Collection of Letters and Documents – On the Rift Between the Israeli and American Branches of Peilim – 1962-1964

Collection of Letters and Documents – On the Rift Between the Israeli and American Branches of Peilim – 1962-1964

Collection of letters and photocopies of letters regarding the rift between the Peilim organization in Eretz Israel, who were involved in disagreements with the heads of the American Peilim organization (and later established the United States Peilim organization). United States and Eretz Israel, ca. 1962-1964.

• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, dean of Lomza yeshiva in Petach Tikva. 8th Elul [ca. 1963-1964].

Addressed to a Torah leader in Eretz Israel, with encouragement to continue with his good deeds for the success of Peilim, after hearing from R. Yechezkel Sarna that the recipient, who had extensively assisted and led the organization, wished to stop participating. R. Gordon beseeches him to "have pity for your great deeds and not conclude your previous participation, which will certainly increase the honor of heaven, and the dear students, knowing that you are with them, will continue to act vigorously and enthusiastically…".

• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Yitzchak HaLevi Ruderman, dean of the Ner Israel yeshiva in Baltimore. Rosh Chodesh Adar, [ca. 1963-1964].

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Israel. R. Ruderman writes to him: "…I received your letter regarding Peilim, and I have already entered discussions with some activists, and the matter is very complex as you know, and I hope to do as much as possible for me to do about this…". At the end of the letter he asks R. Abramsky to "honor me with your book on Sanhedrin when it is published" [Chazon Yechezkel on Tosefta Sanhedrin was printed in 1964].

• Lithograph of a letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Kalmanowitz, dean of the Mir yeshiva in the United States, confirming his assent to the halachic ruling reached by the assembled yeshiva deans of the United States on Wednesday, 14th Kislev 1962 [see previous lot]. New York, 15th Kislev [November 23] 1961.

• Two leaves in lithograph, letter of R. Avraham Yitzchak Hirsch, on official stationery of Peilim, beginning: "We hereby enclose a facsimile of the halachic ruling of our teachers and rabbis, the local yeshiva deans, regarding the disputes between the members of the local Peilim committee and the directors of Peilim in Eretz Israel…", and explains the position of the United States Peilim committee against Peilim of Eretz Israel at length. New York, 20th Kislev [November 30] 1961. The letter apparently came with a facsimile of the halachic ruling signed by R. Aharon Kotler and other yeshiva deans on 14th Kislev [see previous lot] and of the letter of R. Avraham Kalmanowitz appearing in this collection.

• Letter from Yeshivat HaEmek in Afula associated with Peilim of Israel, signed by the director of the yeshiva R. Yisrael Yosef Pines, head of the "Torah Education Fund in Israel" [a disciple of the Alter of Slabodka, a public activist for the yeshiva and Torah-observant community in Tel Aviv], 17th Sivan 1962.

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky and R. Yechezkel Sarna [the spiritual leaders of Peilim in Eretz Israel], who had asked them to absorb the immigrants from North Africa in the yeshiva structures in Afula. R. Pines writes that he accepts the proposal, with one request: "That the children brought by you should stay there regularly and be absorbed in a yeshiva environment, and we will thereby merit to see the yeshiva established in accordance with its goal… So that a fixed yeshiva for children will be established in these buildings, and it will not just be a waystation for them…".

• Lengthy letter (2 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Dovid Lifshitz, Rabbi of Suvalk and lecturer in the Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan yeshiva in New York. Elul 1964.

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Israel. At the beginning of the letter he inquires about the welfare and health of R. Abramsky and his family, and at the end he wishes him many Shanah Tovah blessings. The letter mainly relates to the funds raised by yeshiva students in the United States for the anti-missionary activity in Eretz Israel. The transfer of the funds was complicated by the rift between the American and Israeli branches of Peilim. R. Lifshitz writes: "I am sending you this check for you to please transfer its equivalent to the Peilim organization in Eretz Israel, but only for the urgent anti-missionary activities, in accordance with the opinion and instruction of our friends R. Y. Sarna and R. E. Shach…". He goes on to write: "I am very distressed at all the discord and difference of opinion still prevailing between the two branches of Peilim. May He Who makes peace in His heavens soon bring brotherhood, peace and friendship among all the Peilim members, for the success of all the matters at hand".

6 items. Varying size. Overall good condition.