Dimat HaAshukim – Courtyard Dispute and Ownership of Etz Chaim Yeshiva – Jerusalem, 1864

Dimat HaAshukim – Courtyard Dispute and Ownership of Etz Chaim Yeshiva – Jerusalem, 1864

Dimat HaAshukim, on the courtyard dispute and ownership of the Etz Chaim yeshiva in Jerusalem, by R. Shmuel Shlomo Boyarski. Jerusalem: [Yisrael Bak, 1864].
Published in response to the booklet Emet UMishpat (Jerusalem, 1863) published by Jerusalem rabbis, attacking R. Shmuel Shlomo Boyarsky and others, including R. Shaul Binyamin HaKohen Karelitz of Radashkovichy, officials of the Warsaw Kollel, and the Ashkenazi rabbis in Jerusalem, R. Shmuel Salant, R. Moshe Yehudah Leib Silberberg, R. Meir Auerbach and others.

R. Shaul Binyamin HaKohen Karelitz of Radashkovichy established the innovative Etz Chaim yeshia and Talmud Torah in Jerusalem. R. Shmuel Binyamin greatly endeavored to support the Etz Chaim yeshiva financially, and even acquired a courtyard as an asset to benefit the Talmud Torah. In 1863, a fierce dispute arose against him, when he registered the courtyard under his own name (as was customary in those days, due to the Ottoman law which did not allow land to be registered under the ownership of new public institutions), yet refused to give the rabbis of the city a document confirming that the courtyard was not his private property. The contemporary press published many articles for and against R. Shaul Binyamin. The rabbis of Jerusalem publicized their views in the booklet Emet UMishpat (Jerusalem, 1863) and the rival party responded in Dimat HaAshukim (Jerusalem, 1864). This dispute evolved to a demand for rabbinic supervision of the money raised for the Etz Chaim yeshiva and of the debts from the purchase of the courtyard.

[1], 15 leaves. 21 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Wear. Open tears to bottom margins of leaves, affecting text on several leaves. New leather binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 95.