Letter by Rabbi Yosef Refael Tarragan Regarding the State of the Houses in the "Mishkenot Sha'ananim" ...

Letter by Rabbi Yosef Refael Tarragan Regarding the State of the Houses in the "Mishkenot Sha'ananim" Neighborhood. Jerusalem, 1863.

Letter by Rabbi Yosef Refael Tarragan, Jerusalem, 1863.

Specifications: [1] leaf, blue paper. 20X27 cm.

Contents: The letter revolves around the condition of the houses in the new neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha'ananim. R' Tarragan informs Sir Montefiore that the neighborhood's inhabitants suffer water leakage from the pipes of their homes, and due to the large amount, they "virtually float on the water at nights, especially we the Sephardim, whose beds are laying on the ground, almost to the point that we, our wives, and our children are in mortal danger. There is enormous damage to the houses' walls, the gatekeeper's roof, the oven, and the millstones ..."

Rabbi Yosef Refael Tarragan, father of Rabbi Ben Zion Tarragan, was one of the sages of the Magen David Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was among the first settlers in the Mishkenot Sha'ananim neighborhood, and Montefiore's loyal friend, as one of the neighborhood's fundraisers. He was the first signatory on words of blessings sent to Montefiore in 1861 from the founders of the neighborhood, which was printed at the end of Rabbi Yosef Nissim Burla's sermon for the inauguration of the new synagogue in the Mishkenot Sha'ananim neighborhood (Jerusalem, 1862 - refer to S. HaLevi No. 76 -  picture attached).

Unique Features: The Mishkenot Sha'ananim neighborhood was built by Sir Moshe Montefiore from the estate of Yehuda Tura. It was the first neighborhood built outside the walls of the Old City. We learn from this letter the extent to which Montefiore was involved in the daily life of the neighborhood and the state of its inhabitants.

Condition: Very fine.