An early and important letter from the great sages of Yemen against the activities of the KIH company in Yemen

An early and important letter from the great sages of Yemen against the activities of the KIH company in Yemen

An important letter against the initiative of the KIH Society [All Israel Friends] to establish "new" schools in Yemen, signed by the great Yemeni geniuses, Mari Yihya Bar Suleiman Kapah, Mari Yihya Yitzchak, and Rabbi Aharon Salem HaCohen. Sivan 3, 1861.

After a visit by a representative of KIH (All Israel Friends - the organization that worked to introduce modern values ​​into Jewish society starting in the mid-19th century) in the cities of Yemen, he examined the number of residents in each city, and checked with the rabbis the possibility of establishing a "house for the Torah and craft" for Yemenite Jews. in which, in addition to Koddesh studying, they will also learn languages ​​such as Arabic, and Turkish and French "so that they will know how to go out and come in..." in order to raise the honor of Israel according to his method. The great sages of Yemen recognized the new trend accompanied by a Zionist spirit, and they are issuing letters Against this initiative which they saw as an attempt to advance the End of Days against what is written in the Gemara, and write that "We must do the will of G-d, through the Torah and good deeds, and we will look to our redemption and the redemption of our souls... and do not believe the words of those who make calculate the Ketz, and this depends only on Israel if we do His will, in His mercy, will quickly redeem us...", and they warn that this may even cause the awakening of hatred and disturbances among the nations of the world.

Towards the end of the letter, Rabbi Yihya Kapach added another reason why there is no need for the KIH initiative, because the language studies are under his supervision: "Our exalted government Yarom Hodo" opened a school for the children of Israel to teach them Torah and the Arabic language "and I was chosen to teach them, and I stand guard from the cattle Until evening, I and my son David are teaching them Torah, Arabic writing, and arithmetic. And another Turkish teacher came to us from the government to teach them the Turkish language, and three times he comes every week, and stays with us for about two or three hours and leave, and we have to hurry them to write the lessons he teaches them with each Learners who study with us, and may your peace be increased ..."

Mari Yahya son of Suleiman Kapach (Marie HaYashish; 1850-1931) one of the greatest sages of Yemen of his generation. Rabbi Yosef Kapah's grandfather and educator. Known for his method to introduce the Ramba'm, Rasa'g and Rabenu b'echayei, as part of the order of studying the Gemara, and his war against superstitions that do not originate in Chaza'l.

[1] leaf. 24x18 cm. Stains. Good condition.