Letter Written and Signed by the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Ya'akov, Safed Emissary and Author of Tzror HaChaim and Sama ...

Letter Written and Signed by the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Ya'akov, Safed Emissary and Author of Tzror HaChaim and Sama D'Chayai. Venice, 1737
Lengthy letter, very emphatic and interesting, by Rabbi Chaim Ya'akov, emissary of Safed, to the leaders of the Modina community.

In this letter, he vigorously opposes delivery of the meager donation by members of the Modina community - only 50 piezas; they should have sent at least 300. He warns them that he will request that the Livorno clerks return their contribution, and that he will come to Modina himself and force them to donate more, as well as covering travel costs. Rabbi Chaim apologizes in the margins of the letter, due to the messenger traveling to different cities, so that he did not sign this letter as well.

The gaonֲ Rabbi Chaim Ya'akov was the author of Tzror HaChaim andֲ Sama D'Chayai. He was born in Izmir, Turkey, and was the primary disciple of Rabbi Chaim Abulafia, author of Mikra'ei Kodesh and Etz HaChaim. He went abroad twice as an emissary of Safed, first from 1718-1728 and then in 1736-1739 together with Rabbi Meir di Shigura. Rabbi Chaim returned to Safed where he lived out his long life. His books are well-known and highly regarded among Sephardic sages. (Regarding his mission, refer to Shluchei Eretz Yisrael pp. 429-433.)

[1] sheet of paper folded into two pages, 18x24 cm each (the first page contains the body of the letter and the second, details of the sender and of the addressee). Sephardic script. Quality paper.

Fine condition. Aging stains.