Auction 108 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Historical Letter from Rabbi Shach – Regarding 1977 Knesset Elections
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Letter handwritten and signed by R. Elazar Menachem Man Shach, dean of the Ponevezh yeshiva. Kiryat HaYeshiva, Bnei Brak, 6th Tevet (December 27) 1976.
Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky in Jerusalem, a leader of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, discussing presenting a list of candidates for election to the Ninth Knesset (held in May 1977). R. Shach writes respectfully but curtly that he would refrain from interfering in the elections [probably out of respect for the Steipler Gaon – see below], and disclaims responsibility for them, concluding with a blessing and his signature.
In 1974, Haredi communities split over the unification of the Agudat Yisrael and Poalei Agudat Yisrael parties into the Religious Torah Front in elections to the Eighth Knesset, a move opposed by the Steipler Gaon, R. Shach and other Bnei Brak Torah leaders, but supported by Jerusalem Torah leaders R. Yechezkel Abramsky, R. Chaim Shmuelevitz and leading Chassidic rebbes.
After efforts at rapprochement and complex negotiations for the Ninth Knesset elections, the Beit Yisrael of Ger (who passed away in 1977) instructed Agudat Yisrael to run without Poalei Agudat Yisrael, in order to bring the Bnei Brak community back into the fold.
R. Abramsky's part in this affair is not known from any other source, but R. Shach's curiously evasive response indicates that R. Abramsky was involved in the reunification.
R. Elazar Menachem Man Shach (1898-2002), author of Avi Ezri, was a leading yeshiva dean of the previous generation. Born in Lithuania, he studied in his youth in the Ponevezh, Slabodka and Slutsk yeshivas. He served as lecturer in the Slutsk and Kletsk yeshivas, and as dean of the Karlin yeshiva in Luninets. During the Holocaust, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, and became a close disciple of the Brisker Rav.
He served as lecturer in the Kletsk yeshiva in Rechovot, and the Lomza yeshiva in Petach Tikva. He was later appointed lecturer and dean of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak. He was a member and leader of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, and stood at the helm of the Torah world for decades.
[1] leaf. Official stationery. 25 cm. Stains and folding marks.
Letters and Manuscripts – Rabbis of Lithuania and Europe, the United States and Eretz Israel
Letters and Manuscripts – Rabbis of Lithuania and Europe, the United States and Eretz Israel