Important collection of eight lengthy letters full of historic content from the chairman of the Council of Torah Sages, the renowned gaon Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin. Rabbi Sorotzkin was among the leaders of the Chareidi public in Lithuania and in the Land of Israel. The letters are also from his son, the gaon Rabbi Elchanan Sorotzkin. The addressee was the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Tzvi [Zeidel] Siemiatycki, a leading rescue activist and son-in-law of the gaon Rabbi Moshe Leib Schneider, rosh yeshivah of Torat Emet in London. London and Jerusalem, 1946-1947.
The letters deal with a wide range of topics: transfer of funds to aid and rescue bnei yeshivah ; internal disputes in Agudat Yisrael; a shidduch recommendation for Rabbi Elchanan with the famous Holocaust survivor Ms. Tzilah Orlean, a student of Sarah Schenirer; the security situation in the Land of Israel on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel; Holocaust refugees from among the survivors and more.
Details of the letters and their content:
* Receipt from Rabbi Elchanan for a considerable sum of money for the rescue of bnei yeshivah . London, Parashat Balak [Tammuz] 1946.
The receipt is entirely handwritten, and confirms the receipt of five hundred pounds sterling from Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky, Rabbi Zeidel Siemiatycki and Rabbi Aharon Goodman “for the benefit of Chareidi Jews in Poland and their rescue needs, to smuggle them from the bloodstained countries. For hundreds of rabbis, bnei yeshivah and G-d-fearing youth …” He signs his name in full at the end: “Elchanan Sorotzkin, son of the gaon Rabbi Zalman, shlit”a, member of the rescue committee for the Polish community and member of the Va’ad Hatzalah in Poland”
[1] leaf paper, written on one side. 20×14.5 cm.
* Historic letter from Rabbi Elchanan on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel, with historic information about the situation in the Land, and about the ascent of Holocaust survivors to the Land of Israel. Jerusalem, on the eve of Shabbat HaGadol, [Nissan, ] 1947.
In this letter, written entirely in his hand, Rabbi Elchanan describes what happened to him upon his return from London to the Land of Israel, and about the tense security situation: “The tension in the Land has passed, at least for now, but the curfew in Jerusalem is still in effect. One may not leave his home except once in a while. Yet we are satisfied. May the situation not get any worse due to some inconsiderate, irresponsible act …”
Later on, Rabbi Elchanan relates that the Va’ad HaPoel’s decision is to send another messenger to Europe in his place, so he would like to know about the decision regarding ascending to the Land of Israel: The first convoy to the Land of Israel is leaving [Bergen-Belsen] on April 5th, with four hundred people. As far as I can tell, the aforementioned is not in this convoy, but it is reasonable to think that another convoy will be leaving soon (as about a thousand certificates were issued). If the issue is as we discussed in London, I will try this direction.
At the end, he blesses him towards the upcoming Passover holiday, and send regards from his father, the gaon Rabbi Zalman.
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. 22×14 cm. Official stationery.
* Joint letter from the gaon Rabbi Zalman and his son Rabbi Elchanan on the eve of the establishment of the State – information about the tense security situation in the Land of Israel. Rabbi Elchanan’s shidduchim and more. Jerusalem, Parashat Acharei Mot – Kedoshim [Iyyar] 1947.
The missive contains two different letters: the first is from Rabbi Elchanan, written at the climax of the tense security situation. After the date, he notes R.E. (under curfew). In this letter, he discusses the exchange of tzedakah funds between him, the addressee, and the renowned Mrs. Sternbuch from Switzerland. Later on, he that a son was born to Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, son-in-law of Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, rosh yeshivah of Mir. He then tells him about a din Torah between Pardes and Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel regarding an extraordinary amount of charity funds.
A separate letter appears on the back of the missive from the gaon Rabbi Zalman. He opens his letter with a comment about the situation: “We are under siege, at a precipice almost every night, and even during the daytime, from the tormentor. However, we accept the tribulations of the Land of Israel with love. May Hashem expand it for us and make us fruitful in the Land of our forefathers.”
The body of the letter deals with a shidduch suggestion for Rabbi Elchanan, and issues related to public funds.
[1] air mail letter. The internal part of the letter is written in Rabbi Elchanan’s penmanship, and on its back, a separate letter (about 35 lines) appears in Rabbi Zalman’s hand. 24×19.5 cm.
* Lengthy letter from Rabbi Elchanan, a short time before his marriage. Jerusalem, 11 Tammuz, 1947.
