Jews, they have schools, synagogues, and nice positions in the community, etc. They don't seem to be considering Aliyah [immigration to Israel] at present… The fact that they want to remain in Kishinev is primarily a failure of ours…"
The famed Jewish poet Chaim Nachman Bialik was sent to Kishinev at the time on behalf of the Jewish Historical Commission in Odessa to write a report on the pogrom. The result was his famous poem "B'Ir HaHaregah" (In the City of Slaughter), in which he criticized not only the mobs, but even more bitingly the Jews and their passivity. Scholars have said, however, that the Jews did make an attempt at self-defense, but that it was nipped in the bud when the authorities disarmed them. Arutz-7's Haggai Segal noted that 80,000 Jews were killed in Kishinev in 1942.
Close to 50 Jews were slaughtered in the 1903 murderous riot that lasted two days; more than 500 were injured, many homes and businesses were destroyed, and 2,000 families were left homeless. Two years later, in yet another massacre in Kishinev, 19 Jews were murdered - but this time, some of the Jews were prepared and fought together in self-defense units.
The earlier pogrom had led to charges that the Jews were too passive and did little to help themselves. "The Haganah was established by Ze'ev Jabotinsky," said Lieberman, "following the increasing realization that Jews had to defend themselves and that we could not rely on anyone else. In every generation, enemies arise against us - and it wasn't spontaneous; the Russian government gave its backing - just as today, the terrorism is not spontaneous, but rather organized by the Palestinian Authority leadership…"
He said that the 1903 slaughter is being commemorated in three days of events, including "a scientific seminar, an Israeli Culture day, with international participation, etc. - all in all, it's quite impressive." He said that the Jewish community in Kishinev appears quite comfortable: "They number some 15,000 Jews, they have schools, synagogues, and nice positions in the community, etc. They don't seem to be considering Aliyah [immigration to Israel] at present… The fact that they want to remain in Kishinev is primarily a failure of ours…"
The famed Jewish poet Chaim Nachman Bialik was sent to Kishinev at the time on behalf of the Jewish Historical Commission in Odessa to write a report on the pogrom. The result was his famous poem "B'Ir HaHaregah" (In the City of Slaughter), in which he criticized not only the mobs, but even more bitingly the Jews and their passivity. Scholars have said, however, that the Jews did make an attempt at self-defense, but that it was nipped in the bud when the authorities disarmed them. Arutz-7's Haggai Segal noted that 80,000 Jews were killed in Kishinev in 1942.