Two Manuscripts: a Touching Sermon by Rabbi Chaim Elazar Wax, Author of the 'Nefesh Chaya' / an Important Article ...

Two Manuscripts: a Touching Sermon by Rabbi Chaim Elazar Wax, Author of the 'Nefesh Chaya' / an Important Article by Rabbi Yosef Rivlin, the Head of the "Va'ad Ha'Kelali" – Both Handwritten by Their Relative Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness, One of the Leaders of the Yishuv
Two important essays about publich matters handwritten by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness, a writer and leader of the Yishuv. His handwriting is extremely rare, all the more so, essays in his handwriting!
The two essays are actually copies he had prepared for printing in his nice handwriting of sermons by other important rabbis he was in touch with, as described below.

A. Important Sermon by Rabbi Chaim Elazar Wax, Author of 'Nefesh Chaya' – 1886
A transcription of a sermon delivered by Rabbi Chaim Elazar Wax at the 'Beit Meir' synagogue in the Batei Machaseh neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem. In his sermon, Rabbi Wax refers to the students of Kollel Warsaw, many of whom used to pray at the synagogue. The content of the sermon: the necessity to stop the internal strife between the students of the Kollel and the settlers of the country and make peace in the community.
Rabbi Wax describes his devotion to the settlement of the country and especially to the students of Kollel Warsaw of Jerusalem. "You know, my brothers, the thoughts I have been thinking of you to prepare for you the settlement of the country by working the land", recalls Rabbi Wax, referring to the orchards of Etrogim which he had planted in the Land of Israel to enable the members of the old Yishuv earn a living. In addition, he had been given a donation of ten thousand Shekel Kesef to build them houses in Jerusalem. However, on the other hand, Rabbi Wax describes "the complaints he heard … we do not need mansions … give us the money and we will divide it between us". Rabbi Wax expresses his anger at this, that the worry for material life overcomes the worry for settling the country. Rabbi Wax continues, "And even more painful for me is to see there is no peace among you and one is jealous and envious of the other".
At the beginning of the page, the title "Divrei Chaim". The essay was published in the 'Ha'Zvi' newspaper from the manuscript before us. The manuscript before us is missing several lines at its end, which were written on an additional leaf.
Rabbi Chaim Elazar Wax (1826-1889) "The Rabbi of Kalisch" was a most prominent rabbi and a leader of the Jews of Poland. He was known for his book "Nefesh Chaya". At the age of 18, he was appointed rabbi of Tarnogrod and head of its yeshiva. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Yehoshua of Kotna author of 'Yeshu'ot Malko' and with him acted in favor of the Jewish settlements of the Land of Israel. In 1869, he was appointed president of "Kollel Polin" of the Land of Israel.
Already in 1885 we find a correspondence between Rabbi Wax and Rabbi Piness. In one of his letters (from 1886), the Nefesh Chaya describes his visit to the Land of Israel: "On my way I met Rabbi Yechiel Mishel Piness, who deals with the settlement of the country, and I spoke with him about matters concerning the general public…"
22.5 cm.
Condition: Good. Ink fingerprints (of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness himself?). Folding marks.

B. Article by Rabbi Yosef Rivlin – the head of the builders of Jerusalam – 1886
An essay about a public polemic regarding the activity of the Reisin Kollel. The article was printed for the first time in the 'Ha'Zvi' newspaper (the 20 of Tamuz 1886) as the main editorial yet without the name of its writer. The title of the newspaper article: "Yesh Shever Bi'Yerushalayim / Gezel Ha'rabim Ve'Rabim She'Gazlu" (There is a rift in Jerusalem/ Theft of the many and the many who had thieved).
In 1966, it was reprinted in the book 'Megilat Yosef' (p. 187, and on the internet), which is an anthology of the articles by Rabbi Yosef Rivlin which were published in newspapers. Thus, the article before us was a draft written by Rabbi Yosef Rivlin and edited by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness (Piness was also involved in the phrasing since there are several erased words and signs of editing on the leaf before us). Rabbi Yosef Rivlin and Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness cooperated for the public matters of Jerusalem (see below).
A single leaf, written on one of its dies. On the other side, the typesetter (or maybe the editor, Eliezer Ben Yehuda?) of 'Ha'Zvi' wrote: "For … Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness" asking his opinion about the printing of this part of the article. Piness replied in his handwriting: "I want the complete article to be printed at the same time…" Indeed, both the first section of the article (not included in the leaf before us) and the second section were printed at the same time as a complete article.
The section before us begins with the words: "for the reasons we have enumerated in clause D, the Reisin Kollel also has many debts …" and end with the words: "Before God, in the Holy City of Jerusalem".
22.5 cm.
Condition: Good. Folding marks. Fingerprints. Slight slits.

The relationship between Rabbi Yechiel Michel Piness and Rabbi Yosef Rivlin
Even before Rabbi Yechiel Michel immigrated to the Land of Israel, Yosef Rivlin sent him a letter encouraging him to immigrate to the Land of Israel (in 1877). In the following years, after he immigrated to the Land of Israel, Piness opened the gates of 'Ha'Melitz' newspaper before Rivlin and introduced him to 'Ha'Zvi' of Ben Yehuda, which was condemned by the old Yishuv. In general, Piness served as an intermediary between Rivlin and other leaders of the old Yishuv and other intellectuals of the new Yishuv. See the article by Y. Freidin: "Yechiel Mochel Piness bein 'Ha'Yishuv Ha'Yashan' La'Yishuv Ha'Chadash" (Yechiel Michel Piness between the Old Yishuv and the New One).
When Rivlin died, Piness eulogized him, praising his good friend. The eulogy was printed in 'Ha'Chavatzelet' newspaper. Among others, Piness wrote: "when writers come to write about the history of the Yishuv in the Holy Land, the name of this man will be written in golden letters'.