Auction 101 Part 2 Chassidut and Kabbalah | Jerusalem Printings | Letters and Manuscripts | Objects
Letter of Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz – Opposition of American Orthodox Jewry to Religious Persecution in Eretz Israel – U.S.A. 1963
Opening: $300
Sold for: $525
Including buyer's premium
Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Kalmanowitz, dean of the Mir yeshiva in the United States. [United States], Sunday, Toldot [Cheshvan] 1963.
Historical letter addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, head rabbi of the London Beit Din, "president of the Vaad HaYeshivot in Eretz Israel". Written in response to the protests in Israel for religious observance and the fight against Christian missionaries. R. Kalmanowitz reports to R. Abramsky [then leader of Orthodox Jewry in Eretz Israel] on the organized protest of rabbinic groups in the United States against the persecution of religious observance in Israel. He writes that the two issues at hand were brought to the attention of the Israeli consulate, which responded only with a non-committal letter, which is copied in the present letter.
R. Kalmanowitz goes on to tell of his efforts to unite all the religious organizations in the United States to sign an open letter demanding the government acquiesce to three demands: 1) To make missionary activity illegal; 2) to legally prevent Sabbath desecration in Orthodox neighborhoods, and 3) have the police take a positive attitude towards those warning against Sabbath desecration and relieve them of punishment.
R. Avraham Kalmanowitz (1891-1964), a leading rabbi of Lithuania and the United States. Served as Rabbi of Rakaw and Tykocin, and was a central figure in the Vaad HaYeshivot in Poland. During the Holocaust he was a leader of the Vaad Hatzalah and was involved in world-ranging efforts to support the Mir yeshiva which had fled to Shanghai. After the Holocaust he reestablished the Mir yeshiva in the United States, and was heavily involved in Torah education of Mizrachi Jews, and established a large Torah network in Morocco. He also worked to support Orthodox Jewry in Eretz Israel in its fights for religious observance, and was in constant contact with leading Torah authorities such as the Chazon Ish, the Brisker Rav and Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky.
[1] leaf. Written on both sides. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.