Auction No. 100
Rare and special items
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The main points of Rabbi Amram Blau's response and claims to the Rabbis of the Eida Chareidit of Jerusalem, who forbade him from marrying the convert Ruth Ben David, which was published during the period following the Yossele Schuchmacher affair. [Jerusalem, 1965].
Specifications: [8] leaves written in his handwriting, 32 cm.
Background: The engagement of Rabbi Amram Blau, one of the senior members of the Eida Chareidit in Jerusalem and founder and leader of the 'Neturei Karta' to the convert Ruth Ben David, was met with tremendous opposition among the Neturei Karta in Jerusalem, led by the members of the Beit Din, his students, and even his children. They considered it dishonorable for him to marry a convert who was originally a Catholic. In addition, he was seventy years old at the time, and she was only 40, and they considered there to be a halachic problem for an old man to marry a young woman. They even excommunicated him, and as a result he was forced to move to Bnei Brak for a period of time.
In these leaves, which Rabbi Blau used as a draft, he dismisses the beit din's claims one by one, in great detail, and shows that even the prophets married women who had converted. In his opinion, one who does so is fulfilling the commandment 'And you shall love the convert.' He also claims that there is no prohibition in our time for a man to marry a woman much younger than him.
There are also several harsh words which he wrote about his opponents on the last page.
Unique Features: Historic testimony from one of the affairs which agitated Jerusalem over fifty years ago.
Condition: Fine. Slight tears with no lack of text.
A letter from the Admor Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz to Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, rabbi of Chust. Vizhnitz, 1907.
Specifications: [1] squared paper leaf. 14x22 cm. The Admor's handwritten signature and stamp.
Unique Features: The letter deals with the polemic between Viznhitz and Rabbi Chaim Zvi Teitelbaum of Sighet. In the letter, the Admor calls for the rabbi of Chust to intervene. He writes several details about the affair, and notes that troublemakers have published posters. There is a known ruling on this topic written by Rabbi Moshe Greenwald several months later. Material is enclosed.
Background: The Admor Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz, born in 1840 to his father, the Admor Rabbi Baruch of Vizhnitz, was educated by his grandfather, the Admor Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz, author of Tzemach Tzedek, with whom he was extremely close and his main helper. In 1885, when his father was appointed as Admor of Vizhnitz, he was accepted as rabbi of a town in the province of Máramaros. As a result of his success, it was reported to the authorities that he allegedly opposes education and the Hungarian language, and he was forced to flee. In 1893, he was appointed as Admor of Vizhnitz, and despite his young age, the chassidut expanded and developed considerably. During the First World War, he was forced to flee to Grosswardein, where he died in 1934. He was known for his book Ahavat Yisrael. His descendants are the current Admors of Vizhnitz.
Rabbi Moshe Greenwald [1853-1910], scion of an important rabbinic family, was one of the most prominent Hungarian rabbis, known as the 'Arugat HaBosem' after the name of his book. In his youth, he learned from the 'Ktav Sofer.' He served as rabbi and rosh yeshiva in several places. From 1893, he served as rabbi of Chust, where he established a large and important yeshiva, to which students flocked from all over Hungary, other countries, and even from America. Many of the Hungarian rabbis and great leaders were his disciples. Despite coming from a family who followed the customs of the Chatam Sofer, he followed chassidic customs, and travelled to Admors. His sons and grandsons are the Admors of the Pupa community.
Condition: Fine - very fine. A few aging stains. Slight tear in the white margins at the bottom of the letter.
The response of Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, regarding Rabbi Steinmann being the leader of the generation, whose opinion is the opinion of the Torah and is the definitive opinion in any dispute between Rabbis. 1996.
Specifications: [1] page, lined paper. 15x19 cm.
Background: In the month of July 1996, due to the deteriorating health of Rabbi Shach, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinmann became responsible to lead the ultra-Orthodox community.
At the time, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Lefkowitz received an unusual letter, in which he was asked "It is well known that until now it was known that we have one Daat Torah, and that everything which Rabbi Shach says is the opinion of the Torah and must be carried out completely, and he is the only one with the authority to rule against others. And recently is has been said that now Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinmann has been appointed as the leader of the generation, and that his opinion is the decisive one, and the verse 'and you shall do whatever he instructs you' applies to him. And here the questioner asks, with great embarrassment, who decides this appointment of the leader of the generation and how is the identity of leader of the generation established, while there are other great Rabbis in Jerusalem, etc.
Rabbi Lefkowitz replied with a clear and unambiguous response that the very fact that there are other Rabbis, but that the community as a whole follows him:
"And I say that he is the only one, may he live and be well. And he embodies the saying that one who flees [from honor, honor pursues him], and there is no doubt or question that his sole intention is for the sake of Heaven to fulfill the will of G-d."
It is interesting to note that in 2012, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky published a letter in support of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinmann's actions, and used almost identical expressions when describing him "The leadership of the generation is currently in the hands of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinmann, all of whose actions are for the sake of Heaven."
Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz (1914-2011) was Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh L'Zeirim, a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and one of the leaders of the Lithuanian community. Rav Shach brought him into the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah when Degel HaTorah was founded. He had strong opinions regarding education and yeshivot, and fought vigorously against government intervention in the material studied and the recruitment of yeshiva students.
Here Rabbi Lefkowitz publicly expresses his opinion that Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinmann is the only one fitting to succeed Rabbi Shach as the communal leader, and testifies, as one who had served together with him as Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh for many years, that all of his actions are for the sake of Heaven.
Condition: Folding marks. Very fine condition.