Bidspirit auction | RABBI SHMUEL HELLER, RABBI OF

RABBI SHMUEL HELLER, RABBI OF TZFAS, LETTER ON BEHALF OF CHEVRAS HADLAKAS HANEROS IN TZEFAS, TO LADY JUDITH MONTEFIORE THANKING HER FOR HER GENEROSITY. 1856. WITH RARE STAMP. Letter to Lady Judith Montefiore dated 1856 expressing thanks for the establishment of Chevras Hadlakas Haneros providing oil and candles for the poor of Tzefas. Rabbi Shmuel Heller thanks Lady Montefiore for her first donation, which covered the distribution to the local widows, and asks her to increase her support to enable the fund to support all the local poor. Signed by Rabbi Shmuel Heller, Rabbi David Leib Horowitz, Rabbi Yisrael Avraham Zalber and Rabbi Moshe Charif. With stamp of ‘Chevras Hadlakas Haneros de’Kehilla Kedosha Ashkenazim d’Ir Hakodesh Tzefas, nisyased me’es HaSar Moshe Montefiore ve’ishto Ha’Yehudis’. Rabbi Shmuel Heller adds a few lines to Rabbi Eliezer Loewe, with his signature. Rabbi Shmuel Heller, born in Zlotchov, descendant of the Tosfos Yomtov, close adherent of the Chernobil chassidic dynasty. He arrived in Tzfas with his parents, gradually becoming close to the community leadership, particularly after the passing of his Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avrutch – the Bas Ayin, in 1840. A highly respected rabbinical leader of the chassidic community deeply involved in its contacts with Eastern Europe, with the local Sephardic community and its rabbis, with the Ottoman authorities and with the local Arab population. Sir Moses and Lady Judith Montefiore, great British philanthropists who devoted their lives to improving the conditions of Jews around the world through their generosity and political intervention. 1 side. 21.5 x 27 cm. Good condition. Slight tear on right side.