Extensive archive of c. 900 manuscripts, letters and documents relating to the Chassidic Community of Tzefat (Safed).

<<A Most Important Archive that portrays the overwhelming dedication the Jews of Safed had to Building and sustaining their community.>> Safed, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias, is considered one of Judaism’s Four Holy Cities. Since the 16th century, Safed was the home of extraordinary Kabbalistic mystics as well as a center for tremendous brilliance in Torah study. Such spiritual attractions is what drew the the followers of the Maggid of Mehzritch, who formed the first Chassidic settlement in Safed in the latter part of the 18th century. Despite natural disasters - famine and disease were common occurrences in this part of the Galilee - the Chassidim from Eastern Europe and Russia were not detered from ascending to Safed. Indeed by the second half of the 19th century a great many Chassidic “kloizim” (prayer houses) were present in Safed, and following Jerusalem, the Chassidic community there grew to be the second largest in Eretz Israel. The main source of income for the Jews of Safed during this period was derived through a system known as “chalukah” - the distribution of money drawn from the charitable funds that were collected overseas. The manner of collection as well as the amount allotted to each family is of great historical interest (see A. Yaari, Shluchei Eretz Yisrael). The present substantial archive includes a tremendous quantity of original source materials that provide great insight as to how these funds were collected, the methods employed by which they were distributed and the personalities who were involved. <<Contents>> (by binder): <<* 1.>> c. 65 letters and documents from Safed and Tiberias, including: A letter regarding the establishment of the settlement of Meron from the community leaders of Safed. <<*>> Letters from and to the court of the Rebbe of Kossov (includes a letter not to appoint a certain individual as president of the kollel due to his ill-temper); several business transactions; etc. <<* 2.>> c. 205 letters and documents concerning Safed sent from and to Vishnitz, Kossov, Komarna, etc. including: A fascinating survey of the manner of collection of funds and distribution during the period of R. Yisroel of Rizhin and R. Chaim of Kossov, with many historical details. <<*>> Many interesting letters from R. Moshe Charag, the esteemed head of the Kollel Vishnitz, and related communal disputes; etc. <<* 3.>> c. 120 letters and receipts including a letter from 1896 to R. Mordechai Dov of Hornesteipel (son-in-law of R. Chaim of Sanz) in which he is addressed as “Amarkel VeNasi Eretz HaKodesh” (the administrator and president of the Holy Land) - seemingly unknown from any other source. Several letters from the house of the Admorim (Chassidic leaders) of Kossov on their official stationary; etc. <<* 4.>> c. 250 letters regarding charitable distribution, several penned by R. Moshe Charag to R. Moshe Brumer, the scribe for R. Menachem Mendel of Vishnitz, many of which he requests be returned to him lest their confidential content become public. <<*>> A letter from R. Ithamar Tov, the head of the Kollel of Tiberias to R. Menachem Mendel of Vishnitz and to his son R. Baruch of Kossov, defending his position to remain as head of the Kollel. <<*>> Several resolutions concerning legal disputes among the various groups. <<*>> Complaints written to R. Baruch of Kossov concerning the Beth Midrash of Kossov in Safed; etc. <<* 5.>> c. 250 letters mostly sent from the houses of the Admorim of the Vishnitz dynasty (Kossov, Utiniya, et al) written by their secretaries over an extended period, etc. <<A FASCINATING HISTORICAL ARCHIVE RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHASSIDIC COMMUNITY OF SAFED and surrounding region.>>