Beschreibung:

Handwritten leaf, document of testimony on behalf of the administrators of the Ancona Jewish community, regarding the sale of a plot in the Ancona cemetery, to the Chida and to his son R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai. Ancona (Italy), 1797. Hebrew, in cursive Italian script. With Italian signatures of eight administrators; among them: Sanson Consolo, Aaron [?] Seppili, D. Morpurgo (probably David Morpurgo, a prominent member of Jewish community), Samuel Moise Coen Cagli, Isach Seb. Costantini. On the margins of the second page is an official authorization in Italian. The documents states that two Jews from Ancona, "Señor Shabtai Mondolofi" and "Señor Avraham Tirani" have in their possession a sum of money "which a person dedicated from his possessions" for establishing a fund to benefit "The great Rabbi, wonder of our generation, R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai and to his son R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai". With this money, the community sold the Chida and his son "six cubits of property in the city cemetery". Also written is that the community rented the aforementioned property from the Chida and from his son and paid rental fees for two months. At that time, the Chida resided in Livorno, however he had a strong influence on the Ancona community as well (see for example: Benayahu, R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai, p. 66). In 1785, after R. Avraham Yisrael, Rabbi of Ancona died, the leaders of the community applied to the Chida requesting that he serve as rabbi of their city. The Chida refused, but hinted that his son R. Refael Yeshaya is suited for the position. R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai served as Rabbi of Ancona from 1787 until his death in 1826. Leaf, [2] written pages. 26 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor tears from ink erosion. Folding marks.