Bidspirit auction | Handwritten Check from the Chida

Handwritten Check from the Chida Rare and Unique Livorno, 1787 * A rare, extraordinary, and fascinating personal item. Such an item — a personal check by one of the greatest Rabbanim of the last 250 years — is without doubt an extraordinary piece, and something almost impossible to obtain. The check is for the transfer of 3,000 pounds sterling, bearing the signature of Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as the Chida. In the check, the Chida instructs that 3,000 sterling be transferred to Shabtai Cohen of Marseilles within fifty days, according to the exchange rate on the day of payment. It was written and signed in Livorno on March 30, 1787 (11 Nissan 5547), with the signature of the recipient, Shabtai Cohen, appearing on the reverse side of the check. From the fact that part of the document is printed, it appears that this was an official and commonly used banknote. The Lettera di Cambio This type of document was known in Italy as a 'Lettera di Cambio, ' translated into Hebrew as an exchange bill (a promissory note) and in the literature of Ashkenazic poskim, it was called a 'Wechselbrief.' The usage of a cambio was common in Italy at that time for the secure transfer of funds from country to country or city to city. The Chida mentions the Lettera di Cambio in his memoir Ma'agal Tov (p. 34) and in one of his letters (Igrot DeRav Chida [Rosenberg], letter 38). From the sixteenth century onward, there were several types of cambio notes, and the poskim discussed them at length regarding the prohibition of interest. In 1740, Rabbi Malachi HaCohen of Livorno, author of Yad Malachi, wrote: ”And likewise, the Lettere di Cambio that come and go from out of town — they have long been permitted for merchants, and there is no reason to prohibit them.” (Sefer HaZichronot, Mekabtziel 34, p. 28). Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), known as the Chida , was one of the illustrious figures of the Jewish people, a great gaon and kabbalist, a student of the Rashash and the holy Ohr HaChaim, and one of the greatest authors of all time. At the end of 1778, he completed his mission on behalf of the Jewish community in Chevron and settled in Livorno, refusing to take on the mantle of rabbinic leadership. He dedicated most of his time to writing, printing, and distributing his sefarim, from which he drew his livelihood. Livorno, 1787 . Written entirely in Italian. Leaf size: 9×23 cm. Thin paper. Condition: Good.