Large, hand-decorated poster – Hon VaOsher Beveito – call to found a library in Midrash Eliyahu, the Vilna Gaon Beit Midrash in Jerusalem – with letters and handwritten signatures of thirteen rabbis of Jerusalem, including R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and R. Shlomo Zalman Baharan Löwy [whose letters oppose the secular libraries established in the city in those days which mixed holy and secular books]. Jerusalem, [ca. 1897].
Announcement of treasurers and administrators of the Midrash Eliyahu in Jerusalem, written as a personal appeal, with a blank space left to be filled in with the name of the donor, to establish a Beit Midrash for Torah and prayer, and a library, to be named after the Vilna Gaon, in Jerusalem.
Thirteen rabbis of Jerusalem signed the letter, some of whom added brief handwritten letters of support and assent, including R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, who adds that this would have the additional benefit of preventing people from visiting a library that mixed holy and secular book [apparently referring to the B'nai B'rith library established in Meah Shearim during that period]; and R. Shlomo Zalman Baharan Löwy, whose letter also opposes the new secular library.
The present poster also features signatures and letters of R. David of Izabelin, R. Yisrael Isser of Slonim, R. David Tzvi Hirsch, R. Isser son of R. Naftali Hertz Ginzburg, R. Asher Anshel son of R. Elyakim, R. Yedidiah son of R. Nachman of Grodno, R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Yadler [author of Tiferet Yerushalayim, disciple of R. Yehoshua Leib Diskin], R. Yehoshua Epstein of Vilna, R. Asher Dov Ber Zusman, R. Shmuel Dov of Vilna, and R. Yitzchak son of R. Yosef Segal.
[1] large leaf. 46 cm. Fair-good condition. Folding marks and creases. Stains and wear. Tears to margins and folds.
