Historic file from ‘Beit HaVaad L’Adat Yisrael HaMeuchedet Ashkenazim V’Sepharadim B’Yaffo.’ The file contains the certificate of appointment for the chief rabbi of Jaffa; authentic documents; correspondence with valuable information about what took place within the religious communities in the city of Jaffa, as well as details about the rabbinate of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Hertz HaLevi and more.
During Sivan 1902, upon the passing of R’ Naftali Hertz, a dispute broke out about who would be his successor. Several candidates were proposed and it was finally decided, with the recommendation of the gaon Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, to appoint Rabbi Moshe Aharon Weitzblum, who had served for 30 years as a dayan and moreh tzedek in Brisk, and was very close to the city’s rabbis. Indeed, upon the passing of Rabbi Naftali Hertz HaLevi, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Weitzblum was selected as his successor (for a short period, until the appointment of Rabbi Kook).
Highlights from the file:
* Letter with Rabbi Moshe Aharon Weitzblum’s appointment containing all the details of the rabbinate; its rights and its obligations. Av, 1902.
* Internal letter with reference to the appointment – primarily financial issues, whether Rabbi Naftali Hertz’s widow would receive some of the rabbinate’s funds. The letter mentions the warm recommendation from the gaon Rabbi Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik in favor of the appointment (“And I know him to be a man great in Torah and fear of Heaven, full of all that is dear and capable, virtuous in all, wise of heart and gentle of spirit, great and expert rabbi, the best of them in every way.”)
* Lengthy letter [2 pp] from Rabbi Betzalel Lopian, one of the greatest pillars of the Yishuv in Jaffa, about the establishment of the community in Haifa. With historic innovations.
* Two lengthy letters [6 pp] from R’ Ya’akov Goldman with criticism of Rabbi Naftali Hertz’s rabbinate, 1900-1903.
The gaon Rabbi Moshe Aharon Weitzblum [1840-1903] was the rabbi of Voltchin and an adjudicator in Brisk, Lithuania, for 30 years, under the following rabbis of the city, in turn: Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Orenstein, Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, Rabbi Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik and Rabbi Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik. He spent the remainder of his life in Jerusalem. In 1902, he was appointed rabbi of the Ashkenazim of Jaffa. In 1904, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook was appointed to replace him. Rabbi Moshe Aharon was a great-uncle of the gaon Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman. (Regarding Rabbi Moshe Aharon’s short term in the Jaffa rabbinate, refer to Y. Alfasi, Chikrei Eretz Yisrael , Jerusalem, 2006.)
[6] letters. Various sizes and conditions. Overall fine condition.