Lengthy letter (approx. 17 lines), handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Nemenčinė [a resort near Vilna]. 20th Tamuz 1936.

Addressed to R. Yaakov Rosenheim, leader of Agudat Yisrael, addressing several current public issues. The beginning of the letter addresses the incitement of the Arab Mufti of Jerusalem and his allegation that the Jews wanted to take the Temple Mount from the Muslims to reinstate the sacrificial service: "Regarding whether to respond to the Mufti's words and allegation, it is certainly worthwhile to respond that halachically the Temple cannot be built at this time. Beyond what is stated in the responsa you cited… R. David Friedman expanded on this issue in his Responsa She'elat David in a special composition that this is impossible for a number of reasons; see there. And I saw that there was a response about this from the Chief Rabbinate".

R. Chaim Ozer goes on to discuss purchase of property from the Zionist Jewish National Fund [and the views of the Imrei Emet of Ger on the matter]: "Regarding the question whether to purchase land from the Jewish National Fund, there is certainly no concern in doing so, except from the political standpoint regarding the fund of the Yishuv. And I don't know what our friend R. Y. M. Levin responded about this in the name of his father-in-law the Tzaddik who was at the place".

R. Chaim Ozer goes on to state the prohibition to purchase mitzvah objects looted in Russia by the Soviet regime: "Regarding what H. Lehman of Stockholm wrote to me regarding the Torah scroll they purchased from the Soviet government, you know the prohibition which was publicized at the time to purchase from them the Torah scroll they take by force or by paying a small sum under duress. And this was already judged in the secular courts regarding a bookseller in Vienna, and I was called as a witness in the Vilna court and I confirmed it. However, I am unsure whether the prohibition was a temporary decree, and perhaps the matter has changed and it should be canceled… and I am too confused about this to respond clearly, and my advice is to address R. Yechezkel Abramsky who knows the matter comprehensively. As for the current situation in the Soviet government, if it is sold by private individuals out of good will, there is nothing preventing purchasing it, but it is proper to clarify the matter correctly…".

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.

[1] leaf. Official stationery. 28.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and folding marks.