Lengthy letter (2 pages), handwritten and signed by R. Isser Zalman Meltzer, dean of the Etz Chaim yeshiva. Jerusalem, 9th Nisan 1935.

Addressed to his friend R. Yechezkel Abramsky, author of Chazon Yechezkel, head rabbi of the Slutsk and London Batei Din (R. Isser Zalman's successor as Rabbi of Slutsk). R. Isser Zalman thanks him for his appreciation and notes to his Even HaAzel, mentioning his notes he had sent on Chazon Yechezkel Part I (see: Kedem, Auction 102, 7 May 2025, Lot 182), humbly apologizing for not having corresponded with him on Chazon Yechezkel Part II.

In the course of the letter, R. Isser Zalman brings up the difficult financial position of Torah institutions in Eretz Israel (due to that year's financial crisis), and the fact that the yeshiva deans and learners had not received salaries for many months. He asks R. Abramsky for assistance distributing the book in England, and in funding its printing.

R. Isser Zalman concludes the letter with festival blessings and his signature.

On the margins of the first page, he apologizes for the delay in sending his letter.

R. Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1953), author of Even HaAzel. A leading Torah scholar of Lithuania and Jerusalem, he was born in Mir and studied in the Volozhin yeshiva under the Netziv and R. Chaim of Brisk (who esteemed the young prodigy "Zunye" highly, and would say that "when Zunyele opens his mouth, the pipes of his brain open up" – as a student who increases his teachers' knowledge). After his marriage he served as the first yeshiva dean of the Knesset Yisrael yeshiva in Slabodka along with R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein, and later moved to Slutsk with 14 elite disciples, where he established a large yeshiva and subsequently succeeded the Ridvaz as Rabbi of the city. He immigrated to Jerusalem in 1924 and was appointed dean of the Etz Chaim yeshiva. He was also a leader of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, and father-in-law of R. Aharon Kotler, dean of the Kletsk and Lakewood yeshivas (and also headed the Independent Educational System).

The recipient,
R. Yechezkel Abramsky, author of Chazon Yechezkel (1886-1976), head rabbi of the Beit Din of Slutsk and London, was a friend of R. Isser Zalman from before World War I, when R. Isser Zalman served as Rabbi of Slutsk and R. Abramsky served as Rabbi of Smolyan and Smilavichy. In 1923, when R. Isser Zalman was obliged to flee the Bolsheviks in Russia, he recommended R. Abramsky to serve as his successor as Rabbi in Slutsk. During his tenure in Slutsk, he began his magnum opus, the Chazon Yechezkel on the Tosefta. The manuscript of the first part of Chazon Yechezkel was smuggled from Slutsk to R. Chaim Ozer in Vilna, who had it printed in Vilna in 1925 by R. Aharon Dov Alter Voronovsky (R. Abramsky's wife's cousin), R. Chaim Ozer's confidant and scribe. In 1930 R. Abramsky was arrested and exiled to Siberia by the Bolshevik authorities. When R. Abramsky was released in 1932, he first reached Lithuania and later that year traveled to serve as Rabbi of the Machazikei HaDat community in London, and from 1935 as head rabbi of the London Beit Din, until his retirement and immigration to Jerusalem in 1951.

[1] leaf, official stationery, written on both sides. 28 cm. Fair condition. Dampstains, wear and folding marks. Tears to folds.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Feinstein, with an enclosed halachic responsum (4 large pages) handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Feinstein. Lyuban (Belarus), Isru Chag Sukkot [Tishrei] 1929.

Halachic responsum on the issue of insanity, regarding an individual with messianic delusions who also performed acts of madness. To avoid an agunah situation, R. Moshe rules him mentally fit to give his wife a document of divorce. The present document is his handwritten copying of his permissive ruling with its reasons.

R. Moshe Feinstein forwards his ruling to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, then Rabbi of Slutsk, adding he was unable to consult with R. Abramsky on the issue due to his personal troubles [probably alluding to the persecution he was suffering at the time by the Russian authorities and the Yevsektsiya (the Jewish section of the Communist Party)].

In the margins R. Moshe apologizes for being unable to send him a clean copying, because he was unable to get quality paper.

The present lengthy responsum, dated 13th Elul 1929, is printed in Responsa Igrot Moshe (Even HaEzer I, 120, pp. 285-293).

R. Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), foremost halachic authority in the United States. A leader of Orthodox Jewry, he served as president of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, and chairman of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. He was the dean of the Tiferet Yerushalayim yeshiva in New York. He authored Responsa Igrot Moshe, Dibrot Moshe – Talmudic novellae, and Darash Moshe – novellae on the Torah.

