HISTORIC LETTER FROM LEADERS OF THE ASHKENAZY COMMUNITY IN YERUSHALAYIM REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ...

HISTORIC LETTER FROM LEADERS OF THE ASHKENAZY COMMUNITY IN YERUSHALAYIM REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FAMOUS ‘CHURVA’ SYNAGOGUE. 1854.

Letter addressed to James Finn, British Consul in Yerushalayim, appealing for his intervention with the British and Turkish authorities to allow the completion of the Churva Synagogue. Signed by R. Eliyahu Daiches, R. Yaakov Berlin, R. Aryeh Leib Markus, R. Yochanan Hirsh Shlank and R. Yakov Mendelson, leaders of the Ashkenazi community.

THE CHURVA SYNAGOGUE IN YERUSHALAYIM.

The Churva, or Churvas Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid, was the most important and central Ashkenazi Synagogue in the Old City of Yerushalayim. It was originally purchased by Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid, who arrived together with a group of his adherents from Poland and Germany, in 1700. The site had been the residence of the Shelah Hakadosh and his talmidim 100 years earlier. Due to unpaid debts to Arab moneylenders, the ‘Churva’ was burnt down and the Ashkenazim banished from Yerushalayim in 1721. In about 1816 Ashkenazim from the Perushim Kollel again began to settle in Yerushalayim and under Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklow efforts were undertaken to pay off the old debts and obtain permits to rebuild the Churva, with an international fundraising campaign undertaken by R. Shlomo Zalman Tzoref, who was murdered in 1851 by Arabs opposed to the project.

In this letter, the Ashkenazi community leaders appeal to James Finn, British Consul in Yerushalayim, who was sympathetic to Jewish causes, asking for his intervention with the British and Turkish authorities to allow the completion of the Churva Synagogue.

R. Eliyahu Daiches (1816-1858), Rabbi of Shirvint – Neustadt, known as a great scholar and saint.

R. Yaakov Berlin (1794-1870), a learned businessman and community leader in Mir and then in Yerushalayim. Father of the ‘Netziv’ and father-in-law of the Aruch Hashulchan.

R. Aryeh Leib Markus of Keidan (1800-1877), leader of the Perushim Kollel and founder of the Churva Synagogue.

R. Yochanan Tzvi Hirsh Shlank (1815-1884), close disciple of the Chasam Sofer and son-in-law of R. David Tevele Berlin (son of Rabbi Shlomo Hirshel of London). Among the founders of the Kollel HoD (Holland ve’Deutschland) and of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva.

R. Yakov Mendelson (d. 1872), fundraiser on behalf of the Yerushalayim community in 1863. Expert in Hebrew grammar and Mesora, sent to Aleppo by R. Yaakov Berlin to examine the ancient Kesser Aram Tzova Tanach manuscript.

1 side. 29.5 x 40 cm. Good condition. Fold marks.