Historic Letter Asking for Assistance Following the Fire in Stropkov. 1876

Historic Letter Asking for Assistance Following the Fire in Stropkov. 1876

Letter written by the leaders of the community in Stropkov, Hungary. On behalf of the members of the community, they ask for financial aid from the leaders and wealthy members of the Trieste community. Scribal hand with two wax seals of the community [one on the body of the letter and the second on the accompanying envelope]. Stropkov, Sunday of the weekly Torah portion, Bamidbar. 1876.

The letter is addressed to the community leaders in Trieste following the fire in Stropkov that destroyed all of its property and most of its homes. Therefore, the heads of the community saw the need to turn to their brethren in the neighboring community with a request for assistance: "Due to the great fire that was in our city ... suddenly, over an hour or two, two hundred homes and their occupants, about 400 residents, and the people fled for their lives, and didn't salvage any of their possessions ... and the distress of the people is great, because we have been left without anything, without bread and without clothing, and without even a place to sleep ... our eyes therefore look up ... from your pure hearts, please set aside a donation ... the words of your brothers who wait for your exalted response and yearn for a speedy salvation from Hash-m, the residents of Stropkov ..." Signed in the margins of the letter by the head of the community, Tzvi Hirsch Friedman and the scribe, Avraham Abish Weidman.

[1] leaf. Ink on paper, 22x28 cm. Hebrew. Very fine condition. With the original envelope in which the letter was sent.