Lengthy historic-bibliographic letter handwritten by the renowned gaon Rabbi Avraham Dovber Kahana Shapira, rabbi of Kovno and author of Dvar Avraham . Written on the eve of the Holocaust. Kovno, 3 Elul 1938.
The rabbi of Kovno discusses the stipend for members of his famous Kovno Kollel in this letter, as well as the translation of the renowned booklet Taharat HaMishpachah , printed from his speech at the first Beit Ya’akov conference in Kovno, on Chanukah, 1935 [refer to the photo]. The Dvar Avraham writes that the booklet was just translated into German and will soon be available in English translation as well.
It is interesting to note that this letter was sent in mid-1938 (late תרצ”ח). There are those who note that the Hebrew year spells out “your shall murder, ” presaging the terrible killing and annihilation that took place from that year onward in a way not seen since the Creation of Heaven and Earth. This letter, like many period letters, do not indicate anything about the upcoming Holocaust, as if the world is revolving quite normally, despite the thousands of red lights flashing from Nazi Germany. This is probably due to the human nature of denial, and the belief that all will be good.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the great gaon Rabbi Avraham Dovber Kahana Shapira, av beit din of Kovno and author of Dvar Avraham .
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. Official stationery.
Fine condition. Fold marks. Slight tears in the margins, without lack.