Tadef

Town in Aleppo, Syria

Tadef تادف
Town
36°20′53″N 37°31′48″E / 36.3480383°N 37.5299835°E / 36.3480383; 37.5299835
Country	Syria
Governorate	Aleppo
District	al-Bab
Subdistrict	Tadef
Population (2004)^[1]	12,360
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Tadef (Arabic: تادف; also spelled Tedef or Tadif) is a town southeast of Al-Bab, about 20 miles (32 km) east of Aleppo, Syria and less than 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) south of Al Bab.^[2] The town, which is the site of a shrine to the Jewish prophet Ezra (c. 400 BCE), was a popular summer resort for the Jews of Aleppo.^[3]

History

The village was inhabited during the 19th century by Arabs belonging to the Aneyzeh tribe.^[4] During the late 1800s, the village came under repeated attack by nomadic tribes who wished to steal sheep and cattle from the surrounding plains. Casualties were reported as the villagers were able to muster over 400 armed men to defend their flocks and herds.^[5] At the time, about 20 Jewish families lived in the village,^[6] which was described as a "Jewish town".^[7] Before the festival of Shavuot, Jews from Aleppo made an annual pilgrimage to the village.^[6]

In 1931, there were 15 Jewish families living in the town.^[8]

Association with Ezra

Local tradition maintains that Ezra (c. 400 BCE) paused in the town on his way from Babylon to Jerusalem and built the synagogue which still stands today.^[9] In 1899, Max Freiherr von Oppenheim discovered 14th-century Hebrew inscriptions at the synagogue.^[10] There is a spring near the town called Ein el-Uzir, where it is said Ezra regularly immersed himself during his sojourn there.^[11]^[12] A tomb ascribed to Ezra is also located in the town and has been intact for many centuries.^[13] On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1414, Issac Elfarra of Málaga was informed:

At a distance of two (sic) miles from [Aleppo] is the tomb of Ezra the Scribe. There Ezra recorded the Torah... This village is called Taduf [and contains] a synagogue... They [also] say that every night year round a cloud ascends from the tomb of Ezra never departing.^[14]

There is also another tomb attributed to Ezra near Basra, Iraq.

References

^ "2004 Census Data for Nahiya Tadef" (in Arabic). Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics. Also available in English: UN OCHA. "2004 Census Data". Humanitarian Data Exchange.
^ Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) (1856). A Gazetteer of the World: Ta-Zzubin and appendix. A. Fullarton. p. 45. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Joseph A. D. Sutton (January 1988). Aleppo chronicles: the story of the unique Sephardeem of the Ancient Near East, in their own words. Thayer-Jacoby. p. 162. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Van Nostrand's engineering magazine. D. Van Nostrand. 1881. p. 414. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1860). House of Commons papers. HMSO. p. 42. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ ^a ^b Israel Joseph Benjamin (1859). Eight years in Asia and Africa from 1846-1855. The author. p. 49. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Evangelical Christendom. Vol. XIV. London: William John Johnson. 1860. p. 42. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Aron Rodrigue (2003). Jews and Muslims: images of Sephardi and eastern Jewries in modern times. University of Washington Press. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-295-98314-1. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Lucien Gubbay; Abraham Levy (June 1992). The Sephardim: their glorious tradition from the Babylonian exile to the present day. Carnell. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-85779-036-8. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Kevin J. Cathcart; Carmel McCarthy; John F. Healey (2004). Biblical and Near Eastern essays: studies in honour of Kevin J. Cathcart. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 317. ISBN 978-0-8264-6690-7. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ David Sutton (30 March 2005). Aleppo: city of scholars. Mesorah. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-57819-056-0. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Ḥayim Sabato; Philip Simpson (2004). Aleppo tales. Toby Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-59264-051-5. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Walter P. Zenner (2000). A global community: the Jews from Aleppo, Syria. Wayne State University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-8143-2791-3. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
^ Josef W. Meri (2002). The cult of saints among Muslims and Jews in medieval Syria. Oxford University Press US. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-19-925078-3. Retrieved 24 November 2010.

