Letter by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Lubabitch-Chabad, concerning the elections to the Israeli Knesset, to Yitzchak Meir HaCohen [Levine] – Minister of Welfare. Brooklyn, 1951.
Official stationery, typewritten with the Rebbe's signature, and the words "Respectfully" and "L'Hatzlacha" in his handwriting.
A letter about establishing a joint religious front. The Rebbe expresses his opinion concerning participation in elections to the Knesset: “As I have told you… I have written to the inhabitants of the Holy Land my opinion about participation in the election, which obligate each and every man and woman to participate in the election and to vote for the more Charedi lists and to convince others to do so…”.
Leaf, 24 cm. Good condition, folding marks, file holes and tears to margins.

A long letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael Kanievsky – the Steipler, to Rabbi Shmuel Huminer of Jerusalem. Bnei Brak, 1968.
The letter is about the printing of the Igeret Kodesh pamphlet by the Steipler [discussing the holy conduct of the Jewish home], printed by Rabbi Shmuel Huminer written by an anonymous author, but the introduction hints that the writer is "one of the leading rabbis of these times".
The Steipler writes that the pamphlet is very hurtful to people, "It is now clear that Chassidim who conduct themselves in holiness for several generations are very hurt by this pamphlet and declare that it will harm the peace of their home, G-d forbid, etc.". The Steipler requests that Rabbi Shmuel Huminer bury the pamphlet (in geniza). "If you do not intend to put it in geniza, at least tear out the leaf of introduction, and on Page 7 at the top, erase the words "Letter by one of the leading rabbis of these times", so that the reader will not discern that someone else wrote the pamphlet, but it shall seem as if the publisher edited this letter…".
The polemic regarding the Steipler's opinion on the subject of guiding couples before their marriage on holy conduct of the Jewish home and the comeback of disciples of the Ger Rebbe author of the Beit Yisrael against the publishing of his opinion, is a veiled topic and most of the relevant facts are unknown. Now, this historical letter on this affair has been discovered.
2 leaves, 19.5 cm. Very good condition, folding marks.
Photos of this item are not available.

A long interesting letter by Rabbi Yitzchak Kosovsky (Shachor) Av Bet Din of Volkovysk to “The great Torah genius of our times…lofty tzaddik Cohen greatest among his brothers and head of the rabbis of the Holy Land…” – Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook regarding an argument with the Zionist Committee in his city following the opening of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Volkovysk, 1927.
Rabbi Kosovsky writes Rabbi Kook that he saw him at the home of his brother-in-law Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky and he turns to him with request of assistance. He relates that in his city, as well as in other cities, the opening of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem was celebrated with much fanfare and glory in the local synagogue and he too was invited to the celebration. He spoke in honor of the occasion but when he saw a proclamation among the decorations hung in the synagogue with the inscription “’For from Zion Torah will come forth and G-d’s word from Jerusalem’ – in honor of the opening of the Hebrew University” it irked him greatly. At that time, he did not express his dissent hoping that the proclamation would be removed immediately after the celebration but when time passed and the sign still remained he began to act on this matter. The heads of the Zionist Committee in his city fiercely opposed taking down the sign and an argument developed between the committee and the rabbi. As of the time the letter was written (two years after the celebration of the opening of the university) the proclamation had still not been removed, but Rabbi Kosovsky reached an agreement with the heads of the Zionist Committee that they will bring the dispute before Rabbi Kook and he will determine the matter.
Among other things, Rabbi Kosovsky relates that the Mizrachi rabbis in Vilnius also expressed their opposition to the use of this verse as the title for the university’s celebration and even Rabbi Hager who visited his city protested against the sign hanging in the synagogue, but to no avail.
On April 1, 1925, the official opening ceremony of the Hebrew University took place on Mount Scopus with the participation of many renowned and eminent persons. Among them were Lord Balfour, Rabbi Kook, Chaim Weizmann, Bialik, and others. The ceremony was joined by celebrations all over the Jewish world by the Zionist Movement. The establishment of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem was presented as an event of historical national importance and was regarded as the building of a spiritual Temple on the mountains of Jerusalem. The newspaper headlines [already on the eve of the ceremony] were full of verses in this vein, especially taken from the Yeshayahu’s prophesies (Chapter 2): “And at the end of the days, the mount of G-d’s House shall be erected on the top of the mountains…Let us ascend to the Mountain of G-d…For from Zion Torah shall come forth…”. Rabbi Kook mentioned the verse “For from Zion Torah shall come forth” in his speech and prayer at the ceremony but in an opposite context, rather as a plea that the prophecy shall be fulfilled in its original manner by the building of the third Temple. This did not prevent Jerusalem zealots from attacking Rabbi Kook claiming that he used the verse to depict the university and to spread this fabrication all over the world. The letter was printed in Likutei HaRa’aya Volume 3, p. 206.
Rabbi Yitzchak Kosovsky-Shachor (1777-1951), a Lithuanian Torah sage who studied in the Telz Yeshiva, son-in-law of Rabbi David Shlomo Grodzensky Av Bet Din of Iwye. Later, he served as Rabbi of Myropil in Russia. In 1922, he moved to serve as Rabbi of Augustów and in 1925 served as Rabbi of Vawkavysk. In 1934, he moved to South Africa, and was appointed as Rabbi of the Association of Communities in Johannesburg and its surroundings and as president of the Mizrachi Movement in South Africa, a position he kept until his death.
[3] pages. 28 cm. Good condition, folding marks, few stains.

