"Sharf" - Mysterious and Sharp Letter Handwritten by the Admo"r the Beit Yisrael of Gur

"Sharf" - Mysterious and Sharp Letter Handwritten by the Admo"r the Beit Yisrael of Gur

"It is necessary to be wary of accepting information - that it not contain lashon hara or avak lashon hara, even about a lesser person such as myself ..."

Lengthy letter (approximately 20 lines) on an aerogram handwritten and signed by the sacred Admo"r Rabbi Yisrael Alter, author of Beit Yisrael of Gur, a sacred G-dly person, leader of tens of thousands. The letter was sent to the Chassid Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Silverberg, a leading Chassid. Although he was somewhat older than the Admo"r, he completely submitted himself to the latter's leadership. Jerusalem, [7 Iyyar 1960].

This mysterious letter was written in hints; we do not know what it is referring to. It can be assumed that it is related to a sensitive topic about which any information for better or worse for either side could have serious ramifications.

The Admo"r writes sharply and firmly to the addressee on the one hand, yet with respect and humility on the other hand (the punctuation here is in the original): "... I just received your letter from Thursday of Tazria-Metzora, and the information you have (from whomever) is completely baseless. What you wrote about [...] - you will soon find out if there is truth to it, and then write. And make noise about it. It is necessary to be wary of accepting information - that it not contain lashon hara or avak lashon hara, even about a lesser person such as myself ... I spoke with the aforementioned R' Shmuel and heard the opposite of what you were told. If you speak to this R' Shmuel when he comes to your house, you will find that what you heard was incorrect. I will not deal with it until you come here, but others who know the truth will write you today or tomorrow. You will understand from them that you were hasty in accepting what you heard, as there is not one speck of truth in it, that is all. Your friend, who seeks your well-being and judges you favorably due to the anguish you are experiencing at present. May Hashem help you from this day onward." This is followed by his signature.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the addressee, the gaon and Chassid Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Silverberg, "HaRav MiPetersburg."

[1] aerogramme, written on one side. The second side bears the sender's and addressee's details. 30x17 cm.

Moderate condition. Dampstain in the middle of the leaf along its entire height, with blurred ink in several words. Light tears in the fold marks. Artistically restored letter.