Emotional Appeal from the Leaders of Chevron Urging their Brethren to Save them from Annihilation [1775]
Printed appeal from the leading rabbanim in Chevron addressed to the leaders of the European Jewish communities requesting emergency assistance to save their city from destruction and annihilation.
At the time, the Chida was already on a mission in Italy. However, new terrible decrees that had been issued forced the leaders of Chevron to request his assistance with this matter as well. The Chida is mentioned in bold at the center of the page.
The letter describes the tragic story that led to their dire situation. The rabbanim describe how the ruler’s son fell into the pit of the Jews’ outhouse and died, and how his death almost resulted in the complete destruction of the community there. Ten captives were taken with the intention of murdering them in the same pit, until “the ruler was appeased by an astronomical sum” for which they had no choice but to forfeit all of their possessions.
All of Chevron’s leading rabbis are signed on this letter.
This rare printed letter is not recorded in JNUL.
[1] Leaf | Folded – double-sided | 19 x 25 cm | Good condition | Rare
