Lengthy letter, rare and most important, about the episode of the mission in Safed, from the renowned Chassid Rabbi Moshe Chara”g (Zeiger), administrator of Kollel Vizhnitz in Safed and head of the chevra kaddisha to “The honorable Rabbi Moshe, shlit”a , president of the Land” – none other than Rabbi Moshe of Kossov, author of Lekket Ani . Safed, 1898.
Rabbi Moshe Chara”g was the renowned administrator of Kollel Vizhnitz in Safed. Most if not all of his letters to the Diaspora are quite similar to one another, and can be summarized with one word – money – in its various presentations. Rabbi Moshe Chara”g was forced to juggle the small sums that arrived from abroad in whatever way he could to supply food to the Chassidim who were living in the Galilee, who were entirely reliant on these distribution funds. As such, his letters to the Diaspora request, seek and beg for one thing: money.
This letter is an exception, as it deals entirely with spiritual matters, one of the most painful historic episodes in Safed’s history – the (unsuccessful) attempts of the French mission to convert Safed’s poor by providing the mission’s medical services. In his letter, Rabbi Moshe describes the difficult condition of Safed, especially the missionary activity and the attempts to influence via its doctors. Various prominent personalities are mentioned. Rabbi Moshe concludes his letter: “… sincerely, the small one, Moshe Chara”g son of Rabbi … son of Chortil.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the Admo”r Rabbi Moshe Hager and Rabbi Moshe Chara”g .
[1] leaf paper written on both sides. 17.5×23.5 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains.
Provenance: Binyamin Geiger’s archive.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for Yaron Perry’s discussion of the mission in Safed.