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Bidding Information
Lot #    20139
Auction End Date    4/1/2008 10:03:00 AM (mm/dd/yyyy)
          
Title Information
Title (English)    Letter to R. Hezekiah Medina in Hebron
Title (Hebrew)    כתב מה'ר אהרן אלחדיף, חכם-באשי
Author    [Ms.] R. Aaron 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 4 rabbis, three seals, two stamps, and dated.
          
Detailed
Description		    Letter to R. Hezekiah Medina (author of Sedei Hemed) in Hebron seeking his support in condemning 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. R. Medina's positive response is printed in Mishpat veZedek (Tiberius 1904).

The letter is signed by: R. Aaron Elhadef, Haham Bashi of Tiberius (1835-1909) erudite scholar and prolific author; R. Makhlouf haKohen, member of the Tiberius Bet Din; R. Solomon ibn Samun, member of the Tiberius Bet Din; R. Baruch Toledano (1842-1911), born in Meknes, arrived in Tiberius 1858, member of Bet Din, author of several scholarly works. The battle was conducted over several years and several books were published by the competing Kollel either justifying or attacking one another.

          
Associated Images
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Listing Classification
Period
20th Century:    Checked
  
Location
Israel:    Checked
  
Subject
History:    Checked
Polemics:    Checked
  
Characteristic
Language:    Hebrew
  
Manuscript Type
Letters:    Checked
  
Kind of Judaica