Historic Letter by Harav Avraham Kalmanowitz Regarding Founding of State of Israel & Vaad Hatzalah Activities in Morocco. New York, 1948.
Long, riveting, letter by Hagaon Harav Avraham Kalmanowitz, Rosh Yeshivah of Mir-New York and Director of Vaad Hatzalah.
In this letter dated Adar, 1948 (approximately 2 months prior to the founding of the State of Israel) Harav Avraham Kalmanowitz presages of the grave danger hovering upon Jewish residents of both Eretz Yisrael and Diaspora countries. He also cautions against the severe prohibitions involved in founding a Jewish State as a transgression of the three vows, among them the prohibition of “Ascending upon the wall.” In his letter, he refers to Zionist leaders as “bullies” endeavoring to end the exile by force.
At the start of his letter, he describes meetings that took place in his home and the home of Harav Yaakov Rosenheim that were attended by the Admor Harav Yoel of Satmar, Harav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Henkin and others, in which they unanimously concurred of the ominous danger that will result from founding a Jewish State and the ensuing conflict with the British government.
This letter, addressed to Rabbi Zeidel Semiatzky of London, entreats the latter to meet clandestinely with consuls and international diplomats in London to inform them that the Jewish Rabbis of America strongly resist the founding a Jewish State and beseech them to make a final attempt to assemble both Jews and Arabs to resolve the conflict peacefully.
The second half of the letter offers an eye-opening glimpse into Vaad Hatzalah’s rescue activities in Morocco at the time: “Baruch Hashem, we have succeeded marvelously in Morocco, and we’ve established dozens of yeshivos ketanos where 600 students learn diligently… Many Talmudei Torah and chadarim opened as well with thousands of outstanding students. I am currently involved in printing one-quarter million copies of chumashim and nevi’im…”
Double-sided letter written on Yeshivas Mir stationery. Dated Wednesday, Parshas Ki Sisa [17 Adar 1), 1948. Good condition with hole punches.
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