Manuscript, Pinkas of the Emissary Rabbi Yakir Yosef of Jerusalem – Documentation of the Activities of the Ohev ...

Manuscript, Pinkas of the Emissary Rabbi Yakir Yosef of Jerusalem – Documentation of the Activities of the Ohev Yisrael of Apta on Behalf of the Needy of Eretz Israel, During His Tenure as Rabbi of Yas
Manuscript, large sheet of paper – records of R. Yakir Yosef, emissary of Jerusalem, who visited various communities in Romania and the surroundings. [Ca. 1814-1815].
Large sheet of paper folded into four narrow columns, written on both sides in Oriental (solitreo) script. At the top of the first column: "This is the Pinkas for Jerusalem in the towns and villages of Wallachia and Bogdania… anyone who donated for Jerusalem, by the emissary R. Avraham Avigdor, and by Yakir Yosef".
This leaf was presumably scribed by the emissary R. Yakir Yosef, based on his personal Pinkas, in order to leave a copy of the records with those charged with collecting the donations in Yas (Iași). It features lists of the contributors and gabbaim of the dozens of communities visited by the emissary, and a summation of the fundraising operation on behalf of Eretz Israel. One of the columns bears the heading: "Copy of the Pinkas". Further in the first paragraph, he writes that he gave this copy to R. Efraim son of R. Yissachar Blaj, gabbai of the fund in Yas, so that he can centralize all the donations from the surrounding communities, until an emissary arrives from Jerusalem to collect them.
Further in this section, he describes the fundraising efforts for Eretz Israel of the Ohev Yisrael – R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, at that time rabbi of Yas. The emissary writes that the latter gave him a Pinkas, on which he based himself for his lists: "And these are the lists which were recorded in the Pinkas which I, Yakir Yosef, received from the rabbi of Apta, R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, who served as rabbi of the capital city of Yas".
In the section pertaining to the Yas community, the emissary once again mentions the rabbi of Apta: "In the community of Yas, the capital, they have committed to donate the sum of two hundred and fifty lei for Jerusalem, with the signature of R. Uziel, R. Daniel, R. Yosef, R. David HaKohen, and the rabbi of Apta…".
This manuscript contains a detailed documentation of dozens of communities in the area (which the emissary presumably visited during the course of his mission), with a record of his activities – appointing collectors and setting up a fundraising system to benefit Eretz Israel; as well as many details such as the names of the contributors and the periodic pledges of each community.
The communities documented in this manuscript include: Yas (Iași), Botoshan (Botoșani), Dorohoi, Bordezhen (Burdujeni), Hertz (Herța), Hotin (Khotyn), Lipkan (Lipcani), Ataky, Soroca, Rezina, Teleneshty (Teleneşti), Bender, Kishinev (Chișinău), Kalarash (Călărași), Ploiești, Blaj, Shtefanesht (Ştefăneşti), Fălticeni, Roman, Piatra Neamț, and others.
In the section about the Botoshan community, he mentions a "Shlomo son of R. Chaim". This may refer to the son of the Be'er Mayim Chaim (see his signature in Kedem Auction 63, item 81). Further in the same section, as well as in other sections, he mentions the years 1813-1815.
Apart from this document, no information about the emissary R. Yakir Yosef is known to us. About his predecessor mentioned in this document, R. Avraham Avigdor, no further information is known apart from a certificate dated Tishrei 1812, published by M.D. Gaon in his book Yehudei HaMizrach BeEretz Israel (II, Jerusalem 1938, p. 395), which mentions R. Avraham Avigdor's mission and the news of his passing at that time.
The rebbe of Apta is known for his intensive efforts to raise funds and arrange Maamadot for Polish, Volhynian and Galician immigrants who settled in Safed and Tiberias. He began his activities in this field in 1796. In 1814, he was appointed president of the kollel of Eretz Israel funds for immigrants from Volhyn. His extensive activities on behalf of Eretz Israel are documented in many letters and documents, printed in the book Igrot HaOhev Yisrael (Jerusalem 2000), and this manuscript provides further testimony to his charitable activities.
Large sheet of paper (8 written columns). 48X39 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and tears, slightly affecting text. Folding marks.