Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
Long Letter by the Lubavitch Rebbe - Regarding the Prohibition of Traveling on Shabbat on a Jewish-Owned Ship - The Rebbe's Battle against the Desecration of Shabbat by the Zim Company in the 1950s and 60s
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Long letter by R. Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of Lubavitch-Chabad, regarding the prohibition of traveling on a Jewish-owned ship during Shabbat. Brooklyn, NY, Kislev 1957.
Yiddish letter. Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his own signature and several corrections in his handwriting.
Sent to "Rebbetzin Freida Gittel" [Moriah] of Jerusalem. The Rebbe extensively writes his opinion regarding traveling on a Jewish-owned ship on Shabbat. He writes (translated from Yiddish): "Traveling on such a ship undoubtedly constitutes Shabbat desecration and since many people are aboard, it is also Shabbat desecration in public. This also applies if the ship departed at the beginning of the week". The Rebbe expresses his heartache at this desecration and lengthily explains the seriousness of Shabbat desecration. He ends the letter (translated from Yiddish): "I am certain that regarding her health, if she travels in a manner that adheres to Shabbat laws… this merit will improve her health speedily until her complete recovery" (this letter was printed in Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 16, pp. 120-121, and in its Hebrew translation in Igrot Kodesh MeTurgamot, Vol. 3, pp. 12-13, with the omission of the first two lines and the name of the addressee).
In 1957, the Lubavitcher Rebbe fought to raise public awareness of the desecration of Shabbat by the ZIM Israel Navigation Company, whose ships traveled to the USA on Shabbat. During the 1950s, travel to and from Israel was primarily by ship. The trip lasted for two weeks and therefore involved desecration of Shabbat laws. The Zim Company claimed that the ship navigates automatically and does not need human operating, however, the Rebbe, who had studied engineering in his youth and even specialized in marine engineering, refuted the claims that the ship can automatically cruise without human operations for a whole Shabbat. The Rebbe was the first and for a while the only person who valiantly and fiercely fought this battle for the sanctity of Shabbat. He sent dozens of letters to well-known rabbis and poskim. Most agreed with his opinion and ruled that traveling on these ships was prohibited. This battle went on for several years, until eventually, travelling in passenger ships was replaced by airplane travel and Zim stopped operating the line between Israel and the USA. The Rebbe conducted this battle in two arenas simultaneously. In the public arena he sent letters and discussed the issue with public figures, rabbis and poskim throughout the world. At the same time, he wrote letters and instructed all who would heed his words and of course, his own Chassidim to abstain from traveling on those ships, as illustrated in this long letter.
2 leaves. 27 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Folding marks.
Yiddish letter. Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his own signature and several corrections in his handwriting.
Sent to "Rebbetzin Freida Gittel" [Moriah] of Jerusalem. The Rebbe extensively writes his opinion regarding traveling on a Jewish-owned ship on Shabbat. He writes (translated from Yiddish): "Traveling on such a ship undoubtedly constitutes Shabbat desecration and since many people are aboard, it is also Shabbat desecration in public. This also applies if the ship departed at the beginning of the week". The Rebbe expresses his heartache at this desecration and lengthily explains the seriousness of Shabbat desecration. He ends the letter (translated from Yiddish): "I am certain that regarding her health, if she travels in a manner that adheres to Shabbat laws… this merit will improve her health speedily until her complete recovery" (this letter was printed in Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 16, pp. 120-121, and in its Hebrew translation in Igrot Kodesh MeTurgamot, Vol. 3, pp. 12-13, with the omission of the first two lines and the name of the addressee).
In 1957, the Lubavitcher Rebbe fought to raise public awareness of the desecration of Shabbat by the ZIM Israel Navigation Company, whose ships traveled to the USA on Shabbat. During the 1950s, travel to and from Israel was primarily by ship. The trip lasted for two weeks and therefore involved desecration of Shabbat laws. The Zim Company claimed that the ship navigates automatically and does not need human operating, however, the Rebbe, who had studied engineering in his youth and even specialized in marine engineering, refuted the claims that the ship can automatically cruise without human operations for a whole Shabbat. The Rebbe was the first and for a while the only person who valiantly and fiercely fought this battle for the sanctity of Shabbat. He sent dozens of letters to well-known rabbis and poskim. Most agreed with his opinion and ruled that traveling on these ships was prohibited. This battle went on for several years, until eventually, travelling in passenger ships was replaced by airplane travel and Zim stopped operating the line between Israel and the USA. The Rebbe conducted this battle in two arenas simultaneously. In the public arena he sent letters and discussed the issue with public figures, rabbis and poskim throughout the world. At the same time, he wrote letters and instructed all who would heed his words and of course, his own Chassidim to abstain from traveling on those ships, as illustrated in this long letter.
2 leaves. 27 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Folding marks.