Prayer Commemorating Coronation of Russian Czar by Harav Chaim Berlin.
Handwritten prayer composed by Hagaon Harav Chaim Berlin, celebrating the coronation of Czar Alexander III of Russia. Moscow, 1886.
Chief Rabbi of Moscow Harav Chaim Berlin composed this special prayer in honor of the coronation of Czar Alexander III of Russia. At the end of his presentation, he distributed funds to his students that were sent by Sir Moses Montefiore in honor of the celebration .
On a separate page, Harav Berlin recorded the prayer that he composed and a list of students who received stipends from the funds. In his letter, he vividly describes the prayer ceremony held in honor of the monarch and the method of distributing the funds.
These attempts, among others, were designed to appease and welcome the new monarch in hope of achieving minimum equality for Russian Jewry. Unfortunately, though, under the reign of Czar Alexander III, anti-Semitism and religious persecution became widespread in Russia. His vicious decrees against Jews spurred a mass emigration of Jews from Russia, among them the Chief Rabbi Harav Chaim Berlin.
Hagaon Harav Chaim Berlin (1832-1913) was the eldest son of the Netziv of Volozhin. In 1865, he was appointed Rav of Moscow where he founded the local Talmud Torah and benefited Russian Jewry through his close contacts with affluent Russians who frequented the Royal Court. Harav Chaim Berlin was revered both by his Jewish constituents and gentile neighbors, many of whom appealed to him to arbitrate disagreements. He was reputed as a genius in Torah, prolific author and poet, as evident from the beautiful prayer that he composed.
Moscow, 1883. 2 leaves (3 sides).
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