Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
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Displaying 337 - 348 of 353
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $1,500
Sold for: $5,500
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur following the French rite of Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo. [Italy, 18th/19th century].
Large format machzor, presumably for use by a chazan.
Vocalized, square script. Instructions in non-vocalized, square and semi-cursive script. Commentaries and additions in semi-cursive Italian script. Fine, decorated initial words and ornaments. Handwritten emendations and glosses throughout the machzor. Text corrected in several places with strips of paper containing amended text.
Comprises the prayers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with the text and piyyutim unique to the Apam rite – the rite of the three communities Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo, founded by French exiles who settled in the Piedmont region of Italy, following the French expulsion in the 14th century. While most exiles undertook the rite of the place they settled in, the members of these three communities maintained their original rite, thus preserving the early French prayer rite. This rite was never printed, and is extant only in early manuscripts.
[116] leaves. Approx. 38 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Original leather binding, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Large format machzor, presumably for use by a chazan.
Vocalized, square script. Instructions in non-vocalized, square and semi-cursive script. Commentaries and additions in semi-cursive Italian script. Fine, decorated initial words and ornaments. Handwritten emendations and glosses throughout the machzor. Text corrected in several places with strips of paper containing amended text.
Comprises the prayers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with the text and piyyutim unique to the Apam rite – the rite of the three communities Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo, founded by French exiles who settled in the Piedmont region of Italy, following the French expulsion in the 14th century. While most exiles undertook the rite of the place they settled in, the members of these three communities maintained their original rite, thus preserving the early French prayer rite. This rite was never printed, and is extant only in early manuscripts.
[116] leaves. Approx. 38 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Original leather binding, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Italian Jewry – Manuscripts and Printed Matter
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $500
Unsold
Manuscript, prayers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with prayers for livelihood. Asti, 17th Elul 1791.
Neat Italian script, partially vocalized (semi-cursive and square script).
The manuscript opens with a title page stating: "Avraham Shimshon Artom son of the late R. Yonah Menachem. Here in Asti, 17th Elul 1791".
The manuscript opens with a prayer for livelihood, to be recited on the nights of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is followed by other prayers. Additional prayer for livelihood on the final leaf.
The writer was presumably an ancestor of the Italian Artom family, renowned for preserving the Apam rite (rite of Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo), which originates from the French rite, mostly lost after the French expulsion, yet preserved for several hundred years in the communities of Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo. The present manuscript does not however contain any of the unique Apam rite.
[26] leaves. Approx. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears, including open tears, not affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Card cover.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Neat Italian script, partially vocalized (semi-cursive and square script).
The manuscript opens with a title page stating: "Avraham Shimshon Artom son of the late R. Yonah Menachem. Here in Asti, 17th Elul 1791".
The manuscript opens with a prayer for livelihood, to be recited on the nights of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is followed by other prayers. Additional prayer for livelihood on the final leaf.
The writer was presumably an ancestor of the Italian Artom family, renowned for preserving the Apam rite (rite of Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo), which originates from the French rite, mostly lost after the French expulsion, yet preserved for several hundred years in the communities of Asti, Fossano and Moncalvo. The present manuscript does not however contain any of the unique Apam rite.
[26] leaves. Approx. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears, including open tears, not affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Card cover.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Italian Jewry – Manuscripts and Printed Matter
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $300
Sold for: $375
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, prayer for livelihood and other prayers. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Neat, vocalized square script, on thick, high-quality paper.
The manuscript opens with a prayer for livelihood recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur nights, including Psalm 24, followed by two kabbalistic prayer to be recited after the Psalm. Most printed books only include one of the two prayers.
The manuscript also includes a lengthy prayer to be saved from Satan's attempts to cause a person to deny his faith at his death; Hatarat Klalot and Hatarat Nedarim.
Colophon on final leaf.
[16] leaves. 22 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Worming, wear and tears. Final leaf detached. Paper wrappers, worn and damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Neat, vocalized square script, on thick, high-quality paper.
The manuscript opens with a prayer for livelihood recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur nights, including Psalm 24, followed by two kabbalistic prayer to be recited after the Psalm. Most printed books only include one of the two prayers.
The manuscript also includes a lengthy prayer to be saved from Satan's attempts to cause a person to deny his faith at his death; Hatarat Klalot and Hatarat Nedarim.
Colophon on final leaf.
