A letter from Rabbi Yitzchak, known as the “Baba Chaki”, 1950.
[1] page. 14×22 cm. Official paper. All written in his handwriting and with his signature.
Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira, the ‘Baba Chaki’ (1895-1970), was the chief rabbi of Ramla and Lod, and the brother of the Baba Sali. For information about his life and actions, see the book Eretz Chemda.
Fold signs. Filing holes. Very fine condition.
Chalitzah contract given to Perla bat Rabbi Avraham David Chai ztz”l , issued by the Ancona beit din on 6 Cheshvan 5641 [1881].
[1] leaf. 16×24 cm. The contract details the
chalitzah process and serves as testimony for the woman that she is permitted to remarry and does not need
yibum or another
chalitzah although her husband died without leaving children.
Three
dayanim signed the contract:
1> Rabbi Yosef David Elchanan Ancona, who also served as rabbi in Lugo and Senigallia.2> Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchak Linternado3> Moshe ben Eliyahu Maskoli
Fold marks. Very fine condition.
Two signed letters and a picture of Rabbi
Ovadia Hadaya submitted for his candidacy for rabbi of Tel Aviv, 1941.
Signed letter to Mr. Yisrael Rokach, Mayor of Tel Aviv, with Rabbi Hadaya’s biography and his suitability for the position. With a letter, in his his hand, sent to the religious council with his picture, part of the process of submitting candidacy. The letters are written on the rabbi’s stationery and are signed by him.
Rabbi Ovadia Hadaya (1889-1969) was a
dayan and kabalist. He served as Rosh Yeshiva of the Beit El kabalist yeshiva, and was a member of the Beit Din Rabbani HaGadol and the sephardic rabbi of Petach Tikvah. The rabbi never served as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the position these letters hoped to secure.
Overall fine condition.
Letter from Rabbi Avraham Abikhzer of Alexandria to Rabbi Ahron Mendel Kohen of Cairo. Alexandria, Egypt, 17 Av 1922.
[1] leaf. 20×26 cm. All in his hand and with his signature. The letter criticizes the rabbi’s approval of the receipt of a
get via the husband’s emissary.
Rabbi Avraham Abikhzer was Rabbi of Alexandria. Rabbi Herzog said in his eulogy: “The Rabbi was a great Torah Scholar… a man of truth who was not scared of anybody; he issued truthful rulings.”
Very fine condition.
Letter from Rabbi Eliyahu Rachamim ben Yaakov Antebi, to noted philanthropist Moshe di Lima of Amsterdam. Safed, [1894].
[1] leaf. 18×27 cm. In his hand and with his signature.
Rabbi Eliyahu describes his difficult monetary situation and asks for support.
Torah novellae and other writings of Rabbi Antebi are preserved in the Ben Zvi Institute in the collection of Prof. Binyahu z”l.
Minimal aging stains. Very fine condition.
Request from the beit din of Zakho, Kurdistan, to the Beit Din HaGadol L’Adat HaSefardim in Jerusalem that they support the takanot “instituted by our forefathers” regarding shechitah, and oppose “those who wish to make breaches.” Zakho, 1938.
[1] letterhead. 20.5×27.5 cm. Sephardic hand. The letter was sent on 21 Av 1938 and was signed by Zakho rabbis: Rachamim r’ Shlomo, Moshe ch. Alon, Moshe Yitzchak Shmuel Gabai, Yosef Amram HaLevi, Yitzchak Moshe Aharon and three ritual slaughterers.
Fold marks. Very fine condition.
[1] letter from Rabbi Yedidya Shofet, the Beit Din in Tehran, Iran, 1978. Sephardic handwriting on official paper including the original envelope.
[2] letters of greeting from the Jewish communities of Cairo and Alexandria, 1982, with words of thanks for the emissaries who Rabbi Ovadiah sent to the communities. Printed on official paper and signed by the heads of the communities.
28×22 cm. Very fine condition.
Draft of a strong letter regarding the “Teheran Children” in the hand of Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Chai Uziel, Chief Rabbi and Rishon L’Tzion. [1943].