R. Moshe Feinstein had served as Rabbi of Lyuban, Belarus in 1921-1936 under the Bolsheviks, and it was during this period that he met R. Abramsky (1886-1976), who served as Rabbi of Slutsk from 1923-1930 until his arrest and exile to Siberia.

Letter: 19X11 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and folding marks. Tears to upper edges.

Responsum: Double leaf (4 written pages), 34 cm. Fair condition. Wear and tears. Open tears to tops of leaves, affecting text.

Halachic ruling by the leading yeshiva deans in the United States – lithograph of the ruling handwritten and signed by R. Aharon Kotler, with the signatures (in print) of R. Avraham Yoffen, R. Dovid Lifshitz, R. Yaakov Kamenetsky and R. Moshe Feinstein. United States, 14th Kislev (November 22) 1961.

Provisional halachic ruling from a discussion of the leading rabbis in the United States: "Regarding the disagreements between the Peilim Committee in America with their agent, the Peilim Committee in the Holy Land".

The halachic rulings states: "After we listened to the arguments of both parties, we the undersigned decided based on Torah law as follows: 1) It is by no means permitted to hold two special fundraisers in America in any form, as this involves much dissent, desecration of G-d's name and dishonor of Torah learners… 2) Since the local committee has been working for several years, they are considered to have the prevailing right, and their agent, the committee of Eretz Israel, is not permitted to collect by itself for Peilim, nor to conduct a special campaign, nor to cause any disturbance to the work of the local committee. 3) The American committee is required to answer the Eretz Israel committee in a Torah lawsuit in a distinguished court with each party selecting a judge, or in a court agreed upon by both parties… 4) Until the Torah lawsuit is held, the agent of the Eretz Israel committee is permitted to enter as a member of the local committee and to be present at the meetings of the committee… in accordance with the agreement of last Tamuz… 5) An agent of Peilim of Eretz Israel is permitted to participate in the treasury management, in accordance with the agreement of last Tamuz. 6) Both parties are obligated to conduct everything peacefully and uprightly, and not to cause any loss to the office and the overall matter. 7) Each party is allowed to call the other to a Torah lawsuit for a decisive arrangement on coordination of work with the Eretz Israel committee, but until the Torah lawsuit is held they shall act in accordance with the above paragraphs…".

[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.

Huge collection of letters on various topics, from the archive of R. Mordechai Meir Pollak, Rabbi of Weisskirchen (Hranice), a leading rabbi of the Czech lands and Austria – comprising letters from his teachers, peers and disciples from various time periods, rabbis of Central Europe: Moravia, Austria, Hungary, Germany and other countries in the region. The collection includes Torah letters, controversies on rabbinic issues and the Reform movement, public and private matters, and more. The collection also includes letters, drafts and sermons handwritten by R. Pollak and other rabbis.

The present collection is a historical documentation of a complete generation in Moravia, of rabbis and Torah learners, most of whom studied in Hungarian yeshivas under the Ktav Sofer, while also acquiring a secular education in contemporary universities in Vienna and Prague. Many disciples of the Ktav Sofer whose letters appear in this archive are, for whatever reason, not documented (or only marginally documented) in HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, which records generations of students of the Pressburg yeshiva.

R. Mordechai Meir Pollak (1830-1897), born in Kolin, Bohemia (present-day Kolín, Czech Republic), studied under local authority R. Daniel Frank and R. Gedaliah Tiktin, head rabbi of the Breslau Beit Din. He later studied in the Pressburg yeshiva, becoming a close disciple of the Ktav Sofer, as well as a member of his household and tutor to his children. He later returned to his hometown of Kolin, studying for three years in the yeshiva of his teacher R. Daniel Frank Rabbi of Kolin, who granted him rabbinical ordination. He later studied in Prague under R. Shlomo Yehudah Leib Rappaport (Shir; son-in-law of the Ketzot HaChoshen), who also ordained him. In 1858 he became engaged to the daughter of R. Yitzchak Leib Feistadt, disciple of the Chatam Sofer and founder of the Schiffschul in Vienna. Upon his marriage, he was appointed Rabbi of Weisskirchen, Moravia (present-day Hranice, Czech Republic). In 1868 he was appointed Rabbi of Holleschau, Moravia (present-day Holešov, Czech Republic), the city where the Shach had previously served as Rabbi until his death. In his last years, from 1893, he served as the head of the Beit Din in the capital city of Vienna, until his passing on 26th Sivan 1897.