[16] leaves. 22 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Worming, wear and tears. Final leaf detached. Paper wrappers, worn and damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Italian Jewry – Manuscripts and Printed Matter
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, kabbalistic homiletics on various topics, on the Torah portions and the Megillot, ethics, Shabbat and festivals, the Shovavim period, and more, by an unidentified author. [Italy, 19th century]. Unpublished work.
Manuscript handwritten by the author, in cursive Italian script. Each page is divided into two columns. The inner columns comprise the body of the work, while the outer columns contain additions, comments or corrected passages.
The author quotes extensively from works on kabbalah and ethics such as the Zohar, Reshit Chochmah, the Arizal, the Remez, and others, with the addition of many of his own novellae, as well as kavanot, numerical values, acronyms and kabbalistic allusions which he innovated.
The work opens with a brief rhyming preface, containing no biographic information on the author.
The work ends in the middle of a section, and was never completed.
54 written pages (and many blank pages; pages numbered 1-154). 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Closed and open tears, not affecting text. Original card cover, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Manuscript handwritten by the author, in cursive Italian script. Each page is divided into two columns. The inner columns comprise the body of the work, while the outer columns contain additions, comments or corrected passages.
The author quotes extensively from works on kabbalah and ethics such as the Zohar, Reshit Chochmah, the Arizal, the Remez, and others, with the addition of many of his own novellae, as well as kavanot, numerical values, acronyms and kabbalistic allusions which he innovated.
The work opens with a brief rhyming preface, containing no biographic information on the author.
The work ends in the middle of a section, and was never completed.
54 written pages (and many blank pages; pages numbered 1-154). 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Closed and open tears, not affecting text. Original card cover, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Italian Jewry – Manuscripts and Printed Matter
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $300
Sold for: $813
Including buyer's premium
The Present State of the Jews (more particularly relating to those in Barbary), wherein is contained an exact account of their customs, secular and religious, to which is annexed a summary discourse of the Misna, Talmud, and Gemara, by Lancelot Addison. London: J. C. for William Crooke, 1675. First edition. English.
Comprehensive study of the Berber (North-African) Jewish population in the 17th century, by the Anglican minister Lancelot Addison.
Fine engraved frontispiece, depicting a "native" holding a spear, to which a banner is attached, reading "The Present State of the Jews in Barbary".
[8], 249, [6] pages. Approx. 18 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Minor tear to one leaf, slightly affecting text, without loss. Engraving attached to binding and detached from other leaves. Handwritten inscription on title page. Early leather binding, partially detached, with defects and tears.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Comprehensive study of the Berber (North-African) Jewish population in the 17th century, by the Anglican minister Lancelot Addison.
Fine engraved frontispiece, depicting a "native" holding a spear, to which a banner is attached, reading "The Present State of the Jews in Barbary".
[8], 249, [6] pages. Approx. 18 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Minor tear to one leaf, slightly affecting text, without loss. Engraving attached to binding and detached from other leaves. Handwritten inscription on title page. Early leather binding, partially detached, with defects and tears.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $500
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Orden de Roshasanah y Kipur, machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with selichot, translated into Spanish. [Dordrecht (the Netherlands)]: [P. Verhagen] for Yahacob Israel, [1584].
This machzor edition is considered the first prayer book printed in the Netherlands for the Sephardic Jews who settled there (the first part of this machzor, for the three festivals, was printed two months prior). At that time, Jewish settlement in the Netherlands was still in its infancy, and the Amsterdam Jewish community had not yet been founded.
The colophon on the final page, lacking in the present copy, states Mainz (Maguntia) as place of printing (based on this colophon, this machzor is known as "Machzor Maguntia"). The place of printing was presumably forged to mislead the Christian censorship, and the machzor was actually printed in Dordrecht in the P. Verhagen press.
Censorship deletions in several places. Inscriptions on title page and endpapers.
24, 33-326 leaves. Lacking leaves 25-32, and final leaf (altogether 9 leaves, replaced with blank leaves). 14 cm. Colored edges. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Open tear to title page, affecting border, repaired with paper. Minor open tears to several other leaves. Early leather binding, with gilt decorations on spine.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
This machzor edition is considered the first prayer book printed in the Netherlands for the Sephardic Jews who settled there (the first part of this machzor, for the three festivals, was printed two months prior). At that time, Jewish settlement in the Netherlands was still in its infancy, and the Amsterdam Jewish community had not yet been founded.
