Letter handwritten and signed by R. Shabtai Ventura Rabbi of Spalatro, author of Nahar Shalom, to R. Mordechai Refael Shimshon Tzemach Viterbo of Ancona. Spalatro (present day: Split, Croatia), Tishrei 1759.
The recipient of this letter, R. Mordechai Refael Shimshon Tzemach Viterbo, who served as rabbi of Ancona, is mentioned several times in R. Shabtai's book Nahar Shalom, with terms of affection and reverence. In the present letter, he refers to him as "my close friend who sits in the chambers of my heart…" and praises him effusively. R. Shabtai asks him to review the halachic booklet enclosed with the letter (not present), regarding a Torah scroll which was discovered to be invalid on Shabbat. He concludes with regards for R. Y. Consolo and R. Yehuda Ascoli.
Signed by R. Shabtai, with his calligraphic signature: "Here, Spalatro, end of Tishrei 1759 – Shabtai son of R. Avraham Ventura".
R. Shabtai Ventura (1732-1799) a renowned rabbi and posek in his generation, was the rabbi of Spalatro, reputed for his halachic composition Nahar Shalom on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim. He was a close disciple of R. David Pardo, who served before him as rabbi of Spalatro. His book Nahar Shalom is quoted extensively in halachic works of recent generations, including in the Mishna Berura. Apart from his prominence in Halachah and in revealed realms of the Torah, he also engaged in the study of Kabbalah, and particularly in the copying of kabbalistic manuscripts (see: R. Moshe Hillel, The Identity of the Copyist of the Etz Chaim Book with the Colophon from 1579, in Chitzei Giborim, 10, Nisan 2017, pp. 857-911).
With recipient's address.
[1] double leaf. Approx. 29 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Folding marks. Tears to folds, affecting text.