“Eternal testament of truth and justice when Rebbetzin Rivkah, widow of Rabbi Amram, z”l and her son, Rabbi Natan Amram, sold the large dome to R’ Mendel Ashkenazi HaPorush. They set the terms between them at the end of the acquisition before us, the undersigned witnesses, as a Gad-Reuven-condition as follows, one by one …”
The first witness is R’ Ya’akov ben Shimon (the Shimon family was a rabbinic family in Safed), the second witness signed in an undeciphered calligraphic signature.
R’ Mendel Ashkenazi HaPorush is the gaon Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov – this is how the local Sephardim would refer to the disciples of the GR”A who ascended to Safed (see, for example, the agreement between Kollel HaPerushim and Kollel HaSephardim in Safed, where they refer to Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov as R’ Yisrael Ashkenazi HaPorush – Shluchei Eretz Yisrael pp. 766).
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov [d. 30 Shevat 1827] was a kabbalist, one of the GR”A’s primary disciples and one of the leaders of the immigrants who were disciples of the GR”A. He served the Vilna Gaon in the latter’s final two years. He was very beloved to the GR”A, who shared his deepest thoughts with him, including many kabbalistic matters. Rabbi Menachem Mendel wrote down what he learned from the Vilna Gaon, and the GR”A enjoyed his precise writing. In 1808, the Vilna Gaon’s disciples arose to ascend to the Land of Israel, led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov. The arrived in Tiberias, and from there moved on to Safed to settle, to avoid dispute with the Chassidim. Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov moved to Jerusalem in 1818, and apparently he wanted to sell his home that year, and wanted to clarify the terms of sale.
Rabbi Nattan Amram, mentioned in this document, was the renowned gaon, emissary of Safed and Chevron, author of Kinyan HaGuf V’Kinyan Perot.
[1] leaf paper 16×22 cm, written on the bottom half; fine condition. Aging stains. Professional restoration of the margins. Except for isolated words, the letter is entirely decipherable.