Autograph Letter Signed in Hebrew with few lines in Yiddish. To the poet's brother Shemariah Imber. Contains original poem by Imber

IMBER, NAPHTALI HERZ.

Haifa

between 1882-1888

Hebrew poet Naphtali Herz Imber (1856-1909) is most famous for his Zionide "HaTikvah," which was adopted by the State of Israel as its national anthem. At the time of the writing of this letter, Imber served the Englishman Laurence Oliphant as secretary and adviser on Jewish affairs in Palestine. The poem, entitled "Mi-Karnei ha-shemesh eth yinaheru," was later published with some minor variants. (See Kol Shirei Naftali Herz Imber, ed. D. Sadan [Tel-Aviv, 1950], pp. 242-243.) In this most touching rhymed poem, Imber speaks of the undying nature of true love, contrasting it to the finiteness of the sun's rays. The letter discusses relations between Imber and his patron and acknowledges receipt of his brother's picture, which he has since forwarded to Mr. Oliphant. As there is no photographer residing in Haifa, Naphtali is presently unable to return the favor. Shemaryahu Imber (b. Zlotchov, 1868) was a Hebrew and Yiddish writer in his own right. See JE, Vol. VI, pp. 561-2; EJ, Vol. VIII, cols. 1290-1; Leksikon fun der nayer yidisher literatur (1956), Vol. I, col. 82