Letter from Eliezer Ben-Yehuda / Harsh Letter from Hemda Ben-Yehuda – Jerusalem, 1910

Letter from Eliezer Ben-Yehuda / Harsh Letter from Hemda Ben-Yehuda – Jerusalem, 1910
A letter, handwritten by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, and a letter handwritten by his wife, Hemda Ben-Yehuda, addressed to Zalman David Levontin, Director of the Anglo-Palestine Bank. [Jerusalem], 1910.
1. Letter from Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. [Jerusalem], June 20, 1910.
"I did not mean to address you again about the well-known matter since I burdened you already enough. But I waited for you to let me know your decision…I advise you, as a friend…to return Barzilai to his post…" It is possible that Ben-Yehuda refers to the author and Zionist activist (secretary of "Hovevei Zion" in Jaffa) Yehushua Barzilai (Eisentadt) who worked for the Anglo-Palestine Bank and was fired since he gave credit to customers not in accordance with the terms of caution maintained by the bank and preferred Zionist considerations to commercial ones. Leaf, 17.5 cm. Good condition. Minor spotting and a folding mark.
2. Letter from Hemda Ben-Yehuda. Jerusalem, August 11, 1910.
"Sir, we heard today about a new 'plot'…based on several lines which we published in "Or"…what are these plots? Are we persecuted Jews and you are gentile enemies? Are we close to Pesach or do you plan a blood libel for Rosh HaShana? You are shedding our blood with your words… I say all of this so you come and apologize…Our paper develops and will be the voice of the Jewish people…". [3] pp, 22.5 cm. Good condition. Spotting and creases. Blurred ink stamp.