The collection includes:

• Seven letters from his teacher, R. Daniel Frank, Rabbi of Kolin – letters of ordination and recommendation, blessing and friendship, including ordination as "chaver" in 1843 (at the young age of 13[!]), an ordination to issue ritual halachic decisions in 1854, a rabbinic ordination in 1858, and more.

R. Daniel Frank (1796-1860), a leading Moravian rabbi. Disciple of R. Shmuel Leib Kauder, author of Olat Shmuel. Served as dayan and posek in Wotitz (Votice) and Rabbi of Kolin, a position he held until his passing.

• Lengthy Torah letter from R. Shabtai Katz Rappaport, Rabbi of Dąbrowa (ca. 1820-1896), a leading Galician rabbi and a descendant of the Shach. Many of his sons officiated as rabbis of various cities.

• Two letters, written by a scribe with his own signature (shaky, in his later years), of R. Yosef Biach Feilbogen. Strassnitz (Strážnice), 1867-1868. Blessings for appointment of R. Pollak as Rabbi of Holleschau (where R. Feilbogen had previously served for 26 years), and the second a copying of a letter of R. Avraham Chaim brill of Bialystok dated 1841, to R. Yosef, on a fund for Torah scholars in Holleschau.

R. Yosef Biach Feilbogen (1785-1869), son of R. Yaakov Hirsch Biach Feilbogern, Rabbi of Steinitz (Uherský Ostroh), ordained by R. Mordechai Benet Rabbi of Nikolsburg (Mikulov) and served as Rabbi in several important Moravian communities: Piesling (Písečné), Pirnitz (Brtnice), Kanitz (Dolní Kounice), Holleschau (Holešov) and Gross-Meseritsch (Velké Meziříčí). In his later years he moved to Strassnitz (Strážnice), living in the home of his son R. Moshe Shmuel Feilbogen Rabbi of Strassnitz (mentioned in the present letter).

• Letter from R. Isserl Tauber, dayan in Nové Mesto (1823-1904), disciple of the Chatam Sofer.

• Letter of Shlomo Lipman Waldler to his friend Mordechai Meir Pollak. Pressburg, Tamuz 1852. On edge of page, another letter from their friend Mendel Rosenthal of the Pressburg yeshiva. R. Shlomo Lipman Waldler describes the lectures of the Ktav Sofer and the occupied study schedule, apparently in an attempt to convince his friend to return to the Pressburg yeshiva.

R. Shlomo Lipman Waldler (1831-1904), later Rabbi of Kikinda and Trzcianka. Orphaned of his father R. Yaakov Waldler at a young age, he was raised in the home of the Ktav Sofer, later studying in the Pressburg yeshiva and the Eisenstadt yeshiva under R. Azriel Hildesheimer.

• Lengthy Torah letter by Pinchas Weiner[?], studying in the Pressburg yeshiva. In the course of the letter he mentions the suspicious attitude of the Ktav Sofer towards those who joined the Pressburg yeshiva to avoid military conscription.

• Lengthy Torah letter from R. Mordechai Danzig (1833-1922, later Rabbi of Veča), during his studies in the Pressburg yeshiva under the Ktav Sofer. Pressburg, Tamuz 1860.

• Three lengthy letters on issues of Torah, friendship and outlook, by R. Ber Leib Goldberg, a distinguished community member and youth Torah teacher in Pressburg. Pressburg, 1862-1865.

His first letter contains reminiscences of earlier studies with him. The second reveals that he had a part in the authorship of the anonymous pamphlet Ktav Yosher Divrei Emet printed in opposition to Lev HaIvri by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. In this letter he defends his sharp criticism of Lev HaIvri in the pamphlet, explaining his opposition to R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger's views, as well as the necessity to combat the use of the book by the Haskalah who took the book to represent the unanimous Orthodox view.

• Lengthy letter by R. Yoel Tzvi Benet, his childhood friend in the Pressburg yeshiva on issues of friendship and laws of shaatnez. Paks, Adar I 1875.

R. Yoel Tzvi Benet (1831-1885), son of R. Mendel Benet, dayan in Paks. Disciple of the Ktav Sofer and R. Moshe Schick, with whom he corresponded extensively in responsa.

• Seven letters from R. Asher Kubitschek, disciple of R. Pollak. Mainz, 1874-1878. In one of them, he encloses a letter by the young Shlomo Zalman Breuer (1850-1926), disciple of the Ktav Sofer, and later son-in-law and successor of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch as Rabbi of Frankfurt. In the letter, R. Shlomo Zalman Breuer advises R. Kubitschek on his decision whether to study in a seminary in Würzburg or Berlin, highlighting the differences in study from Hungarian yeshiva learning, and recommending that he remain in Hungary. In the course of the letter he also describes his personal acquaintance with R. Azriel Hildesheimer and others.

