Polemic letter from Karlin-Stolin Chassidim, to the chairman of the Council of Torah Sages, the gaon Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin. It bears the complaint that some of the members of their community accepted upon themselves the Admo”r of Lelov’s leadership, and they refuse to recognize the child status as Admo”r. New York, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 1964.
“The Admo”r of Stolin-Karlin left a family member after him, a grandson, and although he is only nine years old, greatness is expected of him; that he will grow and develop and continue the Stolin-Karlin path …” This youth was indeed appointed Admo”r of the glorious Chassidut and he serves in this capacity to this day.
Background to this letter: The sacred Admo”r Rabbi Yochanan Perlow, son of Rabbi Yisrael of Stolin, served as Admo”r of Karlin-Stolin. The Admo”r passed away in 1956, and did not leave a son to succeed him. However, there was a young grandson. Most of the Chassidim supported the proposal to appoint his grandson Baruch Meir Ya’akov Shochet, who was only nine years old at the time, to serve in the exalted position of Admo”r, but elder Chassidim refused to recognize the Yanuka as such, and appointed the Admo”r of Lelov to continue the Karlin dynasty.
In their letter here, members of the community refer to these seceding elders using harsh terms: ” the hand of Satan”; “illusory”; “Heavenly displeasure.” On the other hand, they greatly praise the Yanuka: “although he is only nine years old, greatness is expected of him”; “We heard from the Admo”r… that he is destined for greatness”; “The domain of their ancestors belongs only to them”! The letter is stamped with the official stamps of the Chassidut and with the signatures of prominent Karlin-Stolin Chassidim in the United States who support the grandson’s appointment, and call to act for its success.
The dispute continued full force for decades after this letter. It spread and branched out even after the Admo”r of Lelov’s passing and his son’s succession. In the end, as a result of the dispute, the Admo”r of Lelov left this position (with respect to his relationship with Karlin), and the “Alter Karliner” appointed Rabbi Rosenfeld, one of the Chassidic elders, in his place as Admo”r. The latter agreed to argue in beit din regarding who could use the name “Karlin.”
After a lengthy and emotional din Torah before the dayan Rabbi Mendel Shafran, the historic ruling was written that calmed the dispute that had raged for decades: Both factions can use the name “Karlin” along with another name. Rabbi Shafran’s historic ruling entered the pantheon of famous historic rulings as a result of his apt turn of phrase , “Just as there is Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, there can be ‘Pinsk-Karlin’ and ‘Stolin-Karlin…’ ”
Historic Chassidic letter of rare importance that deals with one of the harshest Chassidic disputes of the previous generation.
[1] leaf paper. Approximately 28 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Fold marks.