Rav Alfandri’s Golden Gifts

The Sabba Kadisha, Rav Shlomo Eliezer Alfandri, told the Minchas Elazar of Munkacs the following when they met in Eretz Yisroel.

“When Rav Naftali Katz, author of Semichas Chachamim, arrived in Constantinople on his way to make aliyah to Eretz Yisroel, my grandfather, Rav Alfandri, met him and tried to persuade him to stay in Constantinople. They built a grand synagogue in his honor, and it stands to this day. Unfortunately, he made some enemies there who wished to harm him.

“My grandfather sent him a golden box containing a scribe’s pen and ink and a large golden sword. He told the Semichas Chachamim that with these weapons he could stand up to his enemies. And so it was that anyone who dared to utter a single word against Rav Naftali dropped dead at once. All who saw this took care not to start up with the rav. The sword was eventually given to the sultan, who used it in his own battles.”