By the 19th-century , the Galilean city of Safed comprised a major Jewish center . It had become a kabbalistic centre during the 16th-century , reaching a size of about 15,000 at its peak . Despite the decline through the 17th and 18th centuries , by the 1830s there were still around 3,500-4,000 Jews living there , comprising at least half the population . The Jews of Safed had been subjected to a prolonged attack in 1834 during the Peasants ' Revolt : Over 5,000 Arab peasant rebels had launched a revolt protesting against legislation imposed by the new Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali and some had used the uprising as an opportunity to attack the Jews . After several months , the Egyptians managed to crush the rebellion and regain control of the county and the Jews of Safed began to rehabilitate themselves . Not long after , Safed was again the scene of devastation when in 1837 a strong earthquake resulted in thousands of deaths and the destruction of many buildings . The northern , Jewish section of the town was almost entirely destroyed . By 1838 , the tense relationship between the '' fellahin '' and the Egyptian overlords was again mounting and a full-scale Druze revolt erupted in January . In summer of 1838 , the Druze captured a heavily outnumbered Egyptian garrison outside Safed
earthquake
Galilee earthquake of 1837
1838 Druze attack on Safed