An archive containing over thirty documents, including letters sent by Rabbi Yaakov Elyashar, and letters which he received from rabbis. Most of the documents are from the years 1893-1903.
Unique Features: The archive contains a halachic ruling with his signature, letters sent to him by rabbis of various places, including Rabbi Avraham Palagi of Izmir, Rabbi Yishmael HaCohen of Safed, Rabbi Yosef David Abulafia of Safed, Rabbi Rachamim Yosef Franko of Hebron, letters from Constantinople, Bombay and more.
Among the documents in the archive:
* A letter to the donors of the Beit Va’ad HaKlali in Jerusalem, printed on official paper of the Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel (Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar) with his stamp. Written in three languages: Arabic, French and Ladino, with the printed signatures of the rabbis of Jerusalem and the clerks of the Beit HaVaad HaKlali, with the additional stamp of Rabbi Elyashar Chacham Bashi, and the stamp of the Kollelot Va’ad HaSepharadim in Jerusalem.
* A halachic ruling from the year 1895, signed by Rafael Yitzchak Yisrael, Avraham son of Rabbi Shlomo Mevurach, Moreinu Daniel… followed by two lines in Rabbi Elyashar’s handwriting, with his handwritten signature and his stamp.
* A letter to Rabbi Elyashar from Rabbi Yosef Maman of Tiberias, Pesach Sheni, 1900, in his handwriting and two of his calligraphic signatures. At the bottom of the letter are two lines in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Moshe Aharon Yedid. Enclosed is the envelope which was sent with the handwriting and signature of Rabbi Yedid with extensive praise of Rabbi Elyashar.
* A letter from Rabbi Chizkiya Shabtai, Jaffa, 1900. Official paper, his handwriting and his handwritten signature, with the original envelope, with the handwriting of Rabbi Elyashar. Rabbi Chizkiya Shabtai, ‘Chacham Bashi in Jaffa,’ wrote the book Divrei Chizkiya .
* A letter from Rabbi Avraham Palagi to Rabbi Elyashar. 1893. Appears to be entirely in his handwriting. With his handwritten signature and his stamp. Rabbi Avraham Palagi, son of Rabbi Chaim Palagi, succeeded his father as chief rabbi of Izmir, and also wrote many books: Pada et Avraham , Berech et Avraham , Shemo Avraham , VaYosef Avraham , V’Hochiach Avraham and more. It is rare to find letters from him, especially with his signature.
* A letter from Rabbi Yosef David Abulafia of Tiberias, to Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar. [1895?] with his handwritten signature and stamp. Rabbi Yosef David Abulafia was born in Sofia. He was one of the scholars of Damascus. He immigrated to Tiberias where he served as rabbi from 1883, and died in 1898.
* A letter from Rabbi Yishmael HaCohen to Rabbi Elyashar. 1893. A long letter entirely of Torah thoughts which Rabbi Yishmael HaCohen of Safed sent to Rabbi Elyashar, appears to be entirely in his handwriting, and with his handwritten signature. Rabbi Yishmael HaCohen was born in Persia and was the chief rabbi of Safed. In a responsum, he mentions a halachic booklet sent to him by Rabbi Yisa Bracha, in the book Yisa I”sh by Rabbi Elyashar (Even HaEzer, 15), there is an exchange of letters between the two Rabbis. The letter before us is not printed there.
* A letter from Rabbi Rachamim Yosef Franko of Hebron to Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar, 1900. A letter in his handwriting and with his signature and stamp with the original envelope. Rabbi Rachamim Yosef Franko (known as the Charif), was appointed as rabbi of the Sephardi congregation of Hebron in 1878.
* A letter from Rabbi Rachamim Yosef Franko of Hebron to Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar. A letter in his handwriting with his signature and his stamp with the original envelope. A letter full of blessings sent in response to a letter which Rabbi Elyashar sent to him. The letter mentions the wicked man Pinchas, may his name and memory be wiped out, who spoke publicly about the libel… and the Pasha heard, and the rabbi wonders why actions are not being taken to expel him.
Background: Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar, known by the moniker the ‘Yisa Bracha’ was born in Safed in 1817, orphaned at a young age, and settled in Jerusalem. In 1853, he was ordained as a dayan and served in this capacity until his appointment as the Rishon L’Zion. In 1855 he was sent by the rabbis of Jerusalem as an emissary to Alexandria, Egypt, to attempt to cancel the Jewish community’s decision not to accept emissaries from Jerusalem. Following the success of his mission, he was asked to serve as the rabbi of the city’s congregation, but refused. He began to serve as Av Beit Din of Jerusalem in 1869.
In 1880, he passed up an offer to serve as the Rishon L’Zion in favor of his in-law, Rabbi Rafael Meir Panigel. Following Rabbi Panigel’s death, he was appointed in 1893 as the Rishon L’Zion, in a ceremony which took place in the synagogue in the name of Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakai in Jerusalem. He served in this role for 13 years until his death. In 1889, he headed the representatives of the Old Yishuv of Jerusalem who greeted the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, together with Rabbi Shmuel Salant and Rabbi Eliyahu Mani, and even received an award from him. He died in 1906. He wrote many books with his initials I”sh in the titles: Shenacha L’I”sh , Ma’aseh I”sh , Derech I”sh , Olat I”sh , Sha’al HaI”sh , Kavod L’I”sh , and Pnei I”sh . The Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem is named after him.
Condition: Sizes and conditions vary. Fine overall condition.