Letter Signed by Hebron Emissaries, Rabbi Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'evi - Turin, 1767 / Their ...

Letter Signed by Hebron Emissaries, Rabbi Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'evi - Turin, 1767 / Their Printed Emissary Letter, in Italian
Two documents pertaining to the Hebron emissaries R. Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and R. Yitzchak Ze'evi:
• Letter signed by R. Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and R. Yitzchak Ze'evi, during the course of their mission. Turin, Cheshvan 1767.
Addressed to "The wealthy, wise, benevolent… brothers, who provided us with fine lodgings, R. Yitzchak and R. Azriel Cohen Vitali" of Alessandria. In their letter, the emissaries express their appreciation to the brothers for their kind hospitality, and outline their projected itinerary: "We are presently in Turin, and will travel tomorrow to Nizza (Monferrato), and from there to the four communities…". They request to clarify a certain topic pertaining to the donation made by the wealthy Yoel Cohen Vitali, and inquire of the wellbeing of the rabbi of Alessandria (R. Eliyahu HaLevi), the wealthy members of the community and their families, and extend their blessings to everyone.
Double leaf. Leaf folded for sending by post, address of brothers in Italian on verso, with remnants of wax seal. 23 cm. Stains, dampstains, folding marks. Small tear to place of opening letter, not affecting text.
• Printed pamphlet, Molto illustri signori - Emissary letter of R. Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and R. Yitzchak Ze'evi, in Italian. [Italy, ca. 1763-1772]. At the top of the emissary letter, list of places to which the emissaries (or the letter) were sent, including England and America: "…Keilot D'Italia, Romagna, Francia, Olanda, Inghilterra & America".
R. Chaim Rachamim Bajaio and R. Yitzchak Ze'evi, two leading Hebron Torah scholars, left for Europe on a mission in 1763. Their mission extended over nine years. During the course of their travels, they generated extensive publicity in favor of their mission, including by printing this emissary letter in French and Italian. The emissaries reached Turin in 1767, and from there sent out this letter. In Turin, R. Yitzchak Ze'evi wrote a responsum regarding a case of a marriage which took place in Savigliano in 1764. He also fell ill there, and was unable to continue on his travels. R. Chaim Rachamim thus continued on his own to southern France, and from there travelled to Holland, where he was joined by R. Yitzchak Ze'evi, who had meanwhile recovered. In 1769, they both accorded their approbation to Chiddushei HaMe'iri on Tractate Megillah in Amsterdam, signing: "So say the emissaries of Hebron". From Holland, they continued to northern Germany. In 1770, R. Yitzchak Ze'evi gave his approbation to the books Pirkei Rabbi Eliya and Yesod Mora printed in Hamburg. Upon completing their mission, they both returned to Italy, and in 1772, they granted their approbation to Nahar Shalom by R. Shabtai Ventura in Livorno. See more about their mission: Yaari, Sheluchei Eretz Israel, pp. 586-589.
[2] leaves. 31.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear, folding marks.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.