The Hebrew word is transliterated as Botzrah, or Butzruh. An ancient city of Edom has the same name. It was about 20 miles south east of the Kinneret. It is NOT the city being discussed by Isaiah 34:6 and/or Isaiah 63:1.

How so?

First and foremost because Judaism's greatest Rabbi of the past 100 years said so in his reference to it (see chapter #4 here)



"But my Concordance states that Butzrah is in Edom, Rabbi Yess!" ...many have written me.

And again I am forced to politely remind folks that what Judaism's Sacred Teachings mean are best understood from those learned Sages of Judaism's Sacred Sources.

"Sorry Rabbi Yess...just can't take your word or even Rabbi Schneerson's for it. Where are the proofs?"

And yet again I sigh..ok..you want the Sacred Sources which clarify this matter. No problem. Here they are (thanks to Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson's research from Judaism's Sacred Sources):-

See Talmud Shabbas 29b; Avodah Zarah 58b; Yerushlami: Kilayim 7:1; 3:1; Shvieis 6:2; Midrash Eicah Rabah section 3; Shir Hashirim Rabah section 7; Midrash Shmuel chapter 25. It is clear from many of the above sources that many of the Talmudic sages resided in this Babylonian city and that Jewish life in Basra was vibrant. Cf. Otzar Yisroel (Eisenstein) under the entry of Botzrah

"But Rabbi Yess...I do not know how to read the Talmud nor these other Sacred Jewish Sources you listed. What should I do?"

"What should you do? I would respecfully suggest that you rely upon the understanding of Rabbi Schneerson's grasp of Judaism and its Sacred Sources. Why? For starters... this is what the former Chief Rabbi  of Israel had to say about Rabbi Schneerson.

Rabbi Mordechi Eliyahu, the past Chief Rabbi of Israel after his visit to Rabbi Schneerson said.

"I saw that no secret is hidden from him, and I mean that simply and explicitly. He knows all of the Talmud, Poskim (legal precedents) and in the Mystical works his understanding is VERY VERY deep. He is the master of light. He is a master of all the Torah. And is an expert on everything that is happening in Israel. His face shines like an angel of G-d and he himself is higher than any angel. He is the greatest Torah master in our generation and no one is even close to him..."





Which Basra Are We Talking About?
Messiah Watch International
Rabbi Moshe Yess, Webmaster at your service
The Hebrew word is transliterated as Botzrah, or Butzruh. An ancient city of Edom has the same name. It was about 20 miles south east of the Kinneret. It is NOT the city being discussed by Isaiah 34:6 and/or Isaiah 63:1.

How so?

First and foremost because Judaism's greatest Rabbi of the past 100 years said so in his reference to it (see chapter #4 here)



"But my Concordance states that Butzrah is in Edom, Rabbi Yess!" ...many have written me.

And again I am forced to politely remind folks that what Judaism's Sacred Teachings mean are best understood from those learned Sages of Judaism's Sacred Sources.

"Sorry Rabbi Yess...just can't take your word or even Rabbi Schneerson's for it. Where are the proofs?"

And yet again I sigh..ok..you want the Sacred Sources which clarify this matter. No problem. Here they are (thanks to Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson's research from Judaism's Sacred Sources):-

See Talmud Shabbas 29b; Avodah Zarah 58b; Yerushlami: Kilayim 7:1; 3:1; Shvieis 6:2; Midrash Eicah Rabah section 3; Shir Hashirim Rabah section 7; Midrash Shmuel chapter 25. It is clear from many of the above sources that many of the Talmudic sages resided in this Babylonian city and that Jewish life in Basra was vibrant. Cf. Otzar Yisroel (Eisenstein) under the entry of Botzrah

"But Rabbi Yess...I do not know how to read the Talmud nor these other Sacred Jewish Sources you listed. What should I do?"

"What should you do? I would respecfully suggest that you rely upon the understanding of Rabbi Schneerson's grasp of Judaism and its Sacred Sources. Why? For starters... this is what the former Chief Rabbi  of Israel had to say about Rabbi Schneerson.

Rabbi Mordechi Eliyahu, the past Chief Rabbi of Israel after his visit to Rabbi Schneerson said.

"I saw that no secret is hidden from him, and I mean that simply and explicitly. He knows all of the Talmud, Poskim (legal precedents) and in the Mystical works his understanding is VERY VERY deep. He is the master of light. He is a master of all the Torah. And is an expert on everything that is happening in Israel. His face shines like an angel of G-d and he himself is higher than any angel. He is the greatest Torah master in our generation and no one is even close to him..."