Yeven metsulah (Abyss of Despair)

Nathan Hannover

1653

Sensitive Content

This text recounts acts of violence against Jewish people and sexual violence against women. The text provides insight into Jewish history; however, The Posen Library does not condone or promote sexual violence or oppression of any kind.

The Massacres of the Holy Community of Nemirow

The Oppressor Chmiel, may his name be blotted out, heard that many Jews had gathered in the holy community of Nemirow, and that they had a great deal of silver and gold with them. He knew that the holy community of Nemirow was distinguished for its great riches. It had been a great and important…

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Creator Bio

Nathan Hannover

1610–1683

Nathan Hannover was a chronicler, talmudist, and kabbalist. He is thought to have been born in Ostrońg in Volhynia, where he studied at the local yeshiva. After marriage, he settled in Zaław in Ukraine; during the 1648 uprising he was forced to flee and ended up traveling through Germany, Holland, and Italy. Hannover is chiefly known for Yeven metsulah (Abyss of Despair), printed in Venice in 1653, which describes the course of the Khmel’nyts’kyi uprising in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The book, written in Hebrew, was based mainly on oral testimonies.

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