Bidspirit auction | Call from the Sages of

Call from the Sages of Jerusalem to Restore the Ruins of the Guesthouse in Meron and Establish a Yeshivah There. Jerusalem, 1944. Rare. “During the past years we visited Meron, at the holy resting place of the Divine Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, zy”a, and we were shocked and astonished to see the extent of the destruction and ruin prevailing in the Ashkenazic settlement buildings in the village of Meron, known as Moshav Zekeinim. We well remember those buildings standing in their full glory, and the great benefit, assistance, comfort, and proper lodging they provided for visitors who came to prostrate themselves at the resting place of the Divine Tanna, zy”a... And now our hearts ache, and our eyes have grown dim seeing the place abandoned and terribly ruined...” Letter from Rabbis and communal leaders of Jerusalem to Mr. Eliyahu Klinger of Safed, urging him to work toward the establishment of a large Yeshivah and the restoration of the guesthouse building in Meron. Jerusalem, 1944. Rare; apparently unpublished. [1] leaf, original carbon copy of a typewritten letter. Signed by approximately [30] rabbis, Admorim, and prominent members of the Ashkenazic community of Jerusalem, including: the Admor Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Biderman of Lelov, Rabbi Gershon Lapidot, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charl”p, Rabbi Yosef Adler, and Rabbi Avish Tzennwirth. The Rabbis further detail the measures required and the legal, financial, and public-relations steps that should be undertaken in order to halt the destruction in Meron and restore its former stature. Mr. Eliyahu Klinger (1877–1973) — son of Rabbi Chaim Shimshon Zeide, secretary of the Vizhnitz Kollel in Safed. An “Ish Chai VeRav Pe'alim, Osek BeTzorchei Tzibbur BeEmunah, ” he managed Klinger Bank Ltd. in Safed and was among the leaders of the Jewish community and Agudas Yisrael in the city. Mr. Klinger assisted private individuals and institutions of the Old Yishuv and contributed through economic and communal initiatives to the development of Safed and its environs. His son, Yaakov Menachem, HY”D, was murdered in a shooting attack during the Arab disturbances of 1938 while traveling on a bus on the Safed–Rosh Pina road. During the riots of 1929, Mr. Klinger’s home and fuel depot were burned. Fold marks, short tears at the top of the leaf, light stains. Good to very good condition.