A propaganda booklet featuring dozens of letters from leading Torah scholars and Hasidic masters advocating for the support and maintenance of Yeshivat Bar Yochai, located in the newly established Jewish settlement in Meron, near the holy tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. The booklet is written in Hebrew and Yiddish.
Exceptionally Rare! Has never appeared in any auction. A complete copy was received only in recent years by the National Library of Israel from the Valmadonna Collection. It is a highly significant historical document concerning the renewal of Jewish settlement in Meron.
Jerusalem, 1903 – Printed by Shmuel Zuckerman. The title page prominently features the word "Tzfat" in large letters. Title pages printed in gold ink.
The yeshiva was founded in 1890 by Rabbi Elazar Yaakov Podhorzer (1860–1925), one of the builders of Safed and a key founder of the Jewish settlement in Meron. His vision was to establish a yeshiva where "select individuals would study the holy Zohar, the Talmud, Mishnah, and Shulchan Aruch, completing their studies within the synagogue of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and praying there on the eve of each new month, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur."
Alongside the yeshiva, Rabbi Elazar Yaakov built a guesthouse, a public kitchen, and a bathhouse for pilgrims visiting the sacred tomb. To this day, the Atara Kedisha of Meron operates in the same manner as originally established by Rabbi Elazar Yaakov.
The introduction is signed by: Rabbi Elazar Yaakov Podhorzer, Rabbi Yosef Leib Shapira, Rabbi Shlomo son of R. Naftali David, Rabbi Moshe Leib Shochet of Safed
At the beginning of the booklet, a letter of recommendation appears from the rabbis of Safed: Rabbi Raphael Zilberman, Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel Rubin, Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Yisrael
Special Sections of the Booklet: "This is the sefer of the Names of the Generous Donors" – A record of overseas supporters of Yeshivat Bar Yochai, with a dedicated title page printed in gold ink.
Four pages dedicated to the "Women’s Section" – Recording the names of women who donated for the yeshiva, with a separate title page in gold ink.
The last four pages – Titled "This is the sefer of the Generations of Man and the Eternal Memorial", listing the names of deceased individuals in whose memory donations were made, with a separate title page in black ink.
18, 11, 4, [4] Pp. 21.5 Cm.
Overall Very Good Condition, Gold fore-edged pages, few stains, New light brown elegant binding.
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Lot #70