Group of [4] Religious Letters of Rare Beauty Written by Sir Moshe Montefiore's Personal Scribes

Group of [4] Religious Letters of Rare Beauty Written by Sir Moshe Montefiore's Personal Scribes

'Tzeiteleh, gib gelt' ['Your honor, give money!']

Group of [4] historic/religious letters of rare beauty about Sir Moshe Montefiore's ritual objects. The letters are written in a stunning calligraphic script combining scribal script, Rash"i script and block letters, occasionally quite tiny, written by the scribe Hirsch Volozhiner and his son, among the leading sofrim of the 19th century and Sir Moshe Montefiore's personal scribes. Vilna, 1851-1885.

One of the most prominent sofrei sta"m in 19th-century Europe was Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Bunimowitz "R' Hirsch Volozhiner" (son of Rabbi Aharon Bunimowitz, who was a primary disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and one of the leading dayanim in Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin's beit din). Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner was unique both in his unparalleled penmanship (as can be seen from these letters) as well as the level of his fear of Heaven. Therefore it is no surprise that he was specifically selected by Sir Moshe Montefiore, one of the world's wealthiest people, also renowned for his tremendous piety - to write his Torah scrolls and tefillin. After Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner's passing, Montefiore continued the tradition and appointed Rabbi Eliyahu, son of Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner, as his personal sofer. The beauty of the son's writing matched that of his father's (as can be seen in his letter).

Period history books mention Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner as Rabbi Moshe Montefiore's close associate, to whom many turned with requests to write letters for them to Sir Moshe Montefiore. Sefer Zichron Ya'akov (Frankfurt 1924, p. 188) relates:

"In Vilna, there was an excellent scribe from Volozhin, the complete sage, the late Tzvi Hirsch Bunimowitz. He was a quick and lofty sofer and his penmanship was outstanding. His diligent son, R' Eliyahu Bunimowitz, succeeded him as Montefiore's regular scribe to write his scrolls of Torah and Nevi'im. As a result, the poor and downtrodden would make their way to Rabbi Tzvi Bunimowitz's home to beg him to write letters of recommendation beautiful in form and content, to give to the minister. The supplicant would expound his pitiful situation, the extent of his sorrow and distress, etc. and the huge success he could experience should he have mercy in him and see fit to help him out. Hundreds of such people flocked to this scribe to arrange letters with their requests, until the scribe finally wisely advised those who approached him, stating - why should you tire the minister out with lengthy letters of recommendation? Write in short - "Your honor, give me money!" - hence the expression 'Tzeiteleh, gib gelt.'

This story is told in various versions from several period books, and it is likely that the line 'Tzeiteleh, gib gelt' together with its origin story, became a renowned idiomatic phrase in those days. (However, in these letters here, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Volozhiner wrote lengthy and passionate letters of supplication, not at all content with "Tzeiteleh, gib gelt" as he advised those asking for his favors ...)

Specifications of the letters:

* Letter from Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner to Sir Moshe Montefiore and his wife, Judith, in which he informs them that he has commenced writing his sixth(!) Torah scroll for them, and all that he has had the privilege of writing for them over the previous decade. Volozhin, 1851.

* Additional letter from Rabbi Hirsch Volozhiner, four years later. In this letter, he expresses his appreciation to Sir Moshe Montefiore for the privilege of writing Torah scrolls for him over the previous thirteen years. Vilna, 1855.

* Letter from Rabbi Eliyahu Bunimowitz, son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Volozhiner and his father's successor as Montefiore's personal scribe. In this letter, he informs the minister of the completion of his first Torah scroll for him, and especially fine tefillin for him. Vilna, 1881.

* The fourth letter was also written in expert scribal script, and it was sent from 'the elder maggid of Vilna' - the pious gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ze'ev Wolf, av beit din of Deretchin, author of Mussar V'Da'at. In this letter, the Vilna maggid implores Moshe Montefiore , stating that due to his childlessness, he deeply desires to ascend to the Land of Israel in his old age. Vilna, 1859.

Sir Moshe Montefiore inaugurated several Torah scrolls over the course of his lifetime, written especially for him. The (apparently) first Torah scroll prepared for Montefiore was inaugurated on Erev Yom Kippur 1812, and he wrote the final verse himself, which contained multiple personal meanings for him: "And all by the strong hand and the reverent power performed by Moshe before the eyes of the entire Jewish people."

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ze'ev Wolf, 'HaMaggid HaZaken MiVilna.'

[4] large, beautiful letters in stunning calligraphic script, various sizes. Notations in a foreign language appear on the back of the letters.

Overall fine-very fine condition. Fold marks. Filing perforations. Minimal aging stains.