Rare letter handwritten and signed by Jerusalem emissary Rabbi Eliyahu Yisrael, Av Beit Din of Naimon and author ofֲ Kol Eliyahu, to Rabbi Avraham Shmuel, chief adjudicator of Reggio.
In his letter, Rabbi Eliyahu requests delivery of the monies collected in the Jerusalem fund, and that a new collection be conducted, so that he won’t have to travel to Reggio, saving travel expenses and much toil.
The gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Yisrael [c. 1715-1784] was a leading Sephardic Later Authority in Italy. He was born in Rhodes to his great father, Rabbi Moshe Yisrael, author of Shu”t Mas’et Moshe, and studied Torah under his father and under the gaon, the author of Batei Kehunah. He was a colleague and friend of the Chid”a’s. In 1763, he left on a mission as emissary of Jerusalem; and was appointed chief rabbi of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1773. He maintained this leadership at a high level until his passing. He left more than 20 compositions behind, of which the following were printed: Kis’e Eliyahu, Shu”t Kol Eliyahu (two parts),ֲ Aderet Eliyahu, Ugatֲ Eliyahu,ֲ Shnei Eliyahu, Machaneh Yisrael andֲ Ar’a D’Yisrael. (Also, refer to Ya’ari, Shluchei Eretz Yisrael pp. 402-404.)
[1] leaf paper 20×14 cm. Fine condition. Fold marks and minimal creases. Aging stains. Two tiny tears in the margins without lack or damage to text.