Moshe Lilienblum – Letter to the Netziv of Volozhin – Odessa, 1887

A handwritten letter, by Moshe Leib Lilienblum addressed to Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (the Netziv of Volozhin). Odessa, 5.8.1887. Hebrew.
A letter from Moshe Leib Lilienblum, one of the leaders of the movement of "Hovevei Zion", regarding funds received by the movement and its operations, addressed to the Netziv of Volozhin, one of the "Financial advisors" of "Hovevei Zion". Signed by hand by Lilienblum and ink stamped "M.L. Lilienblum Odessa" (Russian).
Lilieblum opens the letter with a "monthly account to the financial advisors" – report about funds received in the name of "H. Erlinger" of Vilnius, Rostov-on-Don, and two other cities. Further he adds: "Dr. Pinsker is not yet back from his stay overseas and your letter is handed to him these days. When I have time I shall advise his honor regarding the main activities of the movement so far since matters have to be verified in the accounting books".
Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (Netziv of Volozhin), head of Volozhin Yeshivah and a foremost scholar, was an active member in "Hovevei Zion" and supported settlement in Eretz Israel. In the second convention of "Hovevei Zion" (Druskenick convention, June 1887) he was appointed one of the three "Gaba'im Yo'atzim" (financial advisors) and later in the same year they sent a circular letter to all congregation rabbis concerning fund raising for settlements in Eretz Israel. The Netziv also acted, within the framework of his role, to deepen religious values in the movement.
[1] leaf, 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Tears around the edges. Tear at the central folding mark, pasted with adhesive tape (with minor text omissions).