Mordecai ben Avshalom (Russian: Мардахай бен Овшолум; Hebrew: מרדכי בן אבשלום; 1860 - 1925) was a Mountain Jew poet, abrek.[1][2][3] He produced poetry, and songs with themes that included brotherhood, equality, justice, love, peace, rebellion against the existing system.[1][3] His poetry called for social protest.[1][3] Mordecai ben Avshalom wrote his poems and songs in the Hebrew alphabet, in the Judeo-Tat and Azerbaijani languages.[4]

Rebel Poet

Mordecai ben Avshalom
Photo of Mordecai ben Avshalom in Israel. Circa 1895.
Photo of Mordecai ben Avshalom in Israel. Circa 1895.
Native name
Мардахай бен Овшолум
Born1860
Derbent, Dagestan Oblast, Russian Empire
Died1925
Derbent, Dagestan ASSR, USSR
Resting placeDerbent, The Jewish Cemetery
NicknameRussian: Сибири
OccupationPoet
LanguageJudeo-Tat, Azerbaijani, Hebrew alphabet
NationalityRussian Empire, USSR
SpouseNerguz
Children4, Mulaim, Khonum, Zulpo, Rachel
Military service
AllegianceRussian Empire
Years of service1904–1905
Battles/warsRusso-Japanese War
Awards

Biography

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Mordecai ben Avshalom was born in Derbent, Russian Empire, around 1860.[5][1][6] From a young age he wrote poems in which he called for peace and brotherhood.[7] He was one of the first poets whose work was distinguished by a social protest against the existing system.[1] His poems have not been preserved but were written down from the memory of the inhabitants of Derbent and kept alive by famous Mountain Jewish writers and poets of different generations.[4]

Mordecai ben Avshalom grew up to be a very tall and strong man: his height was more than 2 m.[4] He defended the interests of the working man before the arbitrariness of the rich.[7][8] He also took money and food from them by force and gave them to the synagogue for distribution to the poorest.[4] Repeatedly referred to the Siberian penal servitude. During his prison escapes, he was in the position of abrek. After the first stay in hard labor for the murder of a gendarme who tried to rape a lonely widow, he received the nickname "Siberia".[7][8]

In 1904, Mardachai ben Avshalom participated in the Russo-Japanese War, where he received the Cross of St. George for his bravery.[1][8]

In 1925, he died at the hands of an enemy who poisoned him during a festive event. [4][8]

Family

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The descendants of Mardakhai Avshalom are numerous and they live in many countries.[9]

  • Wife - Nerguz
  • Daughters - Mulaim, Khonum, Zulpo, Rachel
  • Mother - Purim
  • Father - Avshalom
  • Brothers - Mardecai, Yashagiyo, Irmiyo, Avshalom
  • Sisters - Bizen, Batushvag, Shifra
  • Grandpa - Shalum

Legacy

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Since 2012, the creative heritage of the classic of Mountain Jewish poetry of Mardakhai Avshalom has been studied in the literature lessons of the 8th grade of Kumykia secondary schools in Dagestan and Chechnya.[3][8]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Shalum Shalumov. "The legendary Mardakhai Avshalom of Siberia (Siberian), 1860-1925", 2009. Publisher - "Mirvori"
  2. ^ Galina Musakhanova, "Tat literature, (Essay on history. 1917-1990), pp. 59-64. Makhachkala. Dagestan book publishing house, 1993
  3. ^ a b c d Asaf Mushailov -Song about Mordecai Avshalom of Siberia 2021. STMEGI.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Shalum Shalumov. "Poet-rebel Mardachai Avshalom of Siberia (Siberian), 1860-1925", p. 9. 2013.
  5. ^ Manashir Yakubov: "On the Music of the Mountain Jews": "Mardakhai Avshalom of Siberia is a symbol of the national poetic tradition." STMEGI.com
  6. ^ Hizgil Avshalumov, “Rebel Poet Mardakhai Avshalom of Siberia”, Vatan, No. 98-104, December 8, 1995 - January 5, 1996 Derbent. Dagestan, Russia
  7. ^ a b c Shalum Shalumov. “Returning to the origins, or you can’t hide an awl in a bag”, Sholumi Center, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Shalum Shalumov. "The trampled truth has no statute of limitations.", Sholumi Center, 2023.
  9. ^ Shalum Shalumov, a nephew of Mordecai ben Avshalom
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