Certificate of recommendation for an emissary collecting funds for the charity of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess, Rabbi Ya'akov Vaknin of Tiberias. Signed by the city's rabbis, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim, Rabbi Moshe Zrihan and Rabbi Ya'akov [---]. Marrakech (Morocco), 1924.
After words of great praise of the emissary Rabbi David Vaknin, the rabbis request "Our brethren, Bnei Yisrael, the children of Avraham Yitzchak and Ya'akov" to give him all money dedicated to hekdesh and for fulfilling vows and for the funds of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess – "all should be delivered to him when he comes and on his return".
Signed by the Mekubal Rabbi Shlomo ebn Chaim (the first – died in 1928), Ra'avad of Marrakech. Rabbi Moshe Zrihan (died in Cheshvan 1952), served for more than 40 years as a member of the Beit Din and after the death of Rabbi Shlomo ebn Chaim, succeeded him as Ra'avad of Marrakech for more than 20 years.
Rabbi Ya'akov Vaknin (1869-1946), a leading rabbi, dayan and Torah authority in the city of Tiberias, was the firstborn son of the Ra'avad of Tiberias, author of VaYevarech David and brother of Rabbi Meir Vaknin, author of VaYomer Meir (Chief Rabbi of Tiberias). He travelled several times to North African countries as emissary of the Tiberias sages. Written on his tombstone: "Here is hidden a treasure of Torah…a holy man who sanctifies Heaven's name, the renowned Torah genius, tzaddik, pious and humble, the excellent dayan, man of all good qualities, the G-dly Mekubal Rabbi Ya'akov Vaknin".
46 cm. Good-fair condition, spotting and tears (old restoration, with glued paper).