Interesting letter, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz of Kovno. [Kovno, after the month of Adar 1888]. Before the Shmita year in 1889, a halachic solution arose to sell the agricultural land in Eretz Israel to non-Jews to enable Jewish farmers to continue working their land during the Shemita year. In Adar 1898, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, at that time a leading rabbi and Torah authority, signed a letter brought to him endorsing the solution. Also signed are Rabbi Yisrael Yehoshua of Kutna (author of Yeshuot Malko), Rabbi Shmuel Mohliver of Bialistok and Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Klapfish, Rabbi in Warsaw. This letter sparked a polemic and opposition from the rabbis of the Yishuv HaYashan in Jerusalem and from other rabbis in Europe. Throughout the following Shemita years, the polemic arose time after time, with those who permit the heter relying also on the ruling of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan. R' Ya'akov Lifhshitz, renowned assistant and secretary of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan was among the fiercest opponents to the Chovevei Zion movement which promoted the heter to benefit the farmers of the new settlements in Eretz Israel. This is a long, unknown letter which illuminate the position and actions adopted by Rabbi Lifshitz in this polemic. The letter is without an addressee, at the top the word "Continuation" is written, but at the end it is signed by Lifshitz: "Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz". [It was a well-known method to send an initial letter without identifying the writer in case the content will fall into unwelcome hands and then the writer would send another letter with his signature]. The letter deals with Lifshitz's activities opposing the Chovevei Zion movement and especially against the wealthy Aharon Yehoshua Shapira of Bialistok (son-in-law of Rabbi Hillel Bishke of Kėdainiai) who financially supported Chovevei Zion. Towards the end of the letter, Rabbi Lifshitz explicitly refers to his involvement in the "heter mechira" polemic and he relates that he made fervent attempts to prevent Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan from signing the letter with the heter (see quote in Hebrew description). Afterward, Rabbi Lifshitz praises the call which was printed opposing the heter (apparently referring to the proclamation of Jerusalem rabbis) and he concludes: “This is that which I have said that only by a committee will the matter be upheld”. Leaf written on both sides, 11X13 cm. Good condition.
Interesting letter, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz of Kovno. [Kovno, after the month of Adar 1888]. Before the Shmita year in 1889, a halachic solution arose to sell the agricultural land in Eretz Israel to non-Jews to enable Jewish farmers to continue working their land during the Shemita year. In Adar 1898, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, at that time a leading rabbi and Torah authority, signed a letter brought to him endorsing the solution. Also signed are Rabbi Yisrael Yehoshua of Kutna (author of Yeshuot Malko), Rabbi Shmuel Mohliver of Bialistok and Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Klapfish, Rabbi in Warsaw. This letter sparked a polemic and opposition from the rabbis of the Yishuv HaYashan in Jerusalem and from other rabbis in Europe. Throughout the following Shemita years, the polemic arose time after time, with those who permit the heter relying also on the ruling of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan. R' Ya'akov Lifhshitz, renowned assistant and secretary of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan was among the fiercest opponents to the Chovevei Zion movement which promoted the heter to benefit the farmers of the new