Bidspirit auction | Original Shadar Letter of the

Original Shadar Letter of the Chida Chevron, 1752 * A remarkable historical document: the shadar (emissary) letter of appointment from the first mission of the Chida, issued by the rabbanim of Chevron, City of the Patriarchs, to the community of Modena. The letter is from Chanukah 1752. The Chida set out on his first mission in Shevat 1752, arrived in Alexandria, and from there sailed to Livorno. He traveled throughout Italy, Germany, Holland, England and France, and returned again to Italy, proceeding then to Turkey, from where he came back to Jerusalem on the fourth of Nissan 1758. He reached the city of Modena for the first time on the tenth of Teves 1753, and he recounts his experiences in the city in his journal Ma’agal Tov. In Modena the Chida saw many important manuscripts, among them Beis HaBechirah of the Meiri and Ohr Yakar of the Ramak, and he mentioned them in his sefer Shem HaGedolim. The Chida's Unique Legacy as a Shadar For many centuries, hundreds of emissaries traveled from Eretz Yisrael to the Diaspora, in order to inspire the compassionate and generous-hearted Jews there to support the Jewish settlement in Eretz Yisrael, which suffered from heavy taxes imposed upon them by cruel and oppressive rulers. Yet of all those who traveled as emissaries, the most renowned of them all who left a lasting imprint on the institution of emissary missions and carried the splendor and dignity of the residents of Eretz Yisrael throughout the Diaspora was, without doubt, the Chida. Wherever he set foot, he uplifted the honor of Eretz Yisrael. His dignified and impressive bearing, his Torah greatness, his conduct and his sterling middos had a remarkable impact on the Jews of Western Europe, inspiring them to wholeheartedly support the Jewish settlement in Chevron. The letter bears the signatures of the eminent rabbanim of Chevron in those days, most of whom appear in the approbation to the Chida’s first sefer, Sha’ar Yosef, which he printed during this mission in Livorno: 1. Rabbi Avraham Kashtil – Rav of Chevron, disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Ze’evi, author of Urim Gedolim, as mentioned in Shem HaGedolim. He is the first signatory to the approbation of Sha’ar Yosef, and appears in the introduction of the rabbanim of Chevron to Urim Gedolim (Izmir 1758) authored by his rebbi. The Chida cites Torah teachings in his name. 2. Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Gomitz Fato – One of the rabbanim of Chevron and a relative of the Chida. He signed the approbation of the Chevron rabbanim for the Chida’s sefarim Sha’ar Yosef and Birkei Yosef, and also appears in Urim Gedolim and in various emissary letters between 1750–1782. Letters to him are printed in Iggros HaChida. He was the rebbi of Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’evi mentioned below (no. 6). 3. Rabbi Pinchas Mordechai Bajayo – One of the rabbanim of Chevron; signed the introduction to Urim Gedolim, the approbation to Birkei Yosef, and various emissary letters. 4. Rabbi Chiya Ze’evi – Rav of Chevron after the passing of Rabbi Aharon Alfandari, author of Yad Aharon. Previously he too served as an emissary of Chevron. He signed the approbations to the Chida’s sefarim Sha’ar Yosef and Birkei Yosef, and appears also in Urim Gedolim. 5. Rabbi Shmuel HaKohen – One of the scholars of Chevron, likely the grandson of Rabbi Shmuel HaKohen, emissary of Chevron (see Shluchei Eretz Yisrael, p. 592 note 79). 6. Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’evi – One of the rabbanim of Chevron. Son of Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Ze’evi, author of Urim Gedolim and a relative of the Chida. He grew up in the home of his step-brother Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Gomitz Fato (see his introduction to Urim Gedolim). He served twice as emissary of Chevron (Yaari, ibid., pp. 584, 586). 7. Rabbi Avraham Gedilya – One of the great sages of Chevron, who served several times as emissary of Chevron. During the Chida’s mission, the Chida made use of the emissary register of Rabbi Avraham Gedilya (see Ma’agal Tov, p. 13). He passed away in Chevron before 1777. (According to the custom that the second-most distinguished rav signs on the left, he was second in importance at that time, after Rabbi Avraham Kashtil.) Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), known as the ”Chida, ” was one of the illustrious figures of the Jewish people, a great gaon and kabbalist, a student of the Rashash and the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, and one of the most prolific authors of all time. His many sefarim in all areas of Torah — halacha, commentary and Kabbalah — were accepted in all Jewish communities and all the Sephardic sages followed his rulings and teachings. It was said about him: ”From Yosef [the author of the Shulchan Aruch] until Yosef, none arose like Yosef.” Chevron, Kislev 1752. A large double leaf, 21×33 cm. Condition: Good; in some of the large letters written in bold, there are holes due to ink acidity. Published from this manuscript in HaDarom, vols. 8–9 (Nissan 1959), pp. 15–22. --------------------------------- Any inquiries about this lot?