Lot 270
A Ledger Documenting the Building of the First Two Houses in Nachalat Shiv'a, Jerusalem – Summer 1869
Ledger recording the construction expenses of the Nachalat Shiv'a neighborhood in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Iyar-Av 1869.
Ledger recording the construction expenses of two houses in Nachalat Shiv'a – of R. Michel HaKohen and R. Yosef Rivlin (the first two houses built in the neighborhood). The ledger lists all the construction costs; several account totals are signed by R. Michel HaKohen and R. Yosef Rivlin. Most of the ledger was written by R. Yosef Rivlin, initiator of the neighborhood. The ledger reveals that R. Shmuel Salant was involved in the establishment of the neighborhood and provided money to cover some of construction expenses (he is referred to in the ledger as "רש"ס").
According to this ledger, the quarrying and foundation digging began on 15th Iyar 1869. The ledger lists the salaries of the stonemasons and the other workers, their names and professions (some of the workers are listed as residing in "Beit Jali" – presumably Beit Jala), expenses for equipment (nails, mats, etc.) and every other expense related to construction (including tobacco for the workers). The ledger also records who paid for each expense.
The Nachalat Shiv'a neighborhood was one of the first Jewish neighborhoods built outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1869. The neighborhood was named after the seven pioneers who founded it: R. Yosef Rivlin (who lived alone in the neighborhood for two years), R. Yoel Moshe Salomon, R. Chaim HaLevi Kovner, R. Yehoshua Yellin, R. Leib Horowitz of Lomza, R. Michel HaKohen and R. Binyamin Beinish Salant.
Tall, narrow notebooks, 29 cm. Approx. 27 written pages. High-quality paper. Overall good condition. Wear and stains. Minor tears and damage. New binding.
