Purim of the Bandits: How a Market Dispute Became a Community Miracle

In the market square of Gomudzhina, a Turkish town, stood a Jewish grocery among many other shops. Its owner sold sugar, salt, salted fish, tea, coffee, and other staples. Just a few steps away was another grocery selling the very same goods, owned by a Turk.

Peasants from the surrounding villages would regularly come to town to purchase what they needed. Over time, the Jewish grocer earned an excellent reputation. His scales were honest, his prices fixed, and he refused to cheat anyone for quick profit. Jews and non-Jews alike trusted him. It was therefore no surprise that on market days his shop bustled with customers, while the neighboring Turkish store sometimes stood empty.

A Plot Is Set in Motion

This success gnawed at the Turkish merchant. Envy turned into resentment, and resentment into a desire to eliminate his competitor.

The events that followed took place in 1786. One market day, the Turkish grocer stood watching peasants stream in and out of the Jewish shop. When a Tatar farmer passed by, he called him inside.

“I’ll show you how the Jewish grocer cheated you,” he said. “How much salt did you buy from him?”

When the Tatar answered, the Turk suggested weighing it. Hidden beneath his counter were two sets of weights. One, heavier than marked, was used when buying. The other, lighter than it should have been, was used when selling. In this way, he routinely cheated everyone.

He now used the heavier weights to weigh the salt. “You see,” he said, “he cheated you.” He repeated this with every item the Tatar had purchased, claiming fraud each time.

Violence and Judgment

Enraged, the Tatar stormed back to the Jewish shop and attacked the grocer, shouting accusations. Jewish neighbors rushed in and restrained him. Rumors spread quickly, and before long non-Jews claimed that Jews were trying to murder a Turk. Chaos filled the marketplace until the authorities arrived.

Both men were taken to court. The judge ordered the municipal scales to be brought, the official instruments used to verify all shopkeepers’ measures. When the goods were weighed, it was discovered that the Jewish grocer had given full weight, and even slightly more.

The Tatar’s attempts to explain that he had been deceived failed. The Turkish grocer denied everything. The judge sentenced the Tatar to ten lashes and a fine for slandering an innocent man. The punishment was carried out publicly in the market square.

The Tatar returned home humiliated and bleeding, burning with rage. He swore revenge not only on the Jewish grocer, but on the entire town.

The Rise of the Bandits

Moving from village to village, he incited others with promises of plunder. Slowly a large gang formed, hiding in the mountains and terrorizing the region. The group grew to thousands, ambushing travelers and spreading fear.

Eventually, the bandits turned their sights on Gomudzhina. The town organized defenses, but everyone knew they could not withstand such a force for long. Messengers were sent to the sultan with pleas for help, but they never returned.

Fear gripped the town, especially the Jews, who knew from bitter experience that they would be the first victims. The rabbis decreed a public fast. The Jewish community fasted daily, except on Shabbat, gathered in prayer, and began collecting money in the hope of ransoming themselves if needed. All able-bodied Jewish men joined the defenders.

A City on the Brink

The bandits eventually reached the gates. One night they breached the outer wall and plundered the suburbs. The residents fled inside the city, abandoning their possessions. It seemed only a matter of time before the final assault.

At the last possible moment, the bandits suddenly fled. Government forces had arrived. A fierce battle followed, the marauders were scattered, and their leader was captured and brought back in chains.

The city was saved, but a new danger emerged.

A Blood Libel and Its Collapse

A rumor spread that the Jews had opened the gates to the bandits in exchange for their lives. This vile accusation was spread by the very Turkish grocer who had started the chain of events, hoping to rid the town of its Jews entirely.

The commander of the sultan’s forces had orders to protect all residents, Jews included. He prevented any attack on them and ordered an investigation, arresting the rabbi and community leaders as a precaution.

Meanwhile, the Tatar leader was sentenced to death by hanging. As he stood at the gallows, he spotted the Turkish grocer in the crowd and shouted that this man was responsible for everything. The grocer was seized and brought before the commander.

Confronted, he broke down and confessed. He admitted that he had incited the Tatar and spread lies out of hatred for the Jews.

Both men were hanged side by side.

“Let this be a lesson,” the commander declared. “So it shall be done to anyone who slanders peaceful citizens or raises a hand against the sultan.”

The Purim of the Bandits

Thus the Jews of Gomudzhina were saved from a terrible fate. In gratitude, the community established the 22nd of Cheshvan as a special local Purim. Each year they celebrated with feasting, joy, and thanksgiving to Hashem.

The event became known as the Purim of the Bandits, joining the long tradition of community Purims that mark moments when, against all odds, salvation arrived just in time.