Historic document, arbitration agreement signed by R. "Shaul Binyamin HaKohen", R. "Yehuda Leib Yaavetz", R. "Yitzchak Yaakov Sofer Chaslovitzer" and R. "Aryeh Leib HaKohen". Jerusalem, Tamuz 1865.
Arbitration agreement regarding the famous courtyard-neighborhood dispute, which erupted in Jerusalem against the rabbi from Radashkovichy, R. Shaul Binyamin HaKohen, in the 1860s. The signees undertake therein to bring the dispute before R. Meir Auerbach Rabbi of Kalish (Kalush) - the Imrei Bina, R. Shmuel Salant and R. Moshe Nechemia Kahanov, and to bow to their ruling, adhering to whatever they are instructed to do. At the foot of the letter, the witnesses: R. "Yosef son of Yaakov Segal" and R. "Chanoch son of Zev" are signed on the litigants' signatures.
R. Shaul Binyamin HaKohen Karelitz of Radashkovichy, founder of the "Etz Chaim Talmud Torah and Yeshiva" in Jerusalem was a disciple of R. Yitzchak of Volozhin. He served as a young posek in Radashkovichy, and immigrated to Jerusalem ca. 1857, where he established a central Talmud Torah (boys' school) in the city. This was a consequential innovation, since until then, melamdim would teach children in a room of their house, without centralized supervision. R. Shimon Zarchi Rabbi of Tavrig (Tauragė) (1788-1860) was a co-founder of the Etz Chaim yeshiva. R. Shmuel Binyamin greatly endeavored to the financially establish the Etz Chaim yeshiva, and even acquired a courtyard as an asset to benefit the Talmud Torah. In 1863, a fierce dispute arose against him, when he registered the courtyard under his own name (as was customary in those days, due to the Ottoman law which did not allow land to be registered under the ownership of new public institutions), yet refused to give the rabbis of the city an offset document, confirming that the courtyard was not his private property. The press in those days (HaMaggid and others) published many articles for and against R. Shaul Binyamin. Some even slandered him for scheming to introduce foreign studies in the Talmud Torah curriculum. The rabbis of Jerusalem publicized their views in the booklet Emet U'Mishpat (Jerusalem, 1863) and the rival party published a booklet surrounding the same affair named Dimat HaAshukim (Jerusalem, 1864), "regarding the booklet printed without Emet U'Mishpat (truth and justice)…". This dispute evolved to a demand for rabbinic supervision of the money raised for the Etz Chaim yeshiva and of the debts from the purchase of this courtyard. Essential details pertaining to these negotiations are exposed in this important document. R. Shaul Binyamin later travelled to the United States in 1871 as emissary of the Etz Chaim yeshiva together with R. Aryeh Leib HaKohen, at the behest of the Imrei Bina and R. Shmuel Salant, and with time, he succeeded in repaying all the debts mentioned in this document, which he undertook for the purchase of this courtyard.
Regarding this dispute see: R. Refael Katzenellenbogen, Be'er Ro'I – Toldot HaChinuch HaMekori B'Meshech HaDorot (Jerusalem, 1997, chapter 38, pp. 235-242); Yaari, Shluchei Eretz Israel, pp. 828-829; P. Grayevsky, Zichron L'Chovevim HaRishonim, 13, "HaChatzer M'Radishkovitz", pp. 115-116.
[1] leaf, 29 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light wear.

Leaf with several letters of recommendation by Jerusalemite rabbis including R. Chaim Berlin Rabbi of Moscow and members of the Perushim and Chassidim Batei Din. Jerusalem, Av 1911.
Call to assist R. Zvi Hirsh Salant (grandson of R. Shmuel Salant), whose financial situation deteriorated compelling him to collect money abroad. R. Zvi Hirsh was widowed from his first wife (granddaughter of R. Yeshaya Bardaki), left alone to support his orphaned children and marry off his daughters.
Two letters by rabbis of the Beit Din appear at the top of the page, signed by six dayanim: Badatz Perushim, signed by R. Moshe Nachum Wallenstein, R. Aryeh Leib Hershler and R. Zvi Pesach Frank. Badatz Chassidim, signed by R. Lipman David Shovaks, R. Avraham son or R. David HaCohen and R. Yerucham Fischel Bernstein.
The other half of the leaf contains a letter handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Berlin, Rabbi of Moscow and leading Jerusalem rabbi at the time this letter was written. He writes: "…This man of noble descent reached the state that he is compelled to wander in the streets to improve his dire situation. Even a heart of stone would rush to assist and revive him…". At the bottom of the leaf is another recommendation, handwritten and signed in Russian, mentioning the names of R. Chaim Berlin Rabbi of Moscow and of R. Shmuel Salant Rabbi of Jerusalem.
The verso contains a long letter of recommendation from the "Elected city committee of the Ashkenazi communities", signed by R. Zalman HaCohen Rubin, R. Eliy[ahu] Meir Leventhal and R. Zerach Efraim Epstein.
[1] leaf, 28.5 cm. Written on both sides. Good-fair condition. Dampstains and wear.

"May you be signed and sealed for a good year" – colorful lithograph (Monsohn press), with a letter handwritten, signed and stamped by R. Yosef Arvatz, the Sepahrdic rabbi of Jaffa. Jaffa, Elul [1911]. Illustration of the Temple Mount with the Mosque of Omar, Me'arat Hamachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs) and the Western Wall.
Written in handsome Oriental Rashi script to his colleague R. David Matitya: "…I have never and will never forget your love, which is more valuable to me than all the world's wealth, and I always desire to hear good tidings from you…I hereby bless you with a good sweet year, and may you be worthy of many good and pleasant years to come, Amen…Yosef Arvatz Se"t, rabbi of Jaffa."
R. Yosef Arvatz (1847-1925) was born in Rabat, Morocco, and immigrated to Jerusalem, where he studied in the local yeshivot. He served as dayan (religious judge) on the Jerusalem Beit Din, and was considered among the leading Sephardic rabbis of the city. He lived in Jaffa from 1903-1925, and served as unsalaried rabbi of the Sephardic community of the city. He authored Hod Yosef, three sections (Jerusalem, 1910).
[1] leaf. 30 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and light wear.