Chilling historic letter written on the eve of the Holocaust in the hand of the gaon Rabbi Menachem Isser Polansky, Av Beit Din of Libau, to his father-in-law, the rabbi of Radoshkevich, the gaon Rabbi Meir Robinson. On the other side of the leaf is a letter from his wife, the Rebbetzin, to her father. Libau, 1935.
The letter before us, written, as stated, on the eve of the Holocaust, when dark clouds were gathering over the skies of Europe, the accursed Nazi enemy had already come to power in Germany and the land was shaking under the feet of the Jews. In the emotional letter by the rabbi of Libau and his wife to the Rebbetzin’s father, the rabbi of Radoshkevich, who was already living in Jerusalem, they tell him of their plans to ascend to the Land with their family. They detail their efforts to obtain certificates and their specific plans about what each child will do in the Holy Land. In their letter, they relate that one of the children is already finishing his required studies, after which they will immediately ascend to the Land. Unfortunately, by the time they finally made all their arrangements, it was too late. Their detailed plans were left on the paper before us and the rabbi and his wife were murdered in the terrible Holocaust that wiped out European Jewry, may their blood be avenged. It is interesting to note that the rabbi of Libau writes in this letter that of all the children, the future of their son Yosef concerns them most. And it was actually that specific son, Yosef, who survived the inferno and immigrated to Paris after the War!
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Menachem Manish (Manus) Isser Polansky .
[1] leaf paper, 22×28 cm. Official stationery, written on both sides.
Fine condition. Filing perforations. Aging stains. Fold marks. Tiny perforations in the center of the leaf.