The colophon on the final page, lacking in the present copy, states Mainz (Maguntia) as place of printing (based on this colophon, this machzor is known as "Machzor Maguntia"). The place of printing was presumably forged to mislead the Christian censorship, and the machzor was actually printed in Dordrecht in the P. Verhagen press.
Censorship deletions in several places. Inscriptions on title page and endpapers.
24, 33-326 leaves. Lacking leaves 25-32, and final leaf (altogether 9 leaves, replaced with blank leaves). 14 cm. Colored edges. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Open tear to title page, affecting border, repaired with paper. Minor open tears to several other leaves. Early leather binding, with gilt decorations on spine.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $500
Sold for: $688
Including buyer's premium
Orden de las oraciones de Ros-Ashanah y Kipur [Order of prayers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur], translated into Spanish by R. Yitzchak Nieto. London: Ricardo Reily, 1740. Spanish.
The translator, R. Yitzchak Nieto, son and successor of R. David Nieto author of Kuzari Sheni, prominent rabbi of the Sephardic community in London.
This edition served as basis for future translations of the machzor to English.
XVI, [24], XXVII, 578 pages. Approx. 18 cm. Gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Minor worming. New binding.
[24] pages – Spanish calendar for 1740-1762, including a list of important historic events from the Creation of the World until 1740 – presumably not included in all copies.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
The translator, R. Yitzchak Nieto, son and successor of R. David Nieto author of Kuzari Sheni, prominent rabbi of the Sephardic community in London.
This edition served as basis for future translations of the machzor to English.
XVI, [24], XXVII, 578 pages. Approx. 18 cm. Gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Minor worming. New binding.
[24] pages – Spanish calendar for 1740-1762, including a list of important historic events from the Creation of the World until 1740 – presumably not included in all copies.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $400
Unsold
Volume from the Neviim and Ketuvim edition printed in Amsterdam in 1777-1778 – Yechezkel and Trei Asar. Amsterdam: Joseph son of Solomon Proops, [1777-1778]. Separate title page for each book.
Inscription (trimmed and partially lacking) on the front endpaper, attesting that this copy belonged to R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner (1762-1842) Rabbi of London and first chief rabbi of Great Britain.
Stamp on the title page of "Jews College London" (which acquired R. Shlomo Hirschell's extensive library from his heirs).
[1], 118; 125 leaves. Approx. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Endpaper with inscription dry and brittle, with open tears and damage to inscription. Stains and wear. Partially detached gatherings. Several detached leaves (including front endpaper and title page with inscription and stamp). Lacking front board and spine. Damage and wear to back board.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Inscription (trimmed and partially lacking) on the front endpaper, attesting that this copy belonged to R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner (1762-1842) Rabbi of London and first chief rabbi of Great Britain.
Stamp on the title page of "Jews College London" (which acquired R. Shlomo Hirschell's extensive library from his heirs).
[1], 118; 125 leaves. Approx. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Endpaper with inscription dry and brittle, with open tears and damage to inscription. Stains and wear. Partially detached gatherings. Several detached leaves (including front endpaper and title page with inscription and stamp). Lacking front board and spine. Damage and wear to back board.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $300
Unsold
Machzor for Yom Kippur according to Polish rite; Part I with Arvit, Kol Nidrei and Shacharit; and Part II with Musaf, Minchah and Ne'ilah, with English translation. London: E Justins, [1807]. Two parts in two volumes.
In the first volume, engraved frontispiece portrait of R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner Rabbi of London, captioned in Hebrew and in English.
Engraved title page at beginning of vol. II.
Two volumes. Vol. I: [1], 250 leaves. Vol. II: [1], 212 leaves. 22.5-23 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Tears to several leaves of vol. II, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. Open tear to one leaf of vol. II, affecting text. Vol. I with early leather binding; back board detached. Vol. II with early leather binding, worn; front board detached. Defects to bindings (non-uniform bindings). Tears to spine of vol. II.
Vol. I of Yom Kippur is not recorded in The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Vol. II of Yom Kippur is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book with only [1], 199 leaves (as one of the copies in the NLI), while the present copy comprises [1], 212 leaves.
Machzorim for Rosh Hashanah and the Three Festivals were also printed that year.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
In the first volume, engraved frontispiece portrait of R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner Rabbi of London, captioned in Hebrew and in English.
Engraved title page at beginning of vol. II.
