Date and Place: 16 Tevet 5670 (1909), Yafo
Recipient: The Council of Rechovot
Body: For some time now, the Teimanim (Yemenite Jews, who were workers rather than landowners in Rechovot) have been bothering me about taking care of their issues in the moshava (Rechovot). Although it seems to me that it is proper that the council should appoint representatives from among them to deal with the moshava’s relations with them, it is not right to appoint spiritual leaders in a manner that is not for their benefit. It would be better and more pleasant that their adjudication and matters of their divorces and marriages, when there are any questions about them, should make use of our central services, so that their matters will be handled with greater honor.
Among [the issues at hand], they should not be allowed to take a second wife, unless they bring a letter from us (the established Rabbinate) that there is no halachic impediment to their doing so. I request of the council to inform me of the details of the matters [at hand], and what are the most important disputes they are involved in, as it is difficult for me to get clear information from them.
Regarding the dispute of the scholar Avraham, concerning his sefer Torah, I already decided on this matter this past summer. Three Shabbatot a month, R. Avraham will get to decide who will receive honors, and one Shabbat a month, the community will decide who receives them.
