REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHMENT OF MONTEFIORE ORCHARD AT YAFFO. LETTER FROM RABBI YEHUDA HALEVY ...

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHMENT OF MONTEFIORE ORCHARD AT YAFFO. LETTER FROM RABBI YEHUDA HALEVY (MARGOSA), RABBI OF YAFFO, TO CHIEF RABBI NATHAN ADLER OF LONDON AND TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE.

Letter dated 25th Tishri 5627 (1866) written by the first Rabbi of Yaffo, Rabbi Yehuda Halevy, seeking financial assistance from Sir Moses Montefiore for the establishment of an orchard in Yaffo to provide employment for local residents. The orchard established was named Pardes Montefiore and is still in existence.

The letter is written in an attractive calligraphic hand and bears an interesting stamp of the Yaffo Jewish community.

Rabbi Yehuda Halevy (1797-1879), born in Sarajevo and studied Torah in Dobrovnik before settling in Yerushalayim, where he continued his studies. In 1836 he was appointed as Yaffo representative of the Yerushalayim rabbis, and in 1840 he was appointed by Sefardi Chief Rabbi Chaim Avraham Gaguin as Rabbi of Yaffo – where he was highly respected.

Rabbi Nathan Adler (1803-1890), son of Rabbi Mordechai Adler of Hanover and relative of the famous Rabbi Nathan Adler of Frankfurt. Rabbi of Hanover and London (1845) where he served as Chief Rabbi of England. Author of Nesina Leger.

Sir Moses Montefiore, great British philanthropist who devoted his life to improving the conditions of Jews around the world through his generosity and political intervention.

1 side. 20 x 27.5 cm. Very good condition.