Two volumes. Vol. I: [1], 250 leaves. Vol. II: [1], 212 leaves. 22.5-23 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Tears to several leaves of vol. II, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. Open tear to one leaf of vol. II, affecting text. Vol. I with early leather binding; back board detached. Vol. II with early leather binding, worn; front board detached. Defects to bindings (non-uniform bindings). Tears to spine of vol. II.
Vol. I of Yom Kippur is not recorded in The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Vol. II of Yom Kippur is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book with only [1], 199 leaves (as one of the copies in the NLI), while the present copy comprises [1], 212 leaves.
Machzorim for Rosh Hashanah and the Three Festivals were also printed that year.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $500
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Service for the Two First Nights of Passover, in Hebrew and English, carefully revised and corrected by Isaac Levi. London: E. Justins, 1808. Yiddish translation of the songs Adir Hu and Chad Gadya at the end of the Haggadah.
Engraved frontispiece portrait of R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner Rabbi of London.
[1], 26 leaves. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains (several leaves with many significant stains). Minor marginal tears to several leaves. Marginal tears to engraved frontispiece, repaired with paper. New leather binding.
Engraved frontispiece rare (recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on the Florsheim copy).
Yaari 360; Otzar HaHaggadot 516.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Engraved frontispiece portrait of R. Shlomo Hirschell Berliner Rabbi of London.
[1], 26 leaves. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains (several leaves with many significant stains). Minor marginal tears to several leaves. Marginal tears to engraved frontispiece, repaired with paper. New leather binding.
Engraved frontispiece rare (recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on the Florsheim copy).
Yaari 360; Otzar HaHaggadot 516.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $800
Sold for: $2,125
Including buyer's premium
Letter from Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), to R. Nathan Markus Adler – chief rabbi of the British Empire. Ramsgate (England), December 18, 1882. English.
Written by a scribe on official stationery, with Montefiore's signature.
In his letter, Sir Moses Montefiore writes to R. Adler: " I thank you very much for the trouble you take about the Jaffa Biara [orchard]; it is a beautiful piece of ground, and I have no doubt, one of these days, as soon as a railway will be made in that neighborhood, it will become very valuable".
The letter relates to the orchard purchased by Montefiore in Jaffa in 1855. The orchard, known as Montefiore Orchard (or Montefiore Garden), referred to in this letter as "Jaffa Garden" and "Jaffa Biara" (Arabic) – is considered to be the first Jewish orchard in Eretz Israel. Over the years, the orchard knew better and worse times, encountered various difficulties and changes in the management. Many of Montefiore's colleagues, including R. Nathan Marcus Adler, attempted to arrange the sale or lease of the orchard, claiming it was unprofitable. Nevertheless, Montefiore refused to give up ownership of the orchard, which was important to him for reasons beyond profit. A railway line was indeed laid in the area several years after this letter was written (the Jaffa-Jerusalem line was officially inaugurated in 1892), and the value of the ground increased, though the orchard itself did not survive.
Montefiore, who headed the Sephardic community of London, had a long-standing friendship with R. Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-1890), the chief rabbi of the British Empire. The cordial relationship between them, which was accompanied by extensive correspondence, led to cooperation in a variety of community projects, including raising funds for the Jewish Yishuv in Eretz Israel. R. Adler, who by the power of his position as chief rabbi headed the United Synagogue, an organization that united all the orthodox communities of Britain, gathered the funds raised by the synagogues and sent them to Eretz Israel through Montefiore's representatives.
[1] folded leaf (4 written pages). Approx. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Large open tear to bottom, not affecting text; tiny marginal tears.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Written by a scribe on official stationery, with Montefiore's signature.
In his letter, Sir Moses Montefiore writes to R. Adler: " I thank you very much for the trouble you take about the Jaffa Biara [orchard]; it is a beautiful piece of ground, and I have no doubt, one of these days, as soon as a railway will be made in that neighborhood, it will become very valuable".
The letter relates to the orchard purchased by Montefiore in Jaffa in 1855. The orchard, known as Montefiore Orchard (or Montefiore Garden), referred to in this letter as "Jaffa Garden" and "Jaffa Biara" (Arabic) – is considered to be the first Jewish orchard in Eretz Israel. Over the years, the orchard knew better and worse times, encountered various difficulties and changes in the management. Many of Montefiore's colleagues, including R. Nathan Marcus Adler, attempted to arrange the sale or lease of the orchard, claiming it was unprofitable. Nevertheless, Montefiore refused to give up ownership of the orchard, which was important to him for reasons beyond profit. A railway line was indeed laid in the area several years after this letter was written (the Jaffa-Jerusalem line was officially inaugurated in 1892), and the value of the ground increased, though the orchard itself did not survive.
