LETTER OF APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE,...

LETTER OF APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE, SIGNED BY GREAT RABBIS OF TZEFAS (SAFED) RABBI MOSHE DAVID ASHKENAZI (1774-1816) (FORMER RABBI OF TOLCSAVA, HUNGARY) AND RABBI SHMUEL HELLER (1803-1884).

This letter is from the leaders of the Kollel Chasidim - Volyn (Community of Chassidim in Tzefas originating in the province of Volhynia) in Tzefas, signed by the Rabbis of the community, thanking Sir Moses Montefiore for his generous donation received by the Kollel for the poor of Tzefas.

Rabbi Moshe David Ashkenazi, son of Rabbi Asher of Rozdol and Lvov, appointed in 1813 as Rabbi of Tolcsava, Hungary. Revered for his greatness in Torah and his saintliness. At the age of 70 he left Hungary for the Holy Land, settling in Jerusalem but moving to Tzefas on the advice of the Rebbe of Ruzhin. He reluctantly accepted the position of Rabbi of the Ashkenazi community of Tzefas, being highly revered throughout the Holy Land and abroad. Active in improving spiritual and material life of Tzefas residents until his last day. Author of Toldos Adam and Be’er Sheva.

Rabbi Shmuel Heller, born in Zlotchov, descendant of the Tosfos Yomtov, close adherent of the Chernobil chassidic dynasty. He arrived in Tzefas with his parents, gradually becoming close to the community leadership, particularly after the passing of his Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avrutch – the Bas Ayin, in 1840. A highly respected rabbinical leader of the chassidic community deeply involved in its contacts with Eastern Europe, with the local Sephardic community and its rabbis, with the Ottoman authorities and with the local Arab population.

1 side 10x14.5 cm. Good condition.