"Anshei Emet ShePeulatan Emet VaTzedek…", a printed emissary letter calling for support for the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva – with signatures of six rabbis and kabbalists of Jerusalem, and three stamps. Jerusalem: [Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1868].

Emissary letter and call for donations, addressed to donors, rabbis and philanthropists of Constantine (northeastern Algeria), for the emissary R. Avraham Chaim Penso, traveling on behalf of the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva.

The letter is hand-signed by: R. Chaim David Chazan [the Chief Rabbi, son of the Chikrei Lev, immigrated from Izmir to Eretz Israel in 1855 and served as Chief Rabbi and Rishon LeTzion until his passing in 1869], R. Rachamim Chaim David Antebi [d. 1874], R. Chanoch Angel [d. 1885, father of R. Vidal Chanoch Angel, a leader of the Beit El yeshiva and head of the Jerusalem Beit Din, d. 1907], R. Yosef Bechor Vital [published some of the Shemonah Shearim by R. Chaim Vital in 1866], R. Yitzchak Kalamaro [partner of R. Yosef Bechor Vital in publication of the Shemonah Shearim], R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Ferrera [author of Toldot Aharon UMoshe and other books; for more information on him see Lot 420].

Stamps: R. Chaim David Chazan, the Chief Rabbi; stamp of the yeshiva; and another stamp in the form of another individual's signature.

The Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva, also known as Midrash Chassidim or Kehal Chassidim, was founded in Jerusalem in 1737 by R. Gedalia Hayun, and was designated as a place for studying Kabbalah. Ever since, the kabbalists of Jerusalem have gathered to study there, directed by foremost kabbalists. Of particular prominence were R. Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), who headed the yeshiva, and his successor R. Yom Tov Algazi. Reputedly, R. Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov, also studied there. Following the passing of R. Chaim Avraham Gagin in 1848, R. Yedidiah Refael Abulafia (1806-1869), was appointed in his stead, a position he held until his passing. R. Abulafia's disciples include the sons of Rebbe Moshe of Lelov; the Imrei Binah, Rabbi of Jerusalem (who, at R. Abulafia's advice, instituted the prohibition of playing musical instruments in Jerusalem); R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, who succeeded him as dean of the Beit El yeshiva; and others. The kabbalists who signed this letter were among the elite of the yeshiva studying alongside R. Abulafia.

[1] double leaf. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear.

Sh. Halevy, no. 139.

Printed leaf from the Ashkenazic Perushim kollels in Jerusalem, report on travel expenses of emissaries to Russia and Siberia on behalf of the Bikur Cholim – Shelom Yerushalayim society. Jerusalem, Tevet 1868-1869 [end of 1868 or beginning of 1869].

Copy of accounts of Bikur Cholim – Shelom Yerushalayim society, with detailed listing of financial expenses of emissaries to inner Russia and Siberia – Yitzchak of Volozhin and Ze'ev Wolf of Slutsk.

On margins of leaf, stamp of the Ashkenazic Perushim kollel.

The Shelom Yerushalayim society was founded in Minsk in 1861 by the emissary of the Perushim society R. Moshe Chashin (Chaslowitzer), in order to raise funds in Russia on behalf of the Bikur Cholim society and an establishment of a Jewish hospital in Jerusalem, to prevent the dependence of the poor of Jerusalem on the hospital of the English mission. The hospital eventually opened in 1867.

26.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light creases. Inkstains.

Rare. Not recorded by Sh. Halevy or NLI library.

Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov – printed letter, with a handwritten emissary letter for the emissary R. David Netanel Rofe, with signatures of Sephardic rabbis of Tiberias. Tiberias, [1870].

Stationery with the verse Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov and an illustration of the R. Meir Baal HaNes synagogue and Beit Midrash, with the Sea of Galilee in front of them. The letter of appointment itself is in Oriental semi-cursive script, with words emphasized in square script.

Emissary letter addressed to R. Yisrael Istora.

The emissary letter is signed by the Sephardic rabbis of Tiberias, first by R. Chaim Shmuel HaKohen (with an ink stamp), followed by the handwritten signatures (calligraphic) of: R. Avraham Refael Chalfon (Meat Ochel), R. Yosef David Abulafia, R. Yaakov Abulafia, R. Yitzchak Abulafia, R. Shimon Abadi and R. Avraham HaKohen Dweck.

Under the signatures is an official stamp of the tomb of R. Meir Baal HaNes.

R. David Netanel Rofe (d. 1903) was a rabbi of Tiberias who served as an emissary in several North African communities, securing the Tiberias community from financial collapse. The present document is from his 1870 voyage to Morocco; he later traveled to Tunisia and Algeria and to Bombay, India, and again to Tunisia, where he passed away and was buried.

[1] double leaf. 30 cm. Fair-good condition. Creases, tears and folding marks.

Stationery appears to have been printed in Jerusalem, 1867, by Avraham Rottenburg and his son-in-law Yoel Moshe Salomon – see on a similar leaf, Sh. Halevy, no. 747.

Printed letter, Michtav Galui – open letter from Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem R. Avraham Ashkenazi (Rishon LeTzion), on rectification of Hebron public institutions. Jerusalem, Adar 1879.

Open letter on the appointment of Hebron rabbis and tzedakah collectors, appointed for distribution of funds to Torah scholars and the poor, naming the individuals appointed to receive donations.

Bibliographically unknown document from the controversy over tzedakah institutions in Hebron, launched when Chief Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi (in the present letter) appointed R. Rachamim Franko as Rabbi of Hebron, and Mercado Romano (founder of Beit Romano) as member of the city council. R. Avraham Chaim Penso then had Minchat Kenaot printed in Jerusalem, attacking these appointments, along with sharp letters of other Jerusalem rabbis opposing the appointment of R. Franko (and firing of R. Eliyahu Mani). The rabbis of Hebron then published Dimat Ashukim in support of R. Avraham Ashkenazi.

[1] leaf. 21.5X17.5 cm. Dry paper. Good-fair condition. Folding marks. Minor marginal tears.

Bibliographically unknown. Undocumented by Sh. Halevy and NLI catalog.

Large printed leaf, Gabbaei Kodesh – letters to money collectors and donors to institutions, from the united fundraiser of the Torah and charitable institutions Etz Chaim yeshiva and Bikur Cholim hospital. Jerusalem, Tevet [December] 1889. Hebrew and Yiddish (vocalized). Sent alongside 1889 annual report.

Stamps of R. Shmuel Salant, Chief Rabbi of Ashkenazic community of Jerusalem; Etz Chaim Torah school and yeshiva; and Bikur Cholim hospital. Signatures of treasurers R. Abba Yaakov Sendrowitz, R. Natan Gringart, R. Shalom Shachna Gottman and R. Sheima of Volkovysk.

[1] leaf. 40 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Open tear to bottom corner of leaf, not affecting text.

Rare. Not documented by Sh. Halevy or in NLI catalog.

Provenance: Formerly of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman (Ginzei Yisrael), with his handwritten inscription in pencil: "Not documented bibliographically".