Obj. ID: 49009
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts  Ktav Shadar, Safed, 1908

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, religious establishments in Eretz Israel were dependent on contributions from abroad for their survival. Such institutions included Yeshivas, Orphanages, Soup Kitchens, Traveler Hostels, Hospitals and a variety of other organizations, both large and small. To raise money emissaries were sent from Eretz Israel to visit Jewish communities abroad, to solicit contributions, and to bring the money back. In order to assure the donors that the requests were legitimate, emissary letters – Ktavei Shadar in Hebrew – were prepared and signed by the Rabbis and directors of these institutions. Such documents were both hand-written and printed in great variety.

This early 20th-century hand written document was prepared by the organization on the name of rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Safed and given to the emissary, Rachamim Hacohen.  This emissary document indicates that haCohen was to engage in the collection of funds in Jewish communities in the western part of Morocco. At the bottom are the elaborate signatures of Sephardic rabbis and the stamped seals of the sponsoring organizations.