20:08:13


[Login]   
[Book List]  
 
Bidding Information
Lot #    15804
Auction End Date    10/24/2006 10:01:30 AM (mm/dd/yyyy)
          
Title Information
Title (English)    Polemic letter to Musuel (Baghdad)
Title (Hebrew)    כתב לה'ר אהרן ברזאני אב'ד מוציל
Author    [Polemic - Ms.] R. Aron Elhadef, Haham Bashi
City    Tiberius
Publication Date    1903
          
Collection Information
Independent Item    This listing is an independent item not part of any collection
          
Description Information
Physical
Description		    [2] pp., 288:210 mm., light age staining, creased on folds, ink on stationary, neat Rashi script, signed by 5 or 6 rabbis, three seals, one or two stamps, and dated.
          
Detailed
Description		    Polemic letter to R. Aaron Barzani, rabbi of Musuel (Baghdad), calling him to task for having supported a breakaway Kollel collecting funds under the Rebbe Meir Ba'al ha-Nes flag. Beginning with the 18th century a Rebbe Meir Ba'al ha-Nes box was found in almost every Jewish home, and housewives dropped small change into it just before kindling the Sabbath lights. Due to the miraculous deeds connected with the tomb of Rebbe Meir, it was customary to contribute money, candles, or oil for lighting as a specific protection against all kinds of ailments and dangers; it was also done in the hope of finding something lost, of having children, or of driving away evil thoughts. It is clear, however, that the box also symbolized the longing for Erez Israel where the money was distributed through several competitive Kollels.

In very harsh language, the Haham Bashi curses whoever supports the breakaway Kollel, presumeably including R. Barzani. The battle was conducted over several years and several books were published by the competing Kollel either justifying or attacking one another.
          
Associated Images
2 Images (Click thumbnail to view full size image):
  Order   Image   Caption
  1   Click to view full size  
  
  2   Click to view full size  
  
  
Listing Classification
Period
20th Century:    Checked
  
Location
Israel:    Checked
Other:    Iraq
  
Subject
Polemics:    Checked
  
Characteristic
Language:    Hebrew
  
Manuscript Type
Letters:    Checked
  
Kind of Judaica