התרוששות ומחלוקות כרקע לעליית הגביר אליהו סילוירה והרבנים דוויך הכהן מחלב (ארם צובה) לטבריה ולצפת במאה ה־18

The article discusses motivations for immigration to the Land of Israel from Aleppo in the first half of the 18th century. It examines this broader question in light of two specific instances of immigration: that of the Franco Eliyahu Silvera, who settled in Tiberias, and that of two brothers, R. Shimon and R. Raphael Avraham Deweick HaCohen, the sons of R. Shmuel Deweick HaCohen. These latter initially settled in Safed; R. Shimon then moved to Kfar Yasif, while R. Raphael Avraham moved to Tiberias. In each of these cases, the motives for immigration were personal. Silveira’s immigration was prompted by his bankruptcy in 1746, while the Deweick HaCohen brothers were spurred by a serious conflict with the rabbi of the city, R. Shmuel Laniado, and his son R. Shlomo. This conflict stemmed from differences of opinion with regard to halakhic rulings on various matters, especially a dispute on kiddushin. The article reviews the two cases and their context, and explores reasons for immigration to the Land of Israel at that time – especially to Tiberias, which was the subject of messianic expectations.