The Megillah of Kovno: A Purim Story of Survival

Once again, the tensions boiled over, and once again, the Jewish community found a way to persevere. This cycle continued for years, until one malicious leader, reminiscent of historical villains, vowed to eradicate and expel the Jews from Kovno.

In the winter of 1783, the Lithuanian city of Kovno saw a particularly harsh season for its Jews. The mayor, Frazer, was known for his hatred of Jews and encouraged angry mobs to attack. The Jewish quarter was burned to the ground, and the Jews were expelled from the city.

But this was only the final chapter of a much longer story.

Years earlier, a terrible fire had swept through all of Kovno. While many saw only loss, the Jewish community saw a chance to rebuild. They bought burned-out lots that no one else wanted, land once owned by families lost in the fire. They cleared the rubble, rebuilt homes, and created affordable housing.

This made the local non-Jewish population furious. How could the Jews claim a right to live in Kovno? Legally, Jews needed special permission to settle. The great fire had destroyed the old royal charters that granted those rights. So, the Jews were harassed, pushed out, and moved from place to place.

Still, with determination and creativity, they found a way. Just outside Kovno’s jurisdiction, they settled in a nearby area, continuing to trade in the city’s markets. This angered the mobs again and the harassment returned.

Then came Mayor Frazer, who was determined to end it all. But the Jews of Kovno were not alone.

There were two wealthy brothers in the city, the Soloveichiks, who took Frazer to court. The mayor had no legal ground for what he had done. With help from Duke Radziwill, a close friend of the Soloveichiks, the court ruled in favor of the Jews.

On the 8th of Adar, 1783, the verdict came down: the mayor had to pay the Jewish community fifteen thousand gold coins, not including legal fees, and was even briefly jailed.

The Jews of Kovno rejoiced. They had survived fire, riots, and exile. And now, they had justice.

From that year on, during Shushan Purim, the Jews of Kovno gathered in the old synagogue to read The Megillah of Kovno, the story of their own Purim, written to remember their suffering, their courage, and their victory.