- Family and Society
- The Nation of Israel
- Israel and the Nations
961
During the latter century of the existence of the First Temple the kingdom of Judah maintained an alliance with Egypt as a protection against the aggressions of its northern neighbors, Assyria and then Babylonia. But Egypt proved to be a broken reed as far as the security of the Jewish kingdom was concerned. It did not come to the aid of Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar attacked the kingdom and eventually sacked Jerusalem, burned the Temple and exiled the Jews from their homeland. Egypt itself also suffered defeat at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Jeremiah’s message was consistent: Do not ever depend upon Egypt. But true prophets are often made to be ignored. In Second Temple times there was a large Jewish community living in Egypt, mainly in Alexandria. The community was overly proud and wealthy. It even housed a Temple that competed with the Temple in Jerusalem. The Ptolemaic Empire which Egypt represented eventually succumbed to Roman rule. After the destruction of the Second Temple the Alexandrian community took on even greater importance. But it was also the scene of fierce rebellions against Rome and later pitched battles with the Greek Christians occurred. After the fourth century the community declined in numbers and influence. With the advent of Islam a Jewish community again arose especially in Fostadt (Old Cairo). Maimonides lived in Fostadt in the twelfth century and was the physician to the famous emperor Saladin. Great rabbinic scholars such as Rabbi David ben Zimra (Radvaz) headed the Jewish community. Jewish Egypt was a hotbed of Sabbatean false messianism and also of Karaite influences. The Jews there maintained a low profile, were treated as dhimmis (inferior citizens) but nevertheless were able to maintain their traditional way of life.
With the arrival of England and France and their colonial and imperialist outlook and the construction of the Suez Canal in the nineteenth century Egypt became a Western colony with puppet rulers. In 1948 it led the charge of Arab armies determined to crush the nascent Jewish state in its infancy. Abdel Gamel Nasser came to power in 1952 and with Soviet backing attempted to destroy Israel by terrorism and war. He was defeated in the 1956 Sinai campaign and even more decisively so in the 1967 Six Day war. However, Egypt continued its aggression against Israel in terrorist activities and a war of attrition on the banks of the Suez Canal. In 1973, Anwar Sadat, Nasser’s successor launched the Yom Kippur War which ended yet again in Egyptian military defeat. But in 1979 Sadat finally broke with war and entered into negotiations with Israel which resulted in the Camp David peace agreement. Sadat was rewarded for his peaceful vision by being assassinated by his own palace guard. Hosni Mubarak succeeded Sadat and has maintained a very cold peace with Israel for the past thirty years. Now Mubarak appears to be done and again Israel looks anxiously south at Egypt and what direction it will take now. The words of the prophet Jeremiah echo still in our ears. As far as Egypt is concerned nothing is certain. It still remains a broken but dangerous reed.
This Shiur is published also at Rabbi Kaganof's site

May a Non-Jew Own a Nectarine Tree?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Tishrei 28 5782
The new pope, the catholic church and the jews
Rabbi Berel Wein
Around The Corner
Rabbi Berel Wein | 5770

Joining Gentiles
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Tamuz 14 5782

P'ninat Mishpat: End of Tenure of Development Company – part I
based on ruling 77097 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Tammuz 5785
Daf Yomi Avodah Zarah Daf 11
R' Eli Stefansky | 3 Tammuz 5785

The Torah - On Beyond our Intellect
Rabbi Avraham Shapira Zt"l | 8 Tamuz 5785