Aleppo Governorate

Capital: Aleppo

Mount Simeon District

Mount Simeon Subdistrict	Aleppo Abtin Assan Ayn al-Kabira Azzan Duwayr al-Zaytun Haddadin Hayyan Hilan Hreibel Kafr Saghir Khan Tuman Maghayer Khan Tuman Maratat al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Shamaliyah Qarras Rasm Assan Saqlaya Siefat Tell Shair Samaan Tell Shughayb al-Dhahabiyah al-Wadihi
Tell ad-Daman‎ Subdistrict	Tell al-Daman Abu Rweil Ameriyeh Arjel Atshana Sharqiya Atshana Gharbiya Ballas Ballas al-Jadida Batranah Burda Buwaida Saghira Deir Saliba Hmeidi Hober Jubb Aleis Kafr Obeid al-Mintar Mreiqes Oweinat Kabira Rasm al-Mofakker Tabara al-Khusheir Um al-Karamel
Haritan Subdistrict	Haritan Anadan Babis Bashkoy Hayyan Fah Kafr Bssin Kafr Hamrah Maarat al-Artiq Naqqarin Shaykh Najjar Shaykh Zayat Shamer Yaqed al-Adas
Darat Izza Subdistrict	Darat Izza Bshantara Basrtun Bishqatin Kafrantin al-Hoteh Hur Injarah Irhab Qabtan al-Jabal al-Sakhriyah Taqad
al-Hadher Subdistrict	al-Hadher al-Eiss Dalamah Jmeimeh Maryamin Samaan Tell Dadin
al-Zirbah Subdistrict	al-Zirbah Abad Arada Banes Barnah Barqum Bawabiyah Humayrah Huweir al-Eiss Jazraya Jubb Kas Kassibeh Othmaniya Kabira Rasm al-Eiss Talafeh Tell Allush Tell Hidyah Zitan Ziyara Samaan
Zammar Subdistrict	Zammar

Azaz District

Azaz Subdistrict	Azaz al-Fayruziyah Jarez Kafr Kalbin Kafr Khasher Kaljibrin Al-Krum Ma'arin al-Malikiyah Maraanaz Menagh Nayarah Naddah al-Salameh Shamarikh Shamarin Sijaraz Tatiyah Tulayl ash-Sham Yahmul
Akhtarin Subdistrict	Akhtarin Ablah Aq Burhan Arshaf Bahwartah Baruza Dabiq Dudyan Duweidan Ghaytun Ghurur Ka'ibah Kadrish Qabtan Qar Kalbin Taanah Tal'ar Gharbi Tal'ar Sharqi Tall Battal Tall Tanah Tat Hims Turkman Bareh Ziadiyah
Tell Rifaat Subdistrict	Tell Rifaat Ahras Deir Jamal Kafr Naseh Kafr Naya Shaykh Issa Tell Jabin
Mare' Subdistrict	Mare' Fafin Herbel Ma'arat Umm Hawsh Sunbul Talalin Tell Qarah
Nubl Subdistrict	Nubl Bayanoun Mayer Ratyan al-Zahraa
Sawran Subdistrict	Sawran Baraghida Bel Duwaybiq Hawar Kilis Ihtaimlat al-Judaydah Kafra Kafr Burayshah Kafr Shoush Murayghil Rael Shuwayrin al-Yaarubiyah al-Yamamah Az-Zahiriyah Zayzafun

Afrin District

Afrin Subdistrict	Afrin Ain Dara Awlad al-Arab Barad Baselhaya Basuta Basufan Beit Adin Burj Abdullah Inab Kafr Nabu Kalota Kimar Maryamin Oqayba Qibar
Bulbul Subdistrict	Bulbul Burj Haider Darmashkanli Deir Ballut Fafertin Jalbul Karzahayel
Jandairis Subdistrict	Jindires Jalamah Kafr Safra
Maabatli Subdistrict	Maabatli
Rajo Subdistrict	Rajo Meidan Ekbis
Sharran Subdistrict	Sharran Qatma
Shaykh al-Hadid Subdistrict	Shaykh al-Hadid

