Ghosts of a Holy War: How the 1929 Hebron massacre shaped a century of conflict

On that date in 1929, “3,000 Muslim men armed with swords, axes, and daggers marched through the Jewish quarter of Hebron,” writes Yardena Schwartz. Before the day was over, the streets of the ancient city in British Mandate Palestine ran red with blood; 67 Jewish men, women, and children were murdered, and the rest of the 800-strong Jewish community fled.

In her new book, “Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict,” Schwartz examines the day’s violence in forensic detail and argues that the pogrom in Hebron, part of a spate of anti-Jewish riots that August, inspired the extremism on both sides that continues to make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so intractable. Having revised her original manuscript after the Hamas attack on October 7, she argues that there is a direct line between the two attacks in how they shaped a century of bloodshed.

“If we continue to ignore that history and the role religion plays in this conflict, I think we’re just going to be destined to another 100 years of wars and massacres,” she told me in an interview on Thursday, a little over a week before the one-year anniversary of what she calls the “Black Sabbath.”

I have been to Hebron a few times and prayed a few times in the Synagogue that is pictured in the article. It has been rebuilt is beautiful. I always thought that the rest of Israel could take a cue from the brave folks that live next to the Synagogue and the Tomb of the Patriarchs. They built modern facilities in the early 1900's for the Arabs, including schools and a hospital, and were slaughtered in the 1929 uprising. Nearly a hundred years later, the Jews who live there KNOW that the Arabs hate them, and are one of the few spots where the Jewish occupants are allowed to be armed and defend themselves. There is a IDF base within walking distance, but usually, the folks live there have seconds, not minutes or hours to defend themselves. I got a taste for Hebron as I have had my vehicle pelted by rocks every time I have gone there. I knew what the real story was when a young Arab that was about 3 years old was throwing rocks at me and calling me a dirty Jew. The only thing they understand is strength and an understanding that there are always negative consequences when they attack Jews. Perhaps now the Government will realize that all of the people that occupy Jewish land on the borders MUST be allowed to be armed and able to defend themselves. If anyone is interested in connecting with the Community at Hebron they can contact one of the leaders, Yishai Fleisher. If you do a search on his name you can find his blog. It is most interesting!

‘ The only thing they understand is strength and an understanding that there are always negative consequences when they attack Jews.’

An effective way to teach a thorough understanding of consequences. I hope a phd level of coursework is taught, and the students graduate with honors. Posthumously as needed.

In the middle ages, Islamic warriors demanded all the Christians in the North African city of Fez surrender and convert to Islam. 50,000 men, women and children were slaughtered. Then, the slaughtering hord dipped their white hats into the blood of Christians.

That’s why Shriners wear little red hats.

Re: "August 24, 1929"

Exactly two months later, the USA stock market crashed, and the world wide Great Depression began.

Not a good year for human beings.

Actually, not a great half Century for human beings...

World War I. Hitler. The Holocaust. World War II. Communist expansion and slaughter.

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