Letter by the
Sdei Chemed
to Rabbi Akiva Yosef Shlesinger
Bilohirsk, 1893
___
This letter was written by Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, Av Beis Din of Chevron and author of Sdei Chemed to his contemporary Rabbi Akiva Yosef Shlesinger in Jerusalem.
The contents of the letter indicate that Rabbi Akiva Yosef Shlesinger had requested the Sdei Chemed’s approval regarding a specific action that he wished to take, and the latter replies that he needs to consider this course of action and consult with other Gedolim in the generation.
The “Rabbi Shlomo Leib Baharash, emissary of Chevron” mentioned in the beginning of this letter was Rabbi Shlomo Leib Eliezerov, who would subsequently serve as future Ashkenazic Rabbi of the Chevron Jewish community and was a close friend of the Sdei Chemed.
Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini (1833-1905) was one of the great Sephardic sages, authors and scholars of Torah literature. His magnum opus Sdei Chemed, which functions as a Talmudic encyclopedia, earned him international acclaim.
Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini was born in Jerusalem, but relocated to Constantinople in his youth. He was appointed Rav in Jewish Crimea, and in 1899 returned to the Holy Land where he subsequently accepted the coveted position of Chief Rabbi of Chevron.
This letter was written by a scribe in print and bears the Sdei Chemed’s autograph:
“Hatza’ir Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, who is called ‘Chacham Sat’”.
Bilohirsk, Crimea, 1893. 1 leaf. Page size: 13×14 cm. Fold mark on width of page.
……………………………………….. .
Any inquiries about this lot ?
