(born Vilna, 1759 - died Hebron, 1844).

MEISELS, MOSHE.

Safed

1823

Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew, in Ashkenazic script, on tinted paper. A letter of request, through the agent R. Shlomo Pach, seeking needed funds for the Jews in the Holy Land.

An outstanding activist, famed for his espionage against Napoleon in favor of Russia, Rabbi Moshe Meisels was originally a disciple of the Gaon of Vilna and member of the opposition to the Chassidic movement. Indeed he composed Shirath Moshe (Shklov, 1788) under the Gaon’s influence. However R. Moshe’s outlook entirely changed and he subsequently chose to become a devoted chassid of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad movement. R. Moshe served as leader of the Chassidic community in Vilna until 1816, when he made aliyah to the Holy Land. He settled in Hebron, heading Kollel Chabad there and closely associated with Sir Moses Montefiore and the latter’s philanthropic activities throughout Eretz Israel. See Fein, Kiryah Ne’emanah pp. 245-6.