“Maamar Daat Torah” – The “Kotzker Kvittel” – note written by one of the elderly chassidim of Kotzk, Gur, Alexander and the Sefat Emet [Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Karo of Wloclawek] to Maran Admor shlit”a at the start of his term in 1905.” This was printed during the life of the Imrei Emet, apparently in 1948.
The kvittel was printed by Reb Chaim Mendel during the lifetime of the “Imrei Emet” of Gur, according to his instructions that the content of the kvittel should be publicized. The writer describes the power of the “pnimiyut” of Torah that can rescue one from death, he writes about overcoming spiritual trials, rectifying one’s character traits, and he quotes stirring words from his fathers about the courts of the sacred Admors. Towards the end of the kvittel, he includes prophecy-like testimony that he heard from the Admor of Gur in 1876, “He spoke about spiritual trials on the night of Shabbot Kodesh parshat Shemot 1866,” a few months before his passing: ‘The time will come when Jews will be in the field and they will not have anything to eat, and they will eat only grass … and they shouldn’t think they will be able to flee from the troubles, it will be very harsh for them, and afterwards it will be even harsher and darker’ [This passage is originally in Yiddish and emphasized].
In the book Rosh Golat Ariel about the Admor, the Imrei Emet of Gur, the author, R’ Avraham Mordechai Segal presents a picture of parts of the kvittel [p. 150] which was publicized in Shanghai in the end of the 1930s, following the Imrei Emet’s request to publicize the words as they were relevant to all Jews at that fateful time. It is known that the Gur chassidim in the work and death camps understood the Admor of Gur’s intention to publicize these words specifically at this time.
Before us is the first publication released as a pamphlet in the lifetime of the Imrei Emet, with his name followed by “shlita” on the front page. This rare edition was printed by R’ Chaim Mandel in a limited edition of between 50 and 100 copies, over the years, the kvittel has been printed in many editions, but the edition before us was the first published, very rare.
[6] leaves. Very fine condition.