Letter Signed by Rabbi Yaakov of Slonim, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe and Rabbi Shimon Menashe Chaikin, Chevron 1853
A thank you letter from the leaders of the Ashkenazi Kollel of Chevron thanking Sir Moses Montefiore for his donation to the Das Moshe V'Yehudis Yeshivah.
The letter, dated 1853, is signed by Rabbi Yaakov Slonim and Rabbi Shimon Menashe Chaikin. There are two signed, handwritten lines from Rabbi Shimon Menashe in the margin, addressed to Rabbi Eliezer HaLevi, secretary of Moses Montefiore.
Rabbi Yaakov Slonim patriarch of the Slonim family, was the son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe Admor Rabbi Dov Ber Schneerson of Lubavitch, son of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi otherwise known as the Baal Hatanyah. Rabbi Yaakov married Rebbetzin Menucha Rachel, known as the mother of the Jewish settlement of Chevron. They immigrated to Eretz Yisrael upon the directive of the Tzemach Tzedek where they were among the founders of the Chabad settlement. Rabbi Yaakov also headed the chevrah kadishah and Chessed Society. He passed away in 1857.
Rabbi Shimon Menashe Chaikin (1802 – 1893), immigrated from Shoklov to Tzefas and later moved to Chevron upon the directive of the Mitteler Admor. He served as a leader and later as the rabbi of the Chabad community there.
