Chevron Community
to Sir Moses Montefiore
Chevron, 1862
Letter by Rabbanim and Community Dignitaries of the Sephardic Congregation to Sir Moses Montefiore. Chevron, 1862
Long letter written by the hand of a scribe and signed by the Rabbanim and community dignitaries of the Sephardic congregation in Chevron, to Sir Moses Montefiore.
Background of the letter:
In 1852, Rabbi Yosef Shalom, a cousin of the Ben Ish Chai, was asked to serve as the general treasurer for all Sephardic kollels in the Yishuv. Sometime later, conflict arose between the Sephardic kollels in Chevron and the leaders and administrators of the Sephardic kollels in Jerusalem. Tensions soared, and even the Jewish community in Chevron found itself divided into two separate camps, one siding with Rabbi Yosef Shalom of Chevron, and the other siding with the Jerusalem scholars.
The present letter contains fascinating information about the conflict along with a request to Sir Montefiore to send funds exclusively to the hands of Rabbi Yosef Shalom, who was known as a faithful and honest bursar.
The letter is signed by over thirty rabbinic figures and community leaders. Their stylistic signatures were deciphered for Minister Montefiore by the scribe in the margin of the letter.
Among the signatures appearing on this letter are Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Shaul Karigal; Rabbi David Conforti; Rabbi Moshe Castille; Rabbi Bentzion Rubio; Rabbi Moshe Turgeman; and Rabbi Moshe Yisrael Melamed, among others.
To the best of Genazym’s knowledge, this historic letter, a treasure trove of details regarding this episode, has never yet been publicized.
For further information regarding the debate, see Shever Poshim (Jerusalem, 1862); Zichronos L’ven Yerushalayim p. 42; Yehudei Bavel B’Eretz Yisrael pp. 24-25; Chevron pp. 145-147.
Chevron, 1862. Thin paper. Page Size: 33×27 cm.
Condition: Creases and tape reinforcement on verso.
…………………………………
Any inquiries about this lot ?