Montefiore, who headed the Sephardic community of London, had a long-standing friendship with R. Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-1890), the chief rabbi of the British Empire. The cordial relationship between them, which was accompanied by extensive correspondence, led to cooperation in a variety of community projects, including raising funds for the Jewish Yishuv in Eretz Israel. R. Adler, who by the power of his position as chief rabbi headed the United Synagogue, an organization that united all the orthodox communities of Britain, gathered the funds raised by the synagogues and sent them to Eretz Israel through Montefiore's representatives.
[1] folded leaf (4 written pages). Approx. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Large open tear to bottom, not affecting text; tiny marginal tears.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Category
Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
Catalogue
Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Feb 14, 2023
Opening: $1,000
Unsold
Two letters sent to Sir Moses Montefiore following his efforts on behalf of Moroccan Jewry, during the Safi blood libel:
• Letter from the rabbis of Safi, Morocco, to Moses Montefiore, regarding his involvement in the blood libel. Safi, Kislev [1863].
The letter is signed by two rabbis of Safi: R. Saadiah Benrebbouh and R. Yehuda Benmoyal.
The rabbis write to Montefiore that two Jews had already been executed before he intervened, and thank him for saving two additional Jews from a similar fate. They describe the persecution of Moroccan Jewry by the local population, and entreat him to continue lobbying on their behalf.
• Letter from the heads of the Cochin community, to Montefiore. Cochin (India), 1864.
Handwritten and signed by R. David Shem Tov Halegua, one of the leaders of Cochin Jewry, with the signatures of three other community leaders.
The leaders of the Cochin community praise Montefiore for his work on behalf the Jewish people, in particular his efforts that year for Moroccan Jewry.
In 1863-1864, two years after Morocco was conquered by Spain, the Moroccan Jewish community suffered terrible persecution and degradation. At the center of the events was the blood libel in Safi. A Spanish official fell ill and died within a few days. His Jewish servant, who was accused of poisoning him, was arrested together with his supposed accomplices. The servant was tortured until he confessed, and was brutally executed. Later, another prisoner was executed. Montefiore, who was 79 years old at the time, began working vigorously to rescue the other Jews from a similar fate. Apart from his intense activity through diplomatic channels, Montefiore travelled to Spain, where he met with the Queen of Spain and her husband, and secured their commitment to protect the Jews. As a result, all the Jewish prisoners were released, and the Jews were eventually granted equal rights.
Two letters. Approx. 23-26 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains. Folding marks and wear.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
• Letter from the rabbis of Safi, Morocco, to Moses Montefiore, regarding his involvement in the blood libel. Safi, Kislev [1863].
The letter is signed by two rabbis of Safi: R. Saadiah Benrebbouh and R. Yehuda Benmoyal.
The rabbis write to Montefiore that two Jews had already been executed before he intervened, and thank him for saving two additional Jews from a similar fate. They describe the persecution of Moroccan Jewry by the local population, and entreat him to continue lobbying on their behalf.
• Letter from the heads of the Cochin community, to Montefiore. Cochin (India), 1864.
Handwritten and signed by R. David Shem Tov Halegua, one of the leaders of Cochin Jewry, with the signatures of three other community leaders.
The leaders of the Cochin community praise Montefiore for his work on behalf the Jewish people, in particular his efforts that year for Moroccan Jewry.
In 1863-1864, two years after Morocco was conquered by Spain, the Moroccan Jewish community suffered terrible persecution and degradation. At the center of the events was the blood libel in Safi. A Spanish official fell ill and died within a few days. His Jewish servant, who was accused of poisoning him, was arrested together with his supposed accomplices. The servant was tortured until he confessed, and was brutally executed. Later, another prisoner was executed. Montefiore, who was 79 years old at the time, began working vigorously to rescue the other Jews from a similar fate. Apart from his intense activity through diplomatic channels, Montefiore travelled to Spain, where he met with the Queen of Spain and her husband, and secured their commitment to protect the Jews. As a result, all the Jewish prisoners were released, and the Jews were eventually granted equal rights.
Two letters. Approx. 23-26 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains. Folding marks and wear.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
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Jewish Communities – Books and Letters
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