Bidspirit auction | Letter from Rabbi Chaim Meir

Letter from Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira to Rabbi Aryeh Leibish Ish Horowitz, requesting support for R. Meir Chaim Bak’s initiative to establish a financial institution for the expansion of settlement in the Land of Israel. Drohobych, 1894. ”Our distinguished friend, the illustrious and noble R. Meir Chaim Bak, son of the renowned Rabbi Nisan Bak of Jerusalem, is engaged in founding a great enterprise for the noble cause of expanding settlement in the Land of Israel, to establish a lending institution to provide financial support for those dwelling there…”. A letter from Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel of Drohobych, asking for assistance to support the economic initiative for strengthening the settlement of the Land of Israel. Drohobych, 1894. [1] leaf, in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira, son of Rabbi Aviezer Zelig Shapira. Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira (1863–1934) – founder of the Drohobych Chassidic dynasty, Av Beit Din of Tiraspol, son of Rabbi Aviezer Zelig Shapira of Staryi Sambir, and grandson of the Seraph of Mogielnica. In 1922, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he established the “Association of Builders of the Land with Their Bodies.” Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Ish Horowitz (1847–1909) – Av Beit Din of Stanislawow and author of Harei Besamim. Received rabbinic ordination from the Sho’el U’Meishiv and the Divrei Chaim. Descendant of many prominent rabbinic figures, including Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar Horowitz of Stanislawow (author of Bar Livai), Rabbi Yitzchak of Hamburg, Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam, Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa, and Rabbi Shaul Wahl. Served as rabbi of Zalozitz (1873), Stryi (1878), and from 1904 as rabbi of Stanislawow. R. Meir Chaim Bak (1850–1917) – son of Rabbi Nisan Bak of Jerusalem. In 1894, he sought to establish a central bank to assist in developing agricultural settlement in the Land of Israel, enabling Jewish refugees fleeing pogroms in Russia (who had reached Constantinople) to purchase land and establish farms. The bank was to be funded by shares purchased by Jews worldwide. R. Meir Chaim traveled through Western Europe to promote the plan, meeting with leaders of Chovevei Zion. The Rebbe of Drohobych supported his efforts, mobilizing Chassidic leaders and rabbis to endorse the project. With the rise of Herzl’s Zionist program, the initiative was discontinued to avoid conflicting agendas. Background sources on this initiative include : 'Parashat Kushta' in 'Midbarna Da’umatia', vol. II; Sefer Hanadar Bakdoshim, p. 367; the letter of the Rebbe of Ruzhin and his sons (ibid., p. 273); and a series of articles titled “A Chapter in the History of the Yishuv” in HaMelitz (1896). A related 1897 letter by the Drohobych Rebbe to R. Meir Chaim Bak is preserved in the National Library archive. The leaf is mounted on thick paper. Light stains. Good condition.