A long letter which sheds light on the events of the time, sent by the leader of the Perushim congregation in Jerusalem, Rabbi Natan Nota son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, temporarily in Vilna; to the head of the Organization of Clerks and Administrators, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Lehren in Amsterdam. May 5 1836.
Specifications: [1] paper leaf. 21×25 cm. Written on both sides, the last two lines were written by Rabbi Natan Nota, with his signature at their end.
Content: In the letter, Rabbi Natan Nota relates that they have very little space, and are using a building rented from the Arabs. They had a small building which was borrowed from our Sephardi brothers, who took it from them to enlarge their synagogue. Therefore, he requests that the generous benefactor and his son-in-law (praises) will be prepared to donate to the synagogue.
Unique Features: The letter gives us a glimpse into the internal politics of the time. On the one hand, the slanders on Rabbi Natan Nota as if “My request for a synagogue is only a spade to dig for gold and silver to put in my own pocket”, and on the other hand, the disagreements about investing money in building Churvat Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid (of which the management of the Clerks and Administrators were not in favor), as the organization mainly dealt with personal support for Jews who studied Torah in the Land of Israel. They did not agree to allocate funds for purposes beyond personal needs, and therefore refused to assist with the building of the Churva synagogue), as well as the relationship between the Sephardi and Ashkenazi congregations.
Background: Rabbi Natan Nota immigrated to Israel with the first immigration of the students of the Vilna Gaon. From the year 1827, with the death of his renowned father Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov – one of the primary and most beloved of the Vilna Gaon’s students, he succeeded him in leading the ‘Perushim’ congregation of the Vilna Gaon’s students. He died in Jerusalem in 1846.
Condition: Very fine. A few aging stains and folding marks.