Letter by Rabbi Shmuel Salant - Jerusalem, 1891

A letter signed by R. Shmuel Salant, Jerusalem, 1891
Sent to the Austro-Hungarian Consul, in response to his request for information regarding a dispute between Dr. Popilos and his mechutan R. Yosef Nissim Burla [Ra'avad of the Jerusalem Sephardic community] over jewelry and dowry-money. The letter contains a practical solution that the dowry jewelry be deposited to a trustee for a year, or less to see if "it it shows that the couple lives in true peace…".
Rabbi Shmuel Salant (1816-1909) was born in Lithuania and at a young age was already known as a prodigy. At the age of seven [!], he went to study at Lithuanian Torah centers and at the age of 14 received a letter from his teacher R. Abele Posveller Raa'vad of Vilna concerning a complex question which arose while arranging a divorce. This document unmistakably proves the extent to which his teacher considered him an outstanding Torah scholar and relied on his rulings. In his youth, he studied Torah in the town of Salant and R. Yisrael Salant [founder of Musar movement] was his study partner. After he married the daughter of the R. Yosef Zundel of Salant, he immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1841, to serve as posek and rabbi of the "Perushim", disciples of the Vilna Gaon, living in Jerusalem. He served in the Jerusalem rabbinate for almost seventy years, established educational and charity institutes in the city, founded a Beit Din and worked to strengthen the Ashkenazi community. Known for his genius and practical approach to Halachic rulings and for his management of public affairs in Jerusalem as well as all over the world.
Leaf, 27 cm. Handwritten by a scribe; hand-signed and stamped by R. Shmuel Salant. Good condition. Folding marks.