R. Asher Kubitschek studied in the Pressburg yeshiva under the Ktav Sofer and Shevet Sofer, later arriving in Holleschau to study under R. Pollak, also becoming a tutor for his children. In 1877 he moved to Mainz to study Torah under R. Shmuel Bondi (1794-1878), his sons and sons-in-law (including R. Meir Lehman, Rabbi of Mainz).

• Three letters from R. Avraham Placzek, Rabbi of Boskowitz, Moravia. 1862-1875. The letters discuss kashrut and funds for kosher for Passover food for Jewish prisoners.

R. Avraham Placzek, Rabbi of Boskowitz (Boskovice; 1799-1884), a leading rabbi and posek of his generation. When R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch was appointed Rabbi in Frankfurt, he succeeded him as Chief Rabbi of Moravia.

• Four lengthy Torah letters from R. Aharon Friedman (author of Igeret Teshuvah). Weisskirchen, Tishrei 1867-1869.

R. Aharon Friedman, born in Vienna to R. Moshe Yehudah. Studied under R. Yosef Guggenheimer (son-in-law of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch) and R. Shlomo Yehudah Rappaport (Shir). Served as rabbi of the Schönlatern synagogue in Vienna from the 1880s.

• Seven lengthy and interesting letters from R. Moshe Aryeh Bloch, Rabbi of Leipnik, 1859-1877. Halachic responsa, letter in German, and letter on his appointment as head of the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary, asking for leave to travel.

R. Moshe Aryeh Leib Bloch (1815-1909), author of Shaarei Torat HaTakanot and Shaarei HaMaalot, Rabbi of Leipnik (Lipník), and head of the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary.

• Three letters, and leaf with a poem, by R. Mordechai Hertzka (author of Divrei Chachamim). Olmütz, ca. 1883. Torah thoughts on Purim and poem sent as mishloach manot.

R. Mordechai Hertzka (1810-ca. 1890s), author of Divrei Chachamim (Vienna, 1864), where he is described as a teacher of Torah in Olmütz (Olomouc).

• Sample of Kinor Kodesh, a German translation of Tehillim by Gadl Schwartz (author of Ezer LaMoreh and other books in German), including a copying of an approbation by R. Yosef Weisse Rabbi of Nové Mesto. Erev Shavuot, 1865.

• Four letters from Yom Tov Friedlander, including a lengthy letter responding to the critiques of his teacher R. Pollak on his German preface (on philosophical issues and the kabbalah polemic) to Maaseh Efod, which he had published from manuscript (Vienna, 1865). Vienna and Kolin, 1861-1865. Rashi script.

• Letter from R. Chaim Shimon Perlberger, on his father R. Hirsch Perlberger, community leader in Wieliczka. Wieliczka (Galicia), Tevet 1869.

R. Chaim Shimon Perlberger (d. 1872), community leader in Klasno, son of R. Hirsch Perlberger, community leader in Wieliczka.

• Booklet handwritten by R. Mordechai Meir Pollak (70 pages), sermons on the Torah portions by R. Mordechai Meir Pollak Rabbi of Holleschau, from 1889-1890, including a sermon delivered at the gravesite of the Shach on his yahrzeit in 1890.

• Two drafts of Torah letters addressed by R. Mordechai Meir Pollak to R. Aryeh Adolf Schartz, head of the Vienna Rabbinical Seminary.

• Handwritten booklet by R. Mordechai Meir Pollak, copying of a responsum of R. Mordechai (Maharam) Benet on prayer in a foreign language (partially printed in Pe'er Mordechai, with variants; the present document is another part that appears never to have been printed).

The collection also includes letters from: • R. Aharon Ungar, a leader of the Shomrei Dat community in his city. • R. Yaakov son of R. Avraham Chaim Freiman, publisher of books of Rishonim. • R. David Frankfurter, rabbi and dayan of Holleschau. • R. Yosef Berger of Leipnik. • R. Aharon Leib Winter. • R. Eliezer Lipa Silberman, founder and editor of HaMagid periodical and founder of Mekitzei Nirdamim. • R. Yosef Leib Pollak, shochet in Čachtice and author of Shever Yosef. • And others.

See Hebrew description for a detailed listing of letters.

Over 80 paper items (comprising hundreds of written pages). Varying size and condition. Most letters in overall good condition. Many of the letters contain postmarks, stamps and wax seals. Some of the letters include the original envelope. Due to the extent of the material, the collection has not been thoroughly examined.