Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Historic Document – Appeal from the Destroyed Safed Community Following the Peasants' Revolt and the Earthquake – Stamped by Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch Author of Bat Ayin – Safed, 1837
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $13,750
Including buyer's premium
Large handwritten leaf, letter in Arabic on behalf of the Jewish community of Safed, addressed to the consuls of European countries (based in Haifa), with an impassioned plea for assistance in the wake of the city's destruction in the earthquake, and following the looting which devastated the community during the Peasants' revolt. With the stamp of Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch (Ovruch) author of Bat Ayin, and the stamp of R. Gershon Margolies (head of the Chassidic community). Safed, Shevat 1837. Important letter documenting the history of the Safed community.
At the foot of the letter, on the left, signature in Arabic (presumably written by the scribe) "Avraham Dov – representative of Russian subjects in Safed" (translated from Arabic), together with his stamp (in Hebrew): "Avraham Dov of Zhitomir". On the right, signature in Arabic (presumably written by the scribe): "Gershon – representative of German subjects" (translated from Arabic), with his stamp (in Hebrew – difficult to decipher).
The letter describes the difficult state of Safed Jewry in the wake of the earthquake, which claimed the lives of some two thousand Jewish residents. This calamity closely followed the pogroms and widespread looting which local Arab mobs perpetrated on the Jews of the city, during the course of the Peasants' Revolt. The letter describes the horrors Safed Jewry endured during the pogroms and depicts how these troubles were compounded by the earthquake which destroyed their homes and their few remaining possessions, killed thousands, and left countless of wounded without food nor a roof over their heads. The writers ask the consuls of the various countries to intercede on their behalf and obtain support and assistance for them.
Large leaf, 68 cm. Thick paper. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Several tears to folds.
Provenance: Collection of Jean-Jacques-Pierre Desmaisons (1807-1873), Russian Orientalist and diplomat, professor of Oriental languages.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
At the foot of the letter, on the left, signature in Arabic (presumably written by the scribe) "Avraham Dov – representative of Russian subjects in Safed" (translated from Arabic), together with his stamp (in Hebrew): "Avraham Dov of Zhitomir". On the right, signature in Arabic (presumably written by the scribe): "Gershon – representative of German subjects" (translated from Arabic), with his stamp (in Hebrew – difficult to decipher).
The letter describes the difficult state of Safed Jewry in the wake of the earthquake, which claimed the lives of some two thousand Jewish residents. This calamity closely followed the pogroms and widespread looting which local Arab mobs perpetrated on the Jews of the city, during the course of the Peasants' Revolt. The letter describes the horrors Safed Jewry endured during the pogroms and depicts how these troubles were compounded by the earthquake which destroyed their homes and their few remaining possessions, killed thousands, and left countless of wounded without food nor a roof over their heads. The writers ask the consuls of the various countries to intercede on their behalf and obtain support and assistance for them.
Large leaf, 68 cm. Thick paper. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Several tears to folds.
Provenance: Collection of Jean-Jacques-Pierre Desmaisons (1807-1873), Russian Orientalist and diplomat, professor of Oriental languages.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Jerusalem, Safed and Eretz Israel – Certificates,
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Jerusalem, Safed and Eretz Israel – Certificates,
Letters and More