“This matter is sacred and lofty and stands at the peak of the world of Judaism”
Important and beautiful letter handwritten, signed and stamped by the renowned gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstein, av beit din of Novhardok and author of Aruch haShulchan . The letter was sent in the midst of the mussar controversy. It is addressed to the gvir Louis Sandler of Inowrazlaw, with a request for support for the students at the Novhardok yeshivah. Novhardok, Iyyar, 1905.
Text of the letter:
“B’ezrat Hashem, Wednesday, 26 Iyyar 1905, Novhardok.
Shalom u’vrachah merubah to the honorable and merciful benefactor, who appreciates rabbis, the precious Rabbi Louis Sandler shlit”a, who engages in charity in his community of Inowrazlaw,
From one who seeks [your] well-being, I write in appreciation and with a request from [your] esteemed honor regarding your charity for the many Torah scholars, gedolim in Torah and fear of Heaven, who diligently study Sha”s and poskim so that they can become rabbis, gedolim among the Jewish people. This sacred matter is well-known, and [your] reward is very great. This matter is sacred and lofty and stands at the peak of the world of Judaism. I find myself under the obligation of begging [your] honor once again, with the pending arrival of the emissary, the great Rabbi Yosef … to make the effort to come to his assistance, to increase this event as much as possible. The outlay is very high, and as is known, the condition of our brethren in our country [Russia] is bad and their fate is bitter, may Hashem have mercy. Even the nedivim among us do not have the ability to help except for a little, so the Torah scholars rely upon our brothers abroad for their assistance. It is a sacred obligation to support this as much as possible, and the merit of the sacred Torah will protect [you] and all that is [yours], as befits [your] pure soul and the souls of those who admire and honor [you]. Sincerely and with affection, Yechiel Michel HaLevi [of Novardok]”
Stamp at the bottom of the postcard: “Michel HaLevi Epstein of Novardok.”
Background: In 1895, the Alter of Novhardok, Rabbi Yozel Hurwitz began to establish a network of kollelim for avreichim in the area around Novhardok, under the guidance of Rabbi Itzeleh Blazer. One of the kollelim was based in the city of Novhardok itself. In 1896, the Alter established a yeshivah gedolah for young men in Novhardok. From the day the kollelim and the yeshivah were established, the author of Aruch HaShulchan lent his full support and efforts to help the yeshivah and kollelim materially and spiritually. He used the entire weight of his influence for their success. Those were the years of the famous “mussar controversy” that roiled Lithuanian towns and rabbis. The controversy abated when the Aruch HaShulchan came out in defense of the Alter of Novhardok’s activities with all his might (for an extensive discussion of this, refer to the sefer Ta’aroch Lefanai Shulchan by Rabbi Eitam Henkin, may his blood be avenged). This is one of the enthusiastic letters of support written by the Aruch HaShulchan for the students of the kollel (or the yeshivah) in Novhardok.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the famous gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstein, author of Aruch HaShulchan .
[1] postcard. 14 cm.
Fine-very fine condition.