אגרת חכמי החלבים בבואנוס איירס לרבי חיים עוזר

Original copy of a letter sent in the year 5688 [1928] from Rabbi Jacob Abraham Sethon, among the rabbis of the Aleppi Community (of Aram Tzova origin) in Argentina, to the Gaon Rabbi Hayim Ozer Grodzinsky in Vilna. In the letter the writers detail a dispute among the community rabbis regarding children's education in the Torah Study society "Foundations of Religion". They ask that R.H. Oz. decide how to act in practice. A very important document for the history of the Aleppi community in Argentina, and for the history of Jewish education in Aram Tzova. The dispute centered on whether to maintain the old way practiced in Syria, for the study of Scripture and its proper chanting through memorization and repetition, or study by the new method of understanding, and study of Hebrew in the Hebrew language, as taught "in the study halls of the Eastern communities in the Land of Israel under the Jewish Agency", and thus taught the teachers sent from Jerusalem. The senders also attached to this letter a copy of the sharp letter from Rabbi Shaul David Sethon, Chief Rabbi of Buenos Aires, in which he declares that he does not agree to the change of method. 4 pages typed on a typewriter on onionskin paper. 28.5 cm. Fair condition. Thin paper with worm damage, loss and tears at edges, professionally restored. The Gaon Rabbi Shaul David Sethon, author of Response "Word of Shaul" (Jerusalem 5688), was born 5671 in Aram Tzova. In 5672 he arrived in Argentina, died 5700. It should be noted that his conservative positions and his decrees not to convert in Argentina and not to accept any proselyte into the community, preserved the Aleppi community from the severe assimilation that afflicted all other communities in Argentina. For more on this dispute, see attached material (number "Master of the Land of Israel" Jerusalem 5763 vol. 2 p. 178-190).