Fascinating Letter about Montefiore's Windmill from Rabbi Nathan Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire

Fascinating Letter about Montefiore's Windmill from Rabbi Nathan Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire

Letter from Rabbi Nathan [Marcus] Adler, rabbi of England, to the Rishon LeTziyon, Rabbi David Chazan of Jerusalem, about running the windmill founded by Moses Montefiore in Jerusalem. In the letter, he also mentions a discussion with Moses Montefiore and sends regards from 'the respected minister.' London, 1864.

The windmill, approximately 18m high; it was built in 1858 under Moshe Montefiore's initiative. It was built to supply the neighborhood residents with a source of livelihood, and to supply Jerusalem's poor with flour at a cheap price. It was planned by the Holman Company of Canterbury, who based it on a windmill in Ramsgate, where Montefiore resided. They sent an engineer on their behalf to supervise the construction and installation of the milling equipment. The tower was made from local stone, but the equipment was imported by boat from England and transferred to Jerusalem from Jaffa on camelback.

That the one who operated the mill was R' Yitzchak P. H. Rosenthal is known. In this important letter, he writes that it was agreed with Montefiore that he would rent the mill for three years, yet it was also mentioned that his partner was Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer. Rabbi Kalischer was known to be involved in all activities involving Jews in the Land of Israel. In the Kadarta journal (38, December 1985) there is an article about the letter from Rabbi Nathan Adler and Sir Moses Montefiore to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, but the topic of renting the windmill is not mentioned. (The article is included.)

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler and Rabbi Chaim David Chazan.

[1] leaf paper. 13x21 cm. Scribal script and his signature. Fine condition.