Rabbi Elchanan apologizes in this letter for the delay in writing and sending letters. He thanks the recipients from the bottom of his heart for their tremendous assistance, especially with the shidduch. He then relates details about the apartment and furniture they arranged. He concludes, “And we obviously invite you with all our hearts to our wedding, as my first and primary mechutanim …”
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. Official stationery. 22×14 cm.
* Family letter from the gaon Rabbi Zalman. Jerusalem, Parashat Balak [Tammuz] 1947.
The letter is written entirely in Rabbi Zalman’s penmanship, in which he expresses his deep appreciation to Rabbi Zeidel, who suggested the shidduch between his eldest son Rabbi Elchanan and Ms. Tzilah Orlean, one of Sarah Schnierer’s students. Rabbi Zalman writes that “It is only because things were said to me as from the urim that we waited such a long time, and we did not pay attention to any suggestions whether here or abroad, very fine suggestions. We only took note of [your] faithful, firm and clear words. As indeed, we found in Tzilah everything [you] said, nothing less …”
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. Approximately 21×14 cm.
* Joint letter from the gaon Rabbi Zalman and his son Rabbi Elchanan – information about the split in Agudat Yisrael towards the upcoming UNSCOP conference, with warm blessings for the shidduch suggestion that concluded in an engagement. Jerusalem, Parashat Pinchas [Tammuz] 1947. Very interesting content.
The letter opens with Rabbi Elchanan thanking Rabbi Zeidel from the bottom of his heart for the shidduch he suggested, “for finding my wife for me … [She is] suitable for me in every way, excellent in all virtues and mitzvahs, a woman like my own heart and soul …”
Later on in the letter, he shares important information about the huge dispute in Agudat Yisrael, between the “Center, ” the “Zealots” and the “Poalim” (Po’ alei Agudat Yisrael) streams. The dispute revolved around the content of Agudat Yisrael’s declaration to UNSCOP .
On the back of the letter, the gaon Rabbi Zalman wrote close to 15 letters in his own hand about the Council of Torah Sages’ assembly in Marienbad.
[1] air mail letter, most in Rabbi Elchanan’s penmanship, with 15 lines written by the gaon Rabbi Zalman at the end. 24×19.5 cm.
* Joint letter from the gaon Rabbi Zalman and his son Rabbi Elchanan. Jerusalem, 14 Av 1947. In this letter, Rabbi Elchanan invites Rabbi Zeidel to his wedding with Mrs. Tzilah Orlean, Sarah Schnierer’s disciple.
This was Rabbi Elchanan’s second marriage, after his first wife was killed in the Holocaust along with their two children. Rabbi Zeidel and his wife were apparently the shadchanim.
Rabbi Zalman added nine lines in his hand and with his signature on the margins of the letter, in which he writes that he joins his son’s invitation. Yet if it is impossible (to come) due to the distance … their hearts are very close, and they are sure that on the night of the wedding, they will remember them “(… And we will be with you – the good messengers). Bless the couple and pray for them, that the marriage hold, and they build an eternal home… with appreciation and blessings from Tziyon, your close friend, Zalman Sorotzkin.”
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides, most in Rabbi Elchanan’s penmanship, with 9 lines written by the gaon Rabbi Zalman at the end. 22×14 cm.
* Joint letter from the gaon Rabbi Zalman and his son Rabbi Elchanan – fascinating historic information about the establishment of the Slobodka yeshivah and about the disagreement between Agudat Yisrael and Poalei Agudat Yisrael. Jerusalem, Sivan 1947.
In this letter, Rabbi Elchanan shares information about the Slobodka yeshivah, reopened by Rabbi Mordechai Shulman in Bnei Brak. Later on, he relates important and fascinating information about yeshivah issues, Agudat Yisrael and Poalei Agudat Yisrael “Our friend Mr. Goodman certainly told [you] that he received lengthy letters from [Rabbi Zalman] about all the issues related to the yeshivahs and Agudat Yisrael. We were anguished by Binyamin Mintz who came out against Agudat Yisrael regarding a special appearance before the UN. [Rabbi Zalman] forced him to print a denial and declaration that this is just his personal opinion, and this week the denial will be printed. My father and Rabbi Meir Karelitz will agree to offer support, or properly, to issue a psak din about all the conflicts between Agudat Yisrael and the Poalim. The discussion will begin after Shavuot …”
Rabbi Zalman adds 8 lines in his hand and with his signature in which he writes that he is sure that Rabbi Zeidel will do all he can to end the dispute, “because both sides rely on [your] words as on the words of the urim …”
[1] air mail letter, most in Rabbi Elchanan’s penmanship, with 8 lines by Rabbi Zalman at the end.
23.5×19.5 cm.
Total of [8] letters.
Overall moderate-fine condition. Fold marks, aging stains and minimal wear.
