Azharah Gedola - Herem Related to the Polemic of Kollel America - NY, 1897

Azharah Gedola - Herem Related to the Polemic of Kollel America - NY, 1897
Azharah Gedolah - printed Yiddish proclamation. Prohibition to place charity boxes of Eretz-Israeli institutes, other than the Va'ad HaKlali. NY, Shevat 1897. Printed in the printing press of "Samuel H. Simon, 150 East Broadway, NY".
"Severe prohibition by early Torah scholars… a great herem by elder Torah scholars…". Printed signatures of 19 US leading rabbis. These include R. Ya'akov Yosef - "Rabbi of the Kollel"; R. Chaim Ya'akov Vidrowitz; R. Shmuel Zvi Wein, Rabbi of Wizajni; R. Moshe Zevulun Margaliot of Boston; R. Shalom Elchanan Yaffe of St. Louis; R. Dov Leventhal of Philadelphia; R. Moshe Shimon Ziwitz of Pittsburgh; etc.
This proclamation was printed at the peak of the polemic surrounding the kupot (funds for distribution) of the Va'ad HaKlali of R. Shmuel Salant which clashed with Kollel America. This controversy raged throughout America and Eretz Israel for five years.
Kollel America was established in 1896, to support needy American immigrants who settled in Eretz Israel and did not receive "Chaluka" (distribution) from the veteran kollels. The establishment of this kollel ignited many disputes in Jerusalem instigated by the old-time heads of the kollelim, who were concerned lest the new kollel overshadow the Va'ad HaKlali, whose income was primarily dependent on American donations. That year, R. Shmuel Salant published an open letter sent all over the Diaspora, in which he announced that "The obliteration of the Va'ad HaKlali is the obliteration of the entire Yishuv". He was joined by various heads of kollelim who also opposed the new kollel. Conversely, the Maharil Diskin supported the establishment of the kollel. At the end of 1897, the Maharil Diskin published a letter in which he wrote, "Kollel America was established with my approbation". Only in 1901, did the Ridvaz manage to initiate an agreement recognizing the rights of Kollel America to manage separate fundraising campaigns subject to certain conditions.
Printed leaf, 25.5 cm. Fair condition, repaired tears (affecting text).