(LAND OF ISRAEL)

HEBRON

CA 1630

Letter from the community leaders of Hebron to the “Renowned Haham “ R. Judah Mireli in Egypt concerning funds collected by the emissary R. David Cohen which did not reach their proper destination because the emissary had no place to keep them(!) They request that the money be sent to R. Yaakov Najara to alleviate the plight of the widows , orphans and other unfotunate members of the community.

THE EARLIEST KNOWN MENTION OF OF AN OFFICIAL”SHALIACH” (EMISSARY) TO GATHER FUNDS FOR THE HEBRON COMMUNITY An important historical letter containing interesting information concerning the beginning of the Jewish community in Hebron in the latter half of the 17th century.The earliest known emissary cited by Yaari (Shluchei Eretz Yisrael p. 464) was R. Moshe Peretz who left Hebron in 1650. R. Yehudah Mireli was a well known scholar and leader of the Jerusalem community during the 17th century. See M. Benayahu, “Ha-Mekoroth Ha-Chashuvim Le-Toldoteha Shel Yerushalayim”, Asufot. 7, 1993, pp. 305-379. He probably resided in Egypt during this period. R. Yaakov Najara Is probably the well known grandson of the poet R. Yisrael Najara, who served as Rabbi of Gaza in 1660. He was associated with Nathan of Gaza and Shabbetai Tzvi (see G. Scholem, Sabbatai Sevi, Princeton, 1973 pp. 846-847).