Lot 294
Emissary Letter Issued by the Beit El Yeshiva of Kabbalists - Signed by the Leading Kabbalists of Jerusalem - Rabbi Yedidia Refael Abulafia and Other Beit El Kabbalists - Jerusalem, 1865
Emissary letter for R. Baruch Pinto, leaving on a mission to Sefrou, Morocco, on behalf of the Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists in Jerusalem. Signed by the yeshiva dean - R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia (HaRav HaYareh), and other leading kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva. Jerusalem, 1865.
Neat script, with the calligraphic signatures of the leading kabbalists of Jerusalem: R. Refael Chai Yedidia Abulafia - dean of the Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists (including his stamp), R. Yosef Vital, R. Rachamim Chaim David Antebi, R. Yitzchak Calamaro, R. Aharon Pereira, and two other signatories.
The Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists, also known as Midrash HaChassidim or Kehal Chassidim, was founded in Jerusalem in 1737 by R. Gedalia Hayun, and was designated as a place for studying Kabbalah. Ever since, the kabbalists of Jerusalem have gathered to study there, directed by foremost kabbalists. Of particular prominence were R. Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), who headed the yeshiva, and his successor R. Yom Tov Algazi. Reputedly, R. Gershon of Kitov - brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov, also studied there. Following the passing of R. Chaim Avraham Gagin in 1848, R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia (1806-1869), was appointed in his stead, a position he held until his passing. R. Abulafia’s disciples include the sons of Rebbe Moshe of Lelov; the Imrei Binah, rabbi of Jerusalem (who, following R. Abulafia’s advice, instituted the prohibition of playing musical instruments in Jerusalem); R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, who succeeded him as dean of the Beit El yeshiva; and others. The kabbalists who signed this letter were amongst the elite of the yeshiva studying alongside R. Abulafia: R. Yitzchak Calamaro (d. 1884; edited the second edition of Nahar Shalom by the Rashash, as well as other kabbalistic works. The Jerusalem 1866 edition of Etz Chaim includes his notes), R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Pereira (author of Toldot Aharon UMoshe and other books. See item 260), R. Yosef Bechor Vital (published some of R. Chaim Vital’s Shemonah She’arim in 1866, together with his colleague R. Yitzchak Calamaro), R. Rachamim Chaim David Antebi (d. 1874, see: LiKedoshim Asher BaAretz, Jerusalem 2009, section 508, p. 262), and others.
The emissary, R. Baruch Pinto, travelled to the Maghreb several times on behalf of the yeshiva, and was "renowned for his wisdom". He died in 1893 at the young age of fifty-two, and was eulogized by R. Yaakov Shaul Elyashsar (see: Avraham Yaari, Sheluchei Eretz Israel, pp. 736-737).
[1] leaf. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, folding marks. Minute tears to margins and folding marks (slightly affecting one letter).
