Georgia: Difference between revisions
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'''Georgia''' or | '''Georgia''' or Gruzia, is a region located on the border of Europe-Asia neighboring the eastern side of the black sea, in the geographical area of the Caucasus Mountains. Its terrain is mountainous and rich in natural resources, attracting many tourists. The country is also located at a crossroads on the historic 'silk road' route through which goods traveled from east to west, which greatly contributed to its prosperity and development. The country borders russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia and Turkey to the south, and the black sea to the west. | ||
The country has an ancient history, with settlement beginning about 3,000 years ago. for many years, the country belonged to the soviet union, and with the declaration of its dissolution in 5751 (1991), it became an independent country. in the capital city of tbilisi, over a million residents live, constituting about a quarter of the country's total population. | |||
Our rebbes sent their students to work among Georgian Jewry to strengthen Jewish identity with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), beginning from the period of the [[Rebbe Rashab]] until our present day, as many members of the Georgian community themselves became chabad chassidim, including community leaders and heads, great scholars and rabbis. | |||
= History = | = History = | ||
In ancient times, | In ancient times, Georgia was ruled by the Caucasian Iberian kingdom. Later, Christians took control of the country, and due to its geographical location between Muslim and Christian countries, it became a focus of struggle between Christians and Muslims. | ||
With the beginning of the | With the beginning of the Middle Ages, the arab empire took control of Georgia's territory and the government established there was called the 'emirate of tbilisi', and later the emirate disintegrated and its inhabitants were enslaved and sold in other countries as fighting soldiers, mamluks. | ||
During the reign of king david, the government was restored and georgia experienced nearly a hundred years of prosperity and flourishing, becoming a symbol of tolerance and religious and cultural diversity, but later, mongolia invaded georgia and as a result the country broke up into several principalities that quarreled among themselves, and consequently the ottoman empire and the persian empire annexed parts of it to their territory. | During the reign of king david, the government was restored and georgia experienced nearly a hundred years of prosperity and flourishing, becoming a symbol of tolerance and religious and cultural diversity, but later, mongolia invaded georgia and as a result the country broke up into several principalities that quarreled among themselves, and consequently the ottoman empire and the persian empire annexed parts of it to their territory. | ||
In 5543 (1783), an agreement was signed between | In 5543 (1783), an agreement was signed between Georgia and Russia, according to which it became a protectorate of Russia, and in 5561 (1801) it was annexed by tsar pavel the first to the russian empire, and the heir to the Georgian throne was deposed and replaced by a government headed by the Russian general Ivan Petrovich lasariev. | ||
After the | After the First World War, in the midst of the Russian Civil War, Georgia declared political independence and in the elections that took place, the social-democratic party won, but after only three years the Red Army attacked Georgia and conquered it, and established a pro-communist puppet regime in the country. The Georgians themselves continued to resist and rebel against the new government, but these were violently suppressed, and under stalin's regime, who was Georgian himself, about 100,000 Georgians were killed in the great political purges he conducted. | ||
In the interim period, when the | In the interim period, when the Georgian government already noticed the impending invasion disaster, one of the employees in the state service told Anash that the Georgian government was about to sail on a ship to Turkey, as the Bolsheviks were approaching the area. Several wealthy Chabad Chassidim also thought to join the journey and suggested to the Rebbe Rashab that he also emigrate with them. The idea was proposed to rebbetzin shterna sarah schneerson who gave her consent as did the Rebbe Rashab. for the purpose of issuing the visa, they photographed the Rebbe Rashab. The photo was taken on the ninth of Av that year. Before the voyage, when the ship was ready and a large part of the household items had already been sold, the rebbe rashab came out of his room and told his family that he had changed his mind and decided not to travel. he added and asked that they not continue to ask why and wherefore, and he remained in rostov. | ||
After the dissolution of the soviet union and the fall of the | After the dissolution of the soviet union and the fall of the Iron Curtain, Georgia became an independent state, but within the country itself, different groups continued to exist that continued to support and belong to the russian government. | ||
In 5768 (2008), | In 5768 (2008), Russia invaded Georgia in order to annex the separatist regions in the country considered pro-Russian, and continued attacking Georgia's territory even after it agreed to separate from these districts, and as a result more than 115 thousand Georgian refugees fled from the front. | ||
== Georgian jewry == | == Georgian jewry == | ||
According to some historical estimates, the beginning of the | According to some historical estimates, the beginning of the Jewish community in Georgia began after the destruction of the first temple, in the Mesopotamian exile, and in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. Traditionally, throughout history, the Jewish residents of Georgia lived in separate neighborhoods. | ||
The jewish residents of georgia were the first subjects in the soviet union to conduct public propaganda to leave the country's borders and immigrate to israel, both through direct appeal to the secretary general of the un in a letter published as 'the letter of the 18 families', and in a hunger strike by a large group near government centers in moscow, and eventually their action led to a historic change in the attitude of the soviet authorities, who began to allow more freely aliyah to the holy land. | The jewish residents of georgia were the first subjects in the soviet union to conduct public propaganda to leave the country's borders and immigrate to israel, both through direct appeal to the secretary general of the un in a letter published as 'the letter of the 18 families', and in a hunger strike by a large group near government centers in moscow, and eventually their action led to a historic change in the attitude of the soviet authorities, who began to allow more freely aliyah to the holy land. | ||
Over the years, about 30,000 georgian jews immigrated to the holy land, with smaller percentages migrating to other countries. | Over the years, about 30,000 georgian jews immigrated to the holy land, with smaller percentages migrating to other countries. Today, the number of Jewish residents in the country is estimated at about 15,000 people. | ||
Among the jews of | Among the jews of Georgia, an internal dialect of the Georgian language is spoken, called 'Jewish Georgian'. | ||
==== During the Period of the Rebbe Rashab ==== | ==== During the Period of the Rebbe Rashab ==== | ||