Four letters of R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Vilna, Av-Cheshvan 1937.
Handwritten by R. Chaim Ozer's scribe, with several lines handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Ozer. Addressed to his intimate associate R. Yechezkel Abramsky, head rabbi of the London Beit Din. One of the letters contains additional lines added in the margins, handwritten and signed (with initials) by R. Aharon Dov Alter Voronovsky – confidant, scribe and secretary of R. Chaim Ozer, and relative of R. Abramsky.
The letters comprise various matters, and mainly discuss funding for yeshivas in Poland, and assistance for Shemitah-observant settlements in Eretz Israel, in view of the approaching Shemitah year (1937-1938).
In the first letter, dated 8th Av 1937, R. Chaim Ozer writes of assistance to the Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna. He goes on to write at length discussing the assistance to Shemitah observers in the Machaneh Yisrael settlement in Eretz Israel. He goes on to expand on the details of Shemitah law, quoting a letter by his friend the Chazon Ish: "…In my previous letter I mentioned the request of the Poalei Agudat Yisrael in Machaneh Yisrael for support in the Shemitah year, and yesterday I received a clarification from my friend the author of the Chazon Ish, stating that the pressure affects them in particular. Now the other moshavim have some kind of recourse, since the Shemitah status of oranges will not be in the year 5698 (1937-1938) but rather 5699 (1938-1939), because the fruits of 5698 had already sprouted one third of the way, and consequently the livelihood of the workers mainly supported by harvest and work in orange orchards will not be ruined in 5698, and the work is permitted since every tree would die otherwise… and it was ruled permissible to plant a vegetable before Rosh Hashanah without violating the prohibition of Sefichin even when gathered during the Shemitah year… Consequently, the other kibbutzim of Poalei Agudat Yisrael have some way to organize their subsistence even in the Shemitah year. This is not the case in the Poalei Agudat Yisrael kibbutz in Machaneh Yisrael which does not have such options, since they have no orchards in the environs to tend for their livelihood, nor do they have enough water to grow vegetables, and they would be forced to relocate and have strangers possess their land… With small support we may then sanctify G-d's name and show to all that it is possible to observe Shemitah properly, and all the rumors that it involves mortal danger only come from cold-heartedness and lack of proper fear of Torah and mitzvot. This is the content of the letter of the Chazon Ish in brief…".
In the margins of this letter, R. Chaim Ozer adds several lines in his handwriting regarding the question of halachic time reform and Chief Rabbi Dr. Joseph Hertz's struggle against the change, which would threaten Shabbat observance worldwide.
In the second letter, dated 25th Av 1937, among other subjects, the letter addresses the Shemitah issue: "Regarding the Shemitah, I was overjoyed to learn that you are prepared to endeavor for the benefit of Shemitah observers. Today I received a letter from the Poalim in Machaneh Yisrael who are despondently awaiting speedy assistance. As I informed you of the contents of the letter of the Chazon Ish [see previous letter], the most urgent need for assistance is in Machaneh Yisrael, and I am confident that when you return home safely you will engage in this at once. You surely know how your grandfather the RIdvaz traveled at the time to London and Paris to work for the benefit of Shemitah observers…".
In the margins of this letter, R. Chaim Ozer adds several handwritten lines regarding various issues, with friendly blessings to him and his family: "And I wish peace and blessing to you, your family and friends, as is your dear wish and that of your loving friend, esteeming and respecting you, seeking your welfare and happiness always, Chaim Ozer Grodzinski".
In the letter dated 19th Cheshvan 1938, R. Chaim Ozer asks: "…I am waiting to find out whether something has been done on behalf of the Shemitah fund, as you promised last summer". R. Chaim Ozer goes on to discuss a letter he received from his brother-in-law, R. Elchanan Wasserman, regarding fundraising in London for the yeshivas in Poland, and regarding a letter R. Chaim Ozer had received from his brother-in-law R. Yitzchak Kosovsky of Johannesburg regarding the possibility of acting in South Africa on behalf of the yeshivas, by the Board of Deputies in London – "It would be appropriate to attempt to win hearts in London. In general, he informs me that if a delegation were to come there… they would gather respectable sums. He urges to do so, since if there is a delay, the Zionists will advertise their funds first". R. Chaim Ozer signs in his handwriting: "Your loving friend, esteeming and respecting you, seeking your welfare, Chaim Ozer Grodzinski".
In the letter dated 21st Cheshvan 1937, R. Chaim Ozer discusses the proposal of R. Abramsky to appoint "the Rabbi of Krynki" [R. Chizkiyahu Yosef Mishkovsky] or the Rabbi of Tykocin [R. Avraham Kalmanowitz] to the yeshiva fundraising delegation to South Africa. R. Chaim Ozer goes on to discuss the assistance for the Eretz Israel Shemitah Fund, enclosing the announcement regarding the Shemitah.
R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) was a foremost rabbi of his generation and leader of European Jewry. He was the son of R. David Shlomo Grodzinski, Rabbi of Iwye. He was renowned from his childhood for his exceptional brilliance. He entered the Volozhin yeshiva at the young age of 11, and became a disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk. At the age of 24, he was appointed rabbi and posek of Vilna, succeeding his father-in-law R. Eliyahu Eliezer Grodnansky, a posek in Vilna (son-in-law of R. Yisrael Salanter). He assumed the yoke of public leadership from a young age, and his opinion was conclusive on all public issues which arose throughout the Jewish world for close to fifty years.
The recipient of the letters, R. Yechezkel Abramsky (1886-1976), was a confidant and agent of R. Chaim Ozer of Vilna ever since developing close ties with him in his youth while studying under his influence in Vilna. In winter of 1806, the "prodigy of Masty" Yechezkel Abramsky was forced to leave the Telshe yeshiva and flee to Vilna [which was then under Polish control] to avoid conscription to the Russian army. In Vilna he was accepted into the Ramailes yeshiva and joined the elite class of students who listened to the advanced lectures of R. Chaim Ozer (based on Melech BeYofyo, pp. 29-33). While subsequently serving as Rabbi of Smilavichy and Slutsk, he served often as R. Chaim Ozer's agent in various communal affairs. R. Abramsky smuggled the manuscript of Part I of his Chazon Yechezkel from Slutsk to his teacher R. Chaim Ozer in Vilna, who was involved in its publication in Vilna, 1925, through his confidant R. Aharon Dov Alter Voronovsky (R. Abramsky's wife's cousin).
When R. Abramsky was arrested by the Soviets and sent to Siberia in 1930, R. Chaim Ozer made every possible effort to release him. After his release in 1931, R. Chaim Ozer and the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch joined with R. Abramsky to initiate the project of sending Pesach flour and food packages to Jews under the Bolshevik regime in Russia. Likewise, R. Abramsky was active on missions on behalf of R. Chaim Ozer for yeshivas in Poland and Lithuania and for rabbis of Europe. They also cooperated on many public issues, including the struggles for Jewish marriage and against the anti-Semitic laws in Germany and Europe forbidding Jewish shechitah (requiring stunning animals before slaughtering, which renders the meat non-kosher), and on rescue activity for rabbis and yeshivas who fled as refugees to Vilna at the start of the Holocaust. The present letters reflect some of their cooperation on halachah, public and private affairs, and assistance to rabbis.
4 letters, on official stationery. 28.5 cm. Varying condition, good to good-fair. Stains, wear and folding marks. Dark stains to fourth letter.