Collection of posters and proclamations on behalf of the united list of HaPo'alim HaDatiyim, founded by the Oved HaDati (religious workers) and related circles, printed before the elections to the constituent assembly. Tevet, end of 1948 / January 1949.
The posters and proclamations call to vote for the List Shin. The party was headed by Dr. Yeshayahu Leibowitz and Rabbi S. Gur-Aryeh (Yungerleib). Among other things, the list declares that woman also "share the work, responsibility and suffering – We demand that you also receive your share of rights in the State!". Some of the posters are invitations to membership meetings in preparation of the elections. The list did not pass the electoral threshold.
Total of 10 items, two copies of one item (on different colored paper). Varied size and condition.

Large notebook, protocols and regulations – of meetings of 11 directors, heads and elderly of Kollel Ungarin, Jerusalem, 1903-1910.
In the beginning of the notebook, appear the regulations of "Kollel Shomrei HaChomot", with all their clauses, the Kollel is supposed to be managed by a committee of 11 people, including three appointed managers and eight elected members. "Order of election", "Right of voters" and "Right of Elected". "Duties of elected", "Arrangements" and "Laws". At the end of the regulations are copied signatures of the Kollel presidents, Gaon Rabbi Simcha Bonim Sofer Av Beit Din Pressburg and the Gaon Rabbi Elazar Loew Av Beit Din Ungarin and újhely, from Tamuz 1903.
Many protocols of the elected committee meetings. Requests, financial reports, reports concerning emissaries and decisions. Numerous signatures of "Kollel Authors" Rabbi Zadok Kreus and Rabbi Shmuel Binyamin Sonenfeld and signatures of the "Appointed Managers" Rabbi Yossef Binyamin Shimonovich and more. Most protocols are signed by the meetings' participants, among them: Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Weinberger, Rabbi Elazar David Hacohen, Rabbi Mendel Hacohen, Rabbi Haim Asher Zelig Zwebner, Rabbi Baruch Reuven Shlomo Halevi Yungreis, Rabbi Shmuel Zanwil Spitzer, Rabbi Yonatan Binyamin Estreicher, Rabbi Shalom Leib Eisenbach, Rabbi Yossef Moskovich, Rabbi Naftali Adler, Rabbi Yitzchak Shlomo Bloy, Rabbi Meir Zvi Hershler, Rabbi Avraham Aharon Halevi Prague, Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Wertheimer, and tens of other signatories.
In some meetings [mainly those regarding distribution of apartments] Rabbis, members of Beit Din also participated, and they signed the decisions. Several signatures of the Gaon Rabbi Yossef Haim Sonnenfeld and other rabbis. [Rabbi "Lipman David Bmahar"i" and Rabbi "Aryeh Leib Bahra"d Hershler, Rabbi Leib Dayan].
Important documents concerning the history of Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel appear in this notebook, as well as the arrangements of the Hungarian Congregation “Kollel Shomrei HaChomot”, which was the most organized congregation of all the “Kollels” in Jerusalem.
Elegant notebook, 37 cm, 288 pp, out of which 150 are written. Good condition. Original cloth binding.
+ Enclosed leaves: protocols and letter drafts (one letter is a request sent to the management committee in 1870, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Yossef Leichtman).