Letter (3 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Yosef, Rav HaKolel (chief rabbi). New York, 1890.
Sent to R. Azriel Hildesheimer in Berlin, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. R. Yaakov Yosef blesses him to reach a ripe old age. He goes on to tell of the passing of R. Hirsch Zak, the president of the Association of Congregations in New York, describing him as a God-fearing and honest person who shared his money generously. He goes on to discuss appointing a reliable person as a mashgiach to help him repair the kosher system in the United States.

R. Yaakov Yosef (1841-1902), a leading Lithuanian Torah scholar, appointed in his later years as Chief Rabbi in New York (the first and last rabbi to serve as chief rabbi of New York or any other state).

A prominent disciple of R. Yisrael Salanter, he served in the rabbinates of Veliuona, Jurbarkas and New Žagarė, and was later appointed orator and head posek of Vilna. In 1888, he was appointed chief rabbi of New York by the Association of Congregations who sought an illustrious personage to bolster Torah observance in the United States. Upon his arrival in the United States, R. Yaakov Yosef established and consolidated all religious requirements of the Jewish community, and he founded the first yeshiva in the United States.

[1] double leaf (containing [3] written pages). 19 cm. Good condition.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.