Letter Signed by the Leading Disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. Jerusalem, 1747. Rare

Letter Signed by the Leading Disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. Jerusalem, 1747. Rare

Disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh

Rabbeinu Chaim ben Attar [1696-1743] was known by the name of his work, as "The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh." He wanted to hasten the redemption of the Jewish people by establishing a yeshivah in Jerusalem whose members would conduct themselves with sanctity and piety. During the day they would occupy themselves with Torah, and at night they would occupy themselves with prayers and supplications for the redemption, for the Jewish people, and for the distress of the Divine Presence.

He left Morocco accompanied by several disciples, arrived in Livorno and worked there to found the yeshivah. More disciples joined him in Livorno, and in 1742, they arrived in the Land of Israel, and he established his yeshivah -"Knesset Yisrael" - in the Holy City.

His great disciples wrote about him in the introduction to the Ohr HaChaim's book, Rishon LeTziyon, as follows: "We left our homeland, and we gathered in His arms from the end of the world and the edges of the country, and we came to the Land to gather under the shadow of his wisdom as we said, 'We will live in His shadow; we will dwell under His wing.'"

Spectacular descriptions of the study schedule and of the holy and lofty atmosphere in the yeshivah and in the shadow of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh appear in: Letters sent to Italy, in the above introduction, and in the introduction to Kadshei David.

However, his days in Jerusalem were not long; less than a year after his arrival his spirit returned to G-d. Even after this tzaddik's passing, the yeshivah continued to exist under his disciples.

(Sources: M. Benayahu LeToldot Beit HaMidrash Knesset Yisrael BiYerushalayim, Jerusalem (quarterly) Volume II, pp. 2-117).

Following are three extremely rare letters written and signed by disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh:

Especially rare letter of historic importance. Signed by the greatest and closest disciples of the wondrous rabbi Chaim ben Attar, who dwelled in his shadow at his yeshivah, 'Knesset Yisrael' in Jerusalem.

The letter contains condolences to Rabbi Avraham and Rabbi Emmanuel Igress of Livorno, author of Shomer Emunim and Mevo Petachim, upon the passing of their paternal uncle, philanthropist Rabbi Moshe Igress. In their letter, the Ohr HaChaim's disciples note that they are conducting a "hashkavah" for the departed as well as studying for the ascension of his soul.

Although the yeshivah's name does not explicitly appear in the letter, it is clear that the letter's writers are students of the 'Knesset Yisrael' yeshivah which continued to exist after the Ohr HaChaim's passing. Most of the signatories on the letter are known to have been members of the yeshivah, and these also attest for the rest. (Refer to: M. Benayahu LeToldot Beit HaMidrash Knesset Yisrael BiYerushalayim, Jerusalem, Volume II, list of students over the generations.) This historic letter reveals three additional disciples who are not mentioned in Benayahu's list.

Disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh who signed the letter:

Rabbi Chaim Yehudah Amzaleg - One of the leading disciples of the Ohr HaChaim.

Rabbi David Shmuel Chaim Chassan. (See more about him in this catalog.)

Rabbi Shem Tov Gabbay. (See more about him in this catalog.)

Rabbi Yehudah de Abella.

Rabbi Tzvi Levi - one of the Ohr HaChaim's disciples.

Rabbi Ya'akov Parientti - one of the Ohr HaChaim's disciples who apparently ascended with him from Morocco.

Rabbi Ya'akov Atzban - one of the Ohr HaChaim's disciples.

Rabbi Moshe Mandel.

Rabbi Shmuel Bibas.

Rabbi Eliyahu Yosef Surnaga. These final three disciples are revealed for the first time in this letter before us.

More details about some of the above disciples can be found in the Hebrew catalog text.

[1] sheet of paper, folded into two leaves, 24x18 cm each (the first leaf contains the body of the letter and the second contains details of the sender and of the addressee). Thick, quality paper. Oriental script. Fine condition. Aging stains.