Lot of 4 letters signed by rabbis of Constantinople, sent to rabbis of Haifa, on the subject of gets and kiddushin. 1951

Lot of 4 letters signed by rabbis of Constantinople, sent to rabbis of Haifa, on the subject of gets and kiddushin. 1951

Lot of four letters in nice Sefardi handwriting, stamped with signatures of Constantinople rabbis. One identified signature is that of Rabbi Refael David Saban. Sent to Haifa rabbis in 1951 and 1952. One is on the subject of kiddushin, and the other three are on handling a certain get. An additional Sefardi signatory could not be identified. There is also a smudged stamp: “Klalot of Constantinople, Beit Din HaTzedek.” Two big ones: 29x23cm. Small ones: 14x20cm. Creases from folding, various stains, two of them have small tears without damage to text, overall good condition.

Rabbi Refael David Saban (1877-1961) was the son of Rabbi Nissim and son-in-law of Rabbi Haim the president of the Chaskai community. He was a student of Rabbi Yosef and Rabbi Yom Tov, the Kohanim of Constantinople, and Rabbi Kunrata Dilson. He was the secretary of the Chacham Bashi (Rabbi Moshe HaLevi) and served as Rabbi of Chaskai as successor to his father-in-law, and was also responsible for the communities of Galta, Biagolo, Kasimpasha, Shishli, and the Italian and Ashkenazi communities as well. He was a special delegate for the Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Moshe HaLevi, Rabbi Haim Nachum, and Rabbi Chaim Moshe Bigirano across the Ottoman Empire, and was later appointed successor to the Chief Rabbi and then received the title Kaimkam. In 1952 he was appointed the Chacham Bashi. He sometimes signed his name “Daras” (David Refael Saban).