A letter handwritten and signed by Menachem Sheinkin, addressed to Yehuda Leib Matmon-Cohen. Jaffa, [1909?]. Hebrew.
The letter, written on the official stationery of the "Information Bureau in Palestine", documents the political tensions between two of the founders of the "Herzliya" Hebrew Gymnasium – Menachem Sheinkin and Yehuda Leib Matmon-Cohen. Sheinkin first complains about his place as principal of the institution being usurped, about a "memorial book" being hidden from him, about grades being given without his approval and about furniture being bought with the funds of the institution without consulting him.
Sheinkin goes on to threat he will prevent the construction of a new building on the sands of Jaffa: "The gymnasium is greatly dependent on me today. If I write to the Hovevei Zion committee and to the Gymnasium's committee that I am incapable of vouching for the gymnasium anymore, I doubt whether the gymnasium will have a secure budget. And if I say today that I cannot vouch for the money for the plot of land, then it will be long before there is a building for the gymnasium", yet, he immediately backs down and writes: "You know I will not let the child be cut in half, therefore you use this to abuse me".
[2] leaves (two and a half written pages), approx. 26.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Fold lines, creases and stains. Small tears along edges, some reinforced with tape.