Letter of Leading American Yeshiva Deans – Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rabbi Mendel Zaks, Rabbi ...

Letter of Leading American Yeshiva Deans – Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rabbi Mendel Zaks, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner and Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz – Regarding the Rift Between the Israeli and American Branches of Peilim – Adar 1964

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Feinstein, with signatures of five leading rabbis and yeshiva deans in the United States: R. Moshe Feinstein, R. Yaakov Kamenetsky, R. Menachem Mendel Zaks (son-in-law of the Chafetz Chaim), R. Yitzchak Hutner and R. Dovid Lifshitz. New York, 12th Adar 1964.

Addressed to the Torah leaders of Eretz Israel – R. Yechezkel Abramsky, R. Yechezkel Sarna and R. Elazar Menachem Shach – after a meeting of yeshiva deans in the United States where it was decided to attempt to reconcile and reunite the two Peilim organizations which had split, by coordinating their fundraiser and activity schedules.

"…Now regarding the Peilim, although an agreement has already been made, according to what we received from you that currently it is impossible in any way other than having two independent organizations, and we arranged this so that both could work at a pressing time. But afterwards, we the undersigned met; perhaps we can fix things so that it will be done in a peaceful manner, and the best and most correct thing is for them again to be one organization…".

The rabbis write that in their meeting, they decided that the Torah leaders themselves should be the treasurers of the fundraisers in the United States for the benefit of the Peilim in Eretz Israel: "That although each one of us is most occupied, we are forced to also take upon ourselves this great responsibility to be the local treasurers for all the money gathered. And we also ask that you take upon yourselves to be the treasurers in Eretz Israel, and we will send from here to you, and you will dispense the funds as you see fit…".

The rabbis ask the Torah leaders in Eretz Israel to "answer immediately to confirm the acceptance of the treasurer role, and we hope that G-d Who makes peace will bring peace among the Torah-observant and G-d-fearing people… With blessing, peace and success in the work for the sake of heaven".

[1] leaf. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.