Atarib District

Atarib Subdistrict	Atarib al-Abzamo Batibo al-Jinah
Ibbin Samaan Subdistrict	Ibbin Samaan Kafr Halab Kafr Karmin Kafr Naha Kafr Nasih al-Atarib Kafr Nuran Maarat Atarib Awayjil al-Sahharah al-Shaykh Ali
Urum al-Kubra Subdistrict	Urum al-Kubra Urum al-Sughra

Ayn al-Arab District

Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict	Ayn al-Arab al-Farazdaq al-Haqel Jaadat al-Samaawat
al-Jalbiyah Subdistrict	al-Jalbiyah Jubb Faraj Kabir Mil Qibbah Qinayah Ramilah Ras al-Ayn Qibli
Sarrin Subdistrict	Sarrin Shuyukh Fawqani
Shuyukh Tahtani Subdistrict	Shuyukh Tahtani Tell Abyad Tahtani

Al-Bab District

Al-Bab Subdistrict	al-Bab Abu Jabbar Abu Taltal Ameriyeh
Arima Subdistrict	Arima Arran Barlahin Bizaah al-Burj Deir Qaq Haddabat Haji Kusa Hezwan Kherbet Kiyar Maran Oweishiyeh Qabbasin
Al-Rai Subdistrict	Al-Rai Sosyan
Tadef Subdistrict	Tadef Tell Rahal al-Waqf

Dayr Hafir District

Dayr Hafir Subdistrict	Dayr Hafir Humaymah Kabirah al-Jabbul Umm el-Marra
Kuweires Sharqi Subdistrict	Kuweires Sharqi Mazburah al-Raa'i Rasm al-Abed
Rasm Harmil al-Imam Subdistrict	Rasm Harmil al-Imam Shaykh Ahmad Tell Ayoub

Jarabulus District

Jarabulus Subdistrict	Jarabulus al-Bir Fawqani al-Bir Tahtani al-Hajaliah al-Haluwaniyah al-Jamel Amarnah Ayn al-Bayda Balaban Dabis Haymar Jarabulus Tahtani Marma al-Hajar Mazaalah Qandariyah Qirata Qirq Maghar Umm Rutha Tahtani Yusuf Bayk Zugharah
Ghandoura Subdistrict	Ghandoura Al-Kuliya Al-Shahid Al-Qadi Arab Azzah Belis Fursan Jubb al-Dam Lilawa Nabghah Tell Aghbar‎ Tell Hajar Qubbat at-Turkuman al-Suwaydah

Manbij District

Manbij Subdistrict	Manbij
Abu Kahf Subdistrict	Abu Kahf
Abu Qilqil Subdistrict	Abu Qilqil Arab Hassan Kabir Awsajli Kabir Dakhirah Dandaniya Hamir Labidah Hayyah Kabirah Jubb Hamza
Al-Khafsah Subdistrict	Al-Khafsah Khan al-Humr al-Maamurah al-Mahsanah Khafsah
Maskanah Subdistrict	Maskanah Mallah Mujammaa Huttin al-Nasiriyah Fawqani Qashlat Yusef Basha Ras al-Ayn al-Bumane' Saan al-Ghazal al-Tadamon Talhuthan Tell Aswad Tell Akhdar Tishrin al-Zahirah Zunqul

