Beautiful Letter from Tiberias Rabbis Including the Abir Ya'akov's Son, to "The Rothschild of the East." 1898

Beautiful Letter from Tiberias Rabbis Including the Abir Ya'akov's Son, to "The Rothschild of the East." 1898

Impressive letter from Tiberias sages about the mission of Rabbi Eliezer Mansour Sithon, son of Rabbi Chaviv Chaim Sithon. Sent to the generous philanthropist Mrs. Farhah Sassoon and her son, R' David Sassoon, later a major collector of Hebrew manuscripts. Tiberias, Adar II 1898.

In the letter, the rabbis express their appreciation for the assistance and the respectable reception given to the aforementioned emissary, and they bless the Sassoons that the merit of the G-dly Tanna Rabbeinu Meir Ba'al HaNes stand by them and protect them.

Signed by five Tiberias rabbis, in their own penmanship or with their personal stamps:

Rabbi Aharon Bechor Elchadif, av beit din of Tiberias, son-in-law of Rabbi Ya'akov She'altiel Nino, known as Rav Ab"a (his own penmanship)

Rabbi Chaviv Chaim David Sithon, Ra'ava"d of Tiberias, the emissary's father (his personal stamp)

Rabbi Baruch Toledano (his own penmanship)

Rabbi Avraham Abuchatzeira, son of the Abir Ya'akov (his personal stamp)

Rabbi Shlomo Rachamim Abulafia, son of Rabbi Chan"a. Served for months as ra'ava"d of Tiberias. (his personal stamp, as he was blind from the age of 15)

Near these are large official stamps of the Va'ad HaKlali L'Kehillat HaSepharadim in Tiberias, as well as from Yeshivat Rabi Meir Ba'al HaNes.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Avraham Abuchatzeira.

Provenance: Saliman Sasson Collection. This letter was printed in the book Perakim B'Toldot Yehudei Bavel Part II (Jerusalem, 1989), pp 479-481.

[1] leaf paper, written on one side. Approximately 27x21 cm.

Very fine condition. Fold mark. Tear with lack in the lower right margin, far from the text. Minimal stains.