Receipt from the Pkidim Ve-Amarkalim Officials signed by the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Lehren to the Gaon Rabbi Baruch ...

Receipt from the Pkidim Ve-Amarkalim Officials signed by the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Lehren to the Gaon Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld, ABD Golub. 1876.

A printed receipt, completed in manuscript, for the receipt of one hundred German marks from the community of Grosse Strelitz. (now Strzelce Opolskie), by the Gaon Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld, described as the "household member and confidant" of our teacher, the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger, ABD  of Golub,

Signed by the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Lehren, head Pkidim Ve-Amarkalim, and by his scribe.

Amsterdam, 1876.

The Pkidim Ve-Amarkalim commitee from Amsterdam was the leading support fund for the poor of Jerusalem. The committee had trustees (like a bank) in Jerusalem who held the committee's funds and distributed them to the Jews of Jerusalem, in exchange for vouchers sent from Amsterdam. In this voucher, we gain insight into the committee's operations and the manner in which funds were sent.

The Gaon Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld [1815–1879] served as Av Beit Din of Kroinka and later Golub. He was a prominent and beloved disciple of the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger. He studied for seven years in Rabbi Akiva Eiger's yeshiva and was constantly in his home. He received rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Akiva Eiger's son, Rabbi Shlomo Eiger, who said he was fulfilling his father's wish, as Rabbi Akiva Eiger had not managed to ordain him during his lifetime.

In the HaMagid newspaper, it was written about him: "His fame spread throughout all of Israel... his holy words were very precious to them... and even in the Holy Land, his renown was well known..."

The Holy Rebbi, the Chozeh of Lublin, sent him a letter, in which he referred to him as "the great luminary." The Gaon Rabbi Yosef Yoski of Leszno wrote about him: "He excelled in wisdom and piety... 'Baruch' is his name, and 'Baruch' is he, for he served at the side of the great Gaon, Rabbi Akiva Eiger." After his passing, it was written about him: "It was known to all that he was greatly beloved... to the Gaon [Rabbi Akiva Eiger] as one of his own sons, due to his righteousness and integrity." He gave approbation for the sefer Mishpat Moznaim by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer (Krotshin, 1855). (See also Chut HaMeshulash, Part 2, page 74.)

The Righteous Gaon Rabbi Akiva Lehren [1795–1877] was a man in whom Torah and greatness were united at his table. He was a wealthy man and one of the greatest activists for the welfare of the Land of Israel and the needs of his time. He led the organization of officials and administrators for a significant period, raising great sums of money for the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. He married the daughter of his brother, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch. He was one of the leaders of the Amsterdam community and a staunch opponent of reform and modern innovation, strongly resisting any change.

At his funeral, around 5,000 people walked in procession. Besides being a man of immense wealth and a great activist, he was also a distinguished Torah scholar. In his eulogy, Rabbi Diner, the Rabbi of Amsterdam, said of him, "He was a sharp and knowledgeable scholar... and Torah was his daily conversation" (Israelite, 1876, issue 48).

He was praised and lauded by the great sages of his generation, and the "Malbim" wrote in his honor. He used his own funds to purchase the manuscript of the Or Zarua and had it printed in Zhitomir. May his memory be blessed.