Letter to the Ten Lost Tribes on the Border of Yemen, from the Disciples of the Vilna Gaon in Eretz Israel - ...

Letter to the Ten Lost Tribes on the Border of Yemen, from the Disciples of the Vilna Gaon in Eretz Israel - Amsterdam, 1830
Printed booklet, "Letter sent from the Ashkenazi rabbis in Eretz Israel, to the Sons of Moshe Rabbeinu and the Ten Tribes", by R. Yisrael of Shklow, head of the Ashkenazi community in Safed. [Amsterdam, Cheshvan 1830]. In 1830, R. Baruch son of R. Shmuel was sent as the emissary of the Prushim community of Safed. Apart from raising funds, he was given another mission - to locate the ten lost tribes in the desert on the border of Yemen. He was therefore provided with a special letter from R. Yisrael of Shklow, leader of the Prushim in Safed, signed also by the other leaders of the Prushim and Chassidim in Jerusalem and Safed. The letter depicts the state of the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, and cites information received about the ten tribes in various periods. The letter then portrays the situation of the Jews in the Diaspora, and outlines the evolution of the Oral Law from the Mishna until the Vilna Gaon. The letter concludes with several requests from the ten tribes. A copy of the letter was sent to the "Pekidim and Amarkalim", heads of the center for fundraising for Eretz Israel in Amsterdam, where, having made a great impact, the letter was printed and distributed. R. Baruch son of R. Shmuel reached Sanaa in Av 1833, about two years after he left, but after being accused of espionage he was murdered by the Imam Al-Mahdi in Av 1834. This volume contains two additional (photocopied) leaves of the second letter written by R. Yisrael of Shklow, printed in Amsterdam ca. 1835, after the death of R. Baruch became known. 4 leaves. Printed without title page. [2] additional photocopied leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains and light wear. Inner margins reinforced with paper. New binding, covered with marbled paper. Regarding this historic letter, see: A. Yaari, Shlichim MeEretz Israel LaAseret HaShevatim - Sinai, 6, 1940, pp. 348-352.