מכתב רבי חיים אלעזר וואקס בעל ה"נפש חיה" - עם תשובה ארוכה מרבי יוסף חיים קרא

Letter in the handwriting and signed by the Gaon Rabbi Ḥayyim Eliezer Waks, Ab"d of Kalisz, author of "Nefesh Ḥayyah", regarding Etrog specimens from the Land of Israel. Kalisz, 5633 (1873). On the page a short letter in handwriting and signed by the letter's recipient, the Gaon Rabbi Joseph Ḥayyim Kara, Ab"d of Volozhin. And in the last three pages a draft in the handwriting of Rabbi Joseph Ḥayyim Kara, of an interesting response letter about the merit of Etrog specimens from the Land of Israel, and about the merit of Etrog specimens from Yannino, which are attributed more than Etrog specimens from the island of Corfu and other islands. Rabbi Ḥayyim Eliezer Waks (5486-5649), one of the great rabbis of his generation, and one of the leaders of Polish Jewry. He served as rabbi in Tarnigrad, Kalisz and Piotrkow, but became known especially by the name "the Rabbi of Kalisz", and for generations he was known by the name of his work "Nefesh Ḥayyah". He was the son-in-law of the Gaon Rabbi Joshua of Kutna, author of "Yeshuot Malko" and together with him worked greatly for the benefit of the settlement in the Land of Israel. From the year 5629 he was president of the "Kolel Poland" for the poor of the Land of Israel. He also purchased land in the village of Ḥatin [Ḥitin] near Tiberias, and planted orchards of Etrog specimens, in order to establish an economic basis for the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. Among his well-known students: Rabbi Meir Dan Plotzki, Ab"d of Doggart, author of "Keli Ḥemda". Recipient of the letter and author of the response: the Gaon Rabbi Joseph Ḥayyim Kara (5563-5655), Ab"d of Volozhin, one of the elders of the rabbis of Prussian-Poland (northern Poland). He became known by the name of his works "Kol Omer Kara", "Yoreh uMalqosh", "Minḥat Shabbat" and "Tabbuaḥ veHakhen", which were printed in many editions. 4 pp., 22 cm. Condition: fair-good, rust stains and ink, wear on paper folds.