A MEMORANDUM FROM THE RUSSIAN JEWS IN SAFED AND TIBERIAS TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE (1863)1 Joseph Hoffman Stockholm In Albert M. Hyamson's invaluable reference "Resolved that the Memorial be forwarded to work "The British Consulate in Jerusalem in Earl Russell. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with a relation to the Jews of Palestine 1838-1914 request that the British Government will be pleased to a letter from Sir Moses Montefiore is quoted.' interfere on behalf of the Memorialists and place Montefiore was at that time President of the them again under its protection".7 London committee of Deputies of the British Jews. The letter, written on 29 December A few years ago I had the opportunity to 1863, is addressed to Earl Russell, the acquire a document which I have good rea- Foreign Secretary, and in this letter Monte- son to believe is the original Memorial which fiore mentions that he is enclosing a Memor- Hyamson was unable to locate.8 It is an ad- ial from the Jewish Communities in Safed dress to Sir Moses Montefiore, sent by the and Tiberias, complaining about the deplor- Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis of Safed and Tibe- able condition in which they find themselves rias in 1863. The address or memorial is writ- as a consequence of the withdrawal of British ten on the first page of a double-sheet of Protection which they had enjoyed during the vellum-paper 66.5X40.5 cm (see illustration). preceeding 10 years. In a footnote referring Around three sides are quotations from Ta- to this enclosure Hyamson states "not in vol- nach, partly written in gold. In top center, ume or with the London Committee of De- under and between the three wavy lines with puties".4 However Hyamson quotes an entry quotations, is a honorific introduction or in- from the Minutes of the London Committee gress in rhymed verse. Thereafter follows the of Deputies of British Jews, Meeting of the main text of the memorial. Board of 22 December 1863,5 thus exactly Below follows a translation of these three one week before the date of Montefiore's let- components, rendering as faithfully as poss- ter, in which it is recorded that the above ible the extremely flowery language which is mentioned Memorial was read. It also notes full of biblical quotations and formulations that a letter was read dated 22 December (for the translation of which I have used the 1863 from Mordecai Levy,6 who had come to Soncino Books of the Bible translation): England as representative of the Memor- ialists (sic) and who also in person appeared QUOTATIONS AROUND before the Board, and there is no doubt that THREE SIDES Levy was also the bearer of the Memorial from Palestine to Montefiore. The entry in A) In big black letters (straight lines) the minutes concludes with the following (as starting from lower right corner upwards, quoted by Hyamson): and continuing on left side downwards: 75 / y4, .0^ A(15 t 11. ,M.Pre p I I 1.5e 4.7 \ t1.11F Neer.44en ere, rdese feel 'in en ,eseker Isr -naoim er2 Ase kit • 0,4Kz - ef,e3 Ski» rm. prte -36 mote 4bekee . • row enet.efa ;mew eh 1,7,7e4T:b le IOW _ erne Am»Tor "[ink wee, •00", :Pr 01.14 UMW .Xy Isews e see 11113)2311:1 " j " +A..*r " Ifo" rd. 25P .Ore w et, 14:» enm .4,',p V'* Iter ekeren•A /morn rpm Ar b iroce elion »gm »4,4 irs..t Dy3 infterm,9 04.3 1:1#141 ri,li92,11,17201, k•-••••••.• ;0041 707; 10,14Zgrerlielt . 4 , s S27"14 rg»TOP".° fr"4 de ett717=1 ,7,71471,21,3C rr 1116r. 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'PM ,ge OfC43 .fii2.11 eellearült7e2, .i3"." H.Irtrlill, Ajt "2, le lie&Uhrl:, trizrum ,eff lej own me re .».1('CY'lgle4 • ef7) ,v,z f/ e7I'l"...9.-re 4 t 7 ; I. 76 Thus saith the Lord: Keep ye justice, INGRESS (in rhymed verse), followed by and do righteousness, for my salvation is main text near to come, and my favour to be re- vealed. Happy is the man that doeth this, Who to us is greater than Moses/who and the son of man that holdeth fast by it" can tell his great deeds/Lord of the land of (Jes. 56:1-2)9 Israel, the Holy Land/and the greatest in B) In big black letters on top (highest Israel/head of the exile of Ariel14/his right- line) in form of arc: eousness is like the mighty mountains15/ And in all the mighty hand, and in all to keep alive a multitude of the people of the great terror which Moses wrought in Israel/ /who is a light to us/his the sight of all Israel (5 Mos 34:12) righteousness has borne multiple fruits/he C) Second line from top, in miniature brought forth branches, and shot forth golden letters (in form of a wavy arc) six sprigs16: he is the honoured and exalted different quotations: righteous, the man greatly beloved17/ Happy are they that keep justice, that crowned with piety/ and he has ten do righteousness at all times (Ps. 106:3) shares18/of character and qualities/the Zion shall be redeemed with justice, famous and honoured MOSES and they that return of her with right- MONTEFIORE may you oh God protect him/and eousness (Jes. 1:27) encompass him with favor as with a Happy is he that considereth the poor; shield19/and let him ride upon the highh the Lord will deliver him in the day of evil places of success20/may the God of Abra- (Ps. 41:2) ham be to his help/and upon him shall his A land which the Lord thy God careth crown shine21/until to Zion will come the for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are al- redeemer/soon in our days, Amen Selah. ways upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year (5 Mos When we with praise seize the beams of 11:12) glory of His Excellency it is because we For thy servants take pleasure in her know that he has always taken part in our stones, and love her dust (Ps. 102:15) troubles, was saviour and defender22 at I shall walk before the Lord in the times of our distress, and like a father who lands of the living (Ps. 116:9) (in his son) delights,23 we call him our fa- D) Third line from top, in big golden ther; therefore we had the impudence to letters (in form of a wavy arc): trouble him time and again. WE BESEECH Who has measured the waters in the THEE SAVE NOW! For in the year 5609 hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven His Excellency the Russian Consul Gen- with the span (compare Jes. 40:12) eral from Beyrouth sent an emissary here May he bring peace to him like a with an edict from H.M. the Czar of Rus- stream10 sia stating that every subject of our big E) Fourth line from top, small golden country had half a year's time to return to letters (but slightly bigger than second his country; and if they would not return line), in form of wavy arc: they would leave his flag and protection.