Bidspirit auction | Fascinating Letter by the Jerusalem

Fascinating Letter by the Jerusalem Mekubal Rabbi Menachem Menchin Halperin to Rabbi Chaim Berlin about the Prohibition against Reprinting the Siddur HaRashash - Jerusalem, 19th Century - Fascinating affair! Important letter pertaining to the prohibition against reprinting the Siddur HaRashash - handwritten and signed by the Mekubal  Rabbi Menachem Menchin Halperin of Jerusalem - addressed to the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Berlin.  Backround: It is well-known that the Siddur HaRashash was printed for the first time in 1911 by Rabbi Reuven Haas, more than a hundred and thirty years after the passing of the Rashash! not without reason... However, this letter by Rabbi Menchin reveals the backround for the delay.  ”In truth, a prohibition should be placed upon the Siddur; for indeed, many Gedolim were unwilling to consent to the printing of this Siddur at all, not even using stereotype (an early method of duplication), because not everyone is worthy of it...”. Further in the letter, Rabbi Menchin reveals hiw much the Mekubalim had to pay for the handwritten version of the Siddur, before the first edition was published. ”Yet now, when there are many Ashkenazim who study Kabbalah and and they too wish to become accustomed to knowing the aforementioned Siddur but lack the means to pay one hundred rubles for a Siddur, it was permitted to print the Siddur., yet not to treat it with such disrespect as to print it using stereotypes...” .  One hundred rubles!!! for the merit to pray with Kavanot HaRashash!!! Official stationery. Double.  15X23 cm.  Fold lines. Good condition.  *** The Mekubal Rabbi Menachem Menchin Halperin of Jerusalem (1844-1924) was born in Grodno. Despite his greatness in Shas, Poskim and Kabbalah refused a rabbinic position and earned his living as a merchant of Sifrei Kodesh and Etrogim from Eretz Yisrael. In 1901, immigrated to Jerusalem and settled there. Studied at the Sha'ar Hashamayim Yeshiva. Authored many books, mainly Kabbalistic ones.