Three historical documents signed by the heads of the communities and rabbis of Jerusalem about the unification of the communities, including the Chacham Bashi, Rabbi Chaim Nachum. Jerusalem, 1900-1910.
* Agreement of the unification of the Sephardi and Ashkenazi congregations in Jerusalem and the establishment of a joint committee, 1910. Written entirely and signed (twice) in the handwriting of the Chacham Bashi, Rabbi Chaim Nachum, Rosh Rabbanei Tugrama. Rabbi Chaim Nachum signed in the name of the leaders of the congregation and the rabbis, among them: Yoel Moshe Salomon, Gedaliah Nachman Broder, David Yellin, David Feinstein, Moshe Navon, Nachman Twito, and others.
[1] leaf, 29×23 cm. Two signatures, folding marks, filing holes, slight tears. Fine condition.
*Agreement of the unification of the Sephardi and Ashkenazi communities in Jerusalem and the establishment of a joint committee, 1910. This document is based on the previous document of the Chacham Bashi, and is signed with the signatures of important rabbis of Jerusalem, among them: Moshe Nachum Wenstein, Zvi Pesach Frank, Aryeh Leib and others.
[2] leaves, 40×25 cm. Written on one page with six signatures. Folding marks, filing holes. Fine condition.
* Iggeret Mevaseret Shalom – a letter to North Africa, from Rabbi Shmuel Salant and the head of the communities in Jerusalem. 1900?. A letter which was given to an emissary on his way to the southern cities of Africa, in which is announced in the name of Rabbi Shmuel Salant that “all of the disagreements which developed have been resolved” and that “complete unity exists between the various organizations.”
[1] leaf. 27.5×22 cm. Lithograph, written on both sides, with stamps of Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Kollel Perushim, Beit Va’ad HaKlali and the Talmud Torah HaKlali. Folding marks. Fine condition.
As a result of the financial distress and difficult conditions in Jerusalem, there was a long-term argument between the Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities. These documents testify that with the appointment of Rabbi Chaim Nachum as Chacham Bashi in 1909, he worked hard to bring peace and to establish a joint committee (another attempt had been made some 15 years previously).