As-Safira District

As-Safira Subdistrict	as-Safira Abu Jurayn al-Safirah Aqrabah
Banan Subdistrict	Banan
al-Hajib Subdistrict	al-Hajib Hawwaz
Khanasir Subdistrict	Khanasir Qulayaa Rasm Al-Nafl al-Samiriyah Tat
Tell Aran Subdistrict	Tell Aran Tell Hasil Zira'ah

v t e Cities and towns of Syria
Governorate centres	Aleppo Damascus Daraa Deir ez-Zor Hama al-Hasakah Homs Idlib Latakia Quneitra Raqqa Rif Dimashq as-Suwayda Tartus
District centres	Abu Kamal Afrin Arihah Atarib Ayn al-Arab Azaz al-Bab Baniyas Darayya Dayr Hafir Douma Duraykish Fiq al-Haffah Harem Izra' Jableh Jarabulus Jisr ash-Shughur Maarat al-Numaan al-Malikiyah Manbij Masyaf Mayadin Mhardeh al-Mukharram al-Foqani an-Nabk Palmyra Qamishli Qardaha Qatana Qudsaya al-Qusayr al-Qutayfah Ra's al-'Ayn al-Rastan as-Safira Safita Salamiyah Salkhad al-Sanamayn Shahba ash-Shaykh Badr al-Suqaylabiyah Talkalakh al-Tall Tell Abyad al-Thawrah Yabroud Zabadani
Sub-district centres	Abu Qilqil Abu al-Thuhur Akhtarin Amuda Arbeen Arima al-Ariqah al-Arishah Armanaz Arwad al-Asharah Assal al-Ward Awj Ayn al-Fijah Ayn Halaqim Ayn Issa Ayn al-Nasr Babbila Banan Barri Sharqi Beit Jinn Binnish Bir al-Helou Bosra Bulbul Busayrah Da'el al-Dana Darat Izza Darkush al-Darbasiyah Deir Atiyah al-Dimas al-Dumayr Furqlus Ghabaghib Ghandoura al-Ghariyah al-Ghizlaniyah al-Hader Hadidah al-Hajar al-Aswad al-Hajib Hajin al-Hamidiyah al-Hamraa Harasta Harbnafsah Harran al-Awamid al-Hirak Hish Hisyah al-Hawl Huraytan al-Huwash Ibbin Samaan Ihsim Jayrud al-Jalaa al-Janudiyah Jaramana al-Jarniyah Jasim al-Jawadiyah Jubb al-Jarrah Jubb Ramlah Jindires al-Jiza al-Qabu Kafr Batna Kafr Nabl Kafr Takharim Kafr Zita al-Karamah al-Kasrah Kessab al-Khafsah Khan Shaykhun Khasham Kirnaz Kuwayris Sharqi Khanaser Khirbet Ghazaleh Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud al-Kiswah Ma'arrat Misrin Maabatli Maadan Ma'loula Madaya Mahin Malah al-Malihah al-Mansurah Mare' Markada Mashta al-Helu Maskanah al-Masmiyah al-Mazraa Muhambal Muhasan al-Musayfirah al-Mushannaf Muzayrib al-Nashabiyah al-Nasirah Nawa Nubl al-Qadmus al-Qahtaniyah Qalaat al-Madiq Qarah al-Qaryatayn al-Qurayya Qurqania Rajo Rankus Rasm Harmil al-Imam al-Rai al-Riqama al-Ruhaybah al-Saan Saasaa Sabburah al-Sabe' Biyar al-Sabkhah Sadad Sahnaya Saidnaya Salqin Saraqib Sarmin Sarrin Sawran Sebei al-Shaddadah al-Shajara Shaqqa Sharran Shathah Shaykh al-Hadid al-Shaykh Maskin Shayukh Tahtani Shin Sinjar Sirghaya Slinfah Suluk al-Surah al-Saghirah al-Suwar Suran al-Susah al-Sukhnah al-Tabni Talbiseh Taldou al-Tamanah Tasil Tell al-Daman Tell Hamis Tell Rifaat Tell Salhab Tell Tamer Tedef Thiban Uqayribat Urum al-Kubra Wadi al-Oyun al-Yaarubiyah al-Zirbah az-Ziyarah