Extremely sharp historic-polemic letter. Written and signed in print by Rabbi Chaim Elazar of Munkacs, author of Minchat Elazar. Sent to the leaders of the Chust community about the controversy over the rabbinate there. Written in Munkacs, Motza’ei Shabbat of the reading ” lo yachel devaro ” [2 Av], 1934. Printed in Chust.
Extraordinarily sharp polemic letter, even for the Minchat Elazar, who was known for his sharpness and zealotry. The Minchat Elazar uses expressions in this letter such as “It is not worth engaging with these rabbis because their approach to truth and peace is clear and known to all – their way is to ignite dispute everywhere.” He was not finished until he called them “Korach and his people”!
Background to this letter: In 1934, after the Mahari”tz Dushinsky’s ascent to the Land of Israel, the gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Greenwald was appointed to succeed him as rabbi of Chust, in the path of his father and his grandfather, the Arugat HaBosem , who served in the rabbinate there. However, part of the community wanted to appoint the author of VaYaged Ya’akov of Pupa, Rabbi Yehoshua’s uncle, to the position. This created a huge controversy, and rabbis from several countries became involved. Kuntressim were even written on the topic: Kosht Divrei Emet (Munkacs, 1935) and Ktov Zot Zikaron BaSefer (Beregszász, 1935).
From this letter by the Minchat Elazar, we learn that the two sides came to him for a din Torah and he decided in favor of Rabbi Yehoshua Greenwald. In his inimitable way, he does not show favor to all the rabbis of Slovakia who supported the appointment of the VaYaged Ya’akov of Pupa. The Minchat Elazar refers to them, as mentioned, using harsh terms, and claims in his letter that Slovakian rabbis have no say whatsoever in what takes place in Chust: “Because Baruch Hashem , there is no connection between our country and Slovakia and their rabbis and their consul.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the Admo”r Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira , Rabbi Yehoshua Greenwald , and Rabbi Ya’akov Yechizkiyah Greenwald .
[1] leaf paper, 20.5×34 cm. Printed signature on the Minchat Elazar’s official stationery.
Fine condition. Tiny tears in the margins, without damage to text.