[3] pages. 19×9 cm.
Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Chai Uziel was the Rishon L’Tzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel (1883-1953). He was the first Rishon L’Tzion of Israel and one of the prominent Sephardic sages in the first half of the 20th century. He tried many ways to transfer these children to religious institutions and save them from spiritual destruction
Filing holes without loss of text (other than one marginal location). Very fine condition.
Letter from the “Yisa Berachah” and his beit din to the Pekim V’Amraclim in Amsterdam, polemic [1890].
[1] leaf, paper. 29×23 cm. Rashi script in a brown fountain pen. Signatures and stamps of Rabbi Rafael Moshe Panigel, Rabbi Chaim Nissim Baruch, and the Yisa Berachah – Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar.
Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar (1817-1906) was the Rishon L’Tzion and Sephardic leader of the Old Yishuv of Jerusalem. The polemic relates to the publication in the
Chavatzelet newspaper that funds were received for the Sephardim.
Brittle paper, a few reinforcements. Fine condition.
An extremely interesting letter of apology from Rabbi Chizkiyahu Chaim Medini author of the Sdei Chemed, which he publicized after he became known through his great work Sdei Chemed and many people began to turn to him, in both halachic and personal matters. He apologizes that he can not satisfy everyone with his responses. At the end is a personal letter with his signature.
Specifications: [4] pages, 29×21 cm. The letter was printed in 1895, and the additional handwritten letter was written in 1897.
Unique Features: In his long letter, the Sdei Chemed describes six types of letters which he typically receives, and for each type gently and sensitively writes if he can deal with the matter and respond to it or not.
1. Letters of comments on his books – He is happy to receive them, as long as they are not in Ashkenazi handwriting, which he does not know how to read.
2. Practical halachic questions – He has accepted upon himself not to respond to them.
3. Requests for donations – There is no money in this country, Crimea, and the letters are wasted.
4. To pray for the sick and so forth – I am not worthy of these being sent to me, it is better to turn to righteous people and Rebbes.
5. Approbations and letters of recommendation – I do not provide them.
6. To send charity through him – He is willing to do so if it’s for the poor people of the Land of Israel, and accepts upon himself to send the money and to provide receipts, etc.
The letter was appended to the Sdei Chemed books (apparently not to all of the copies) which were published at the time, and he also distributed them to people who wrote to him.
In the margins of this letter, there is a personal letter from the Sdei Chemed to Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Shachat, in which he writes that he does not get involved in communal matters, as stated in the public letter, and gives him advice on what to do. His signature is at the bottom of the page – Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, known as “Chacham”.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Folding marks, aging stains. A few tears, some of which are professionally restored.
* Letter to Maggio; to the leaders of the Italian communities from the Jerusalem sages, 1863.
Specifications: [3] pages; doubled, light-blue; 26×20 cm. Italian.Unique features: The letter is stamped and signed by: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Chazan, Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi, Rabbi Mordechai Eliezer Susin, Rabbi Yedidya Suzin.Background: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Chazan was born in Izmir in 1791. He was chosen to succeed his father as Chief Rabbi of the city. He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael at the age of 64 and was recognized for his Torah greatness. When the position of rabbi became available, he was elected rabbi and Av Beit Din. In 1861, he was elected Chacham Bashi and Rishon L’Tzion. He authored: Torat Zevach, Nadiv Lev, Yitav Lev and more.Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi was born in Larissa, Greece. He served as rabbi of Jerusalem for about thirty years and was appointed Rishon L’Tzion. Rabbi Eliyahu Meni addressed him with profuse honorifics.
*Letter of thanks to the מאג’ג’יו community to Rabbi Moshe Sorni, 1865.
Specifications: [4] pages; folded, light-blue paper, 26×20 cm. Italian.Unique features: The letter is signed by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Chazan, Rabbi Moshe Benveneste and Rabbi Yaakov Cordevero.Condition: Both letters are in fine-very fine condition. Fold marks with light wear-and-tear on the bottom of the leaf.
Letter from the sages of Tétouan praising those who give charity “to satiate the soul and rejuvenate the hungry”.
