A rare letter in which the heads of the Sephardic community of Hebron, the saint Rabbi Hanoch Hasson, and the saint Rabbi Meir Shmuel Castil [the two signed geniuses were murdered in the riots of 1929], ask for urgent help from the leaders of the Marrakech [Morocco] community, after the first world war, Following the terrible suffering of the Jewish community in Hebron, Adar I, 1919. written by a scribe, and the signature of the geniuses Rabbi Hanoch Hasson, and Rabbi Meir Shmuel Castil. As well as the official ink stamps of the geniuses, and the seal of the Cave of the Patriarchs.
In their letter, the geniuses describe the difficult troubles that befell the Jewish community in Hebron during the war: "The terrible war, the work of the army, every male from the age of 18 to 52 years old, hard labor, naked and tortured barefoot hungry ... the terrible prestige, the cruel hunger, locusts, cholera and typhus ... that all these led to distress which was unparalleled ... ". It was before Passover and the geniuses really beg: "And especially that the Chag Hamatzot is approaching, and to whom should we turn for help? If not in their honor the ministers of grace and pardon ...".
Rabbi Meir Shmuel Kashtil [Castel 1860-1929] - Head of the Sephardic community in Hebron, and president of the General Committee of the Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities in the city, member of the court of the "Sdei Hemed". Descendants of Rabbi Yehuda Halevi , From a family of deportees from Castile who settled in Gaza after the deportation, and from there partly moved to Hebron in 1799. In his youth he studied in the Talmud Torah and yeshiva of Hebron. Due to his love to Hebron, he did not want to leave it at all, and in 1910 he began to serve as a member of the tribunal there. During this period he was elected head of the Sephardic community committee in Hebron, and in 1921 began serving as president and head of the general committee of the Sephardic community and the Ashkenazi community in the city, and in fact, served as head of the entire community for all intents and purposes. On Shabbat 18 Av 1929, Arab rioters entered his house, while Rabbi Kashtil and his wife fled to the last room in their house and closed its door with all their might. The rioters broke down the door and murdered Rabbi Kashtil while being tortured. After the heinous murder, the rioters burned his house, and he was buried in a mass grave in Hebron הי"ד. Some of his innovations were printed in the book "Sha'arey Rachamim" Part II.
The Gaon Rabbi Hanoch Hasson [1867 - 1929]. Born in the city of Hebron, and already at the age of 15 he was known as well versed of the entire Shas. For several years Rabbi Hasson taught Talmud Torah of the Sephardic community. He was elected a member of the court in Hebron and became the right-hand man of Chief Rabbi Chaim Hezekiah Medini. Among other things, he also proofreaded and printed parts of Rabbi Madini's book, "Sdei Hemed" and even wrote the introduction to the book. After the death of Rabbi Medini in 1905, Rabbi Hasson was appointed Av Beis Din of a tribunal of the Sephardic community. In the riots of 1929, Rabbi Hasson and his wife Clara were murdered in their home during the Hebron massacre.
[1] leaf. Official stationery of the "General Committee of the Sphardic" in Hebron. 28 x 22 cm. Folding marks. Slight tear in the fold marking at the top of the letter. Good condition.
