Controversy. Letter from Rabbi aharon Bensimon, the Tzedakah collector of Tzfas, to Maran the Yisa Beracha. Uran (Algeria), 1899.
“If you do not uncover our righteousness swiftly before the sun then we have no hope left for the future from the cities of Africa”, a request, handwritten and signed by Rabbi aharon Bensimon, to the rishon Letzion Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar, the Yisa Beracha, requesting that he repudiate baseless claims against Tzedakah collectors. Uran, Algeria, 1899.
Rabbi Aharon found out from the great minister, Señor Shimon Alkanawi that someone had sent a letter to the minister, requesting that he demand a full accounting from the collector, and that he send the donations via other channels, claiming suspicion that the collectors are thieves and bribe the trustees, and cause the needy to hunger. Rabbi Aharon requests that the Yisa Beracha clarify that the collectors are trustworthy and stand under his supervision, and that no accounting should be demanded from them; otherwise, such baseless claims will be used as an excuse to hold back donations throughout Africa.
The Rishon LeTzion, the holy Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar, known as the ‘Yisa Bracha’ (1817-1906) – served for many years as a Dayan in Yerushalayim and was appointed Av Beis Din of Yerushalayim in 1868. In 1880 he was appointed Rishon Letzion, but abdicated in favor of his in-law, Rabbi Refael Meir Fenijik. After the passing of Rabbi Fenijil, in 1893, he was crowned Rishon LeTzion, in a ceremony that took place in the Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai Synagogue in Yerushalayim. He held this prestigious position until his passing, and influenced many generations to come. Author of many Seforim, all of which use the acronym of his name “Ish”: ‘Ish Emunim’, ‘Simcha LeIsh’, Ma’aseh Ish’, ‘Derech Ish’, ‘Divrei Ish’, ‘Olat Ish’, ‘Sha’al HaIsh’, ‘Kavod LeIsh’, ‘Pnei Ish’, and more.
Please see the Hebrew listing for biographical information on the Minister Shimon Alkanawi and Rabbi Aharon Bensimon.
[1] pg. handwritten and signed by the Tzedakah collector Rabbi Aharon Bensimon. Fold marks and short tears along them. Slight stains. Good condition.
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