Specifications: [2] pages, doubled leaf, 30×21 cm. Sephardic handwriting.
Unique features: Very rare document, signed in 1738 by Rabbi Menachem Attiya, Rabbi Shlomo Avudarham, Rabbi Moshen ben Amram and Rabbi Shlomo Avudarham (another sage, with the same name as the previous signer).
Background: Rabbi Menachem son of Yitzchak Attiya was an 18th century Tétouan sage. He was dayan and moreh tzedek in the city together with: Rabbi Efraim Monsonego, Rabbi Yehuda Avudarham and Rabbi Yehuda Koriat.
He was renowned as a Torah leader and G-dly kabbalist who was an expert in the Zohar and kabbala. Many sages of his generation admired him, including: Rabbi Yaakov Ibn Zur; Rabbi Yehuda Iyash – prominent Algerian rabbi; Rabbi Eliyahu HaTzarfati; Rabbi Yosef ben Samon; and others. The title page of the first edition of his Ner Ma’aravi includes profuse praise.
Condition: Very fine. Fold marks.
[1] official paper leaf. 20×14 cm. A letter printed by typewriter, signed with his signature. Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira – the Baba Khaki [1891-1970] the Chief Rabbi of Ramla-Lod, and the brother of the Baba Sali. Known as a Kabbalist and miracle worker. Very fine condition.
[1] official paper leaf. 16×24 cm. A letter of recommendation for the Kollel “Mishkan Moshe” with the signature of the Rishon L’Zion Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef (1920-2013), the “Rishon L’Zion” and Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel. One of the greatest halachic rulers of our generation. Headed the “Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah” and led the worldwide Shas movement. Folding marks. Very fine condition.
[1] leaf, 15×29 cm. Receipt for 800 Franc written and signed by four leaders of the Maghrebi community in Jerusalem: Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Nachman Betito [his signature and personal stamp], Rabbi Shmuel Alalof, Rabbi Yaakov ben Attar and Eliyahu Yaakov Algiami. The reverse has printed text regarding the mission of the “committee” and an emotional appeal for assistance for the Maghrebi community in Eretz Yisrael “to strenghthen our status and to fortify our settlement, in everything that’s necessary…” We’ve included information regarding the rabbis who signed on this receipt. Very fine condition.
Notebook with 88 pages written and signed by the Chief Rabbi of Morocco, Rabbi Shalom Messas, from his term in the country. These Torah novellae were never published. These novellae discuss various halachic issues: Yoresh dirabanan, chazaka, shiduchin v’savlonot, shabbat, bitul tnai and more. The notebook was written as a halachic response to the psak written by Rabbi Shmuel Malcha on various dinim. According to Rabbi Messas’ word in his preface, he wrote the notebook in his youth. “This psak, I founded and wrote, I the youth…” It seems that he intended on printing this book under the name “Divrei Shalo”m”. The notebook was written in a nice, legible handing. The preface is bordered. It opens with a detailed table of contents under a nice title “To make it easier for the reader”. Includes a title for each subject and pagination. All was written by Rabbi Messas. There are a number of comments that the author wrote to himself. The first and last pages bear the signature of Rabbi Messas in a nice, large hand and two different personal stamps, one reads “Rav Rashi and Rav”d Casablanca” and the second “Shalem Messas ..Meknes”. A different work by Rabbi Messas, titled Divrei Shalo”m was printed. However, our inspection and comparsion has clearly shown that this booklet is different from the printed work, and the Torah novellae in it were never printed. Rabbi Shalom Messas [1909-2003] was a prominent dayan and halachic posek of the previous generation. In [1955] he was appointed Chief Rabbi and av”d of Casablanca [Morocco], and later Chief Rabbi of the entire Morocco. In 1976, he immigrated to Jerusalem where he served as Chief Rabbi and Rosh Avot Batei Din. His works include the noted: Mizrach Shemesh, Beit Shemesh, Shu”T Shemesh Magen and more. The booklet is in very fine condition. “Maroc” appears on the back of the booklet with an illustration of the Star of David and the letter “H” and various images.
