Letter of Warning to the Mantua Community, Regarding a Fraudulent Emissary Circulating in Italian Communities - ...

Letter of Warning to the Mantua Community, Regarding a Fraudulent Emissary Circulating in Italian Communities - Signed by Jerusalem Rabbis: Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Ayash, Rabbi Yaakov Koral and Rabbi Yom Tov Danon
Letter from the rabbis of Jerusalem addressed to the leaders of the Mantua community, alerting them of a person posing as an emissary of Jerusalem. Signed by the rabbis of the city: Chief Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Ayash, R. Yaakov Koral and R. Yom Tov Danon, with the stamp of the Sephardi community in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, 1814. The rabbis of Jerusalem begin with writing that they were notified by their emissary - R. Yaakov David Yekutiel HaKohen, that there is a person claiming to be an emissary of the Jerusalem community, circulating in Italian cities and raising funds. The Jerusalem rabbis declare that they do not know the person, that he is an imposter and a charlatan, and warn the Mantua community not to allow him to deceive them, requesting they forewarn neighboring communities as well. The rabbis first indicate that the sign of a true emissary is if his ledgers and emissary letters bear, apart from their signatures, the two stamps of the Jerusalem community - the old one and the new one. Later in the letter, below the date, the rabbis assert otherwise, writing that the ultimate proof of authenticity is only the new stamp adjoined to their signatures, without the old stamp. The first signatory on this letter is the Chief Rabbi - R. Yaakov Moshe Ayash, followed by (far left) R. Yaakov Koral - his successor as Chief Rabbi, and finally (in the center) R. Yom Tov Danon (who served as Chief Rabbi after the Chikrei Lev). The stamp of the Jerusalem community is affixed beneath their signatures, serving in this case also as a sample to compare emissary letters with, for establishing authenticity. [1] folded leaf (address inscribed on verso). 24 cm. Fair condition. Stains, ink stains. Wear, tears and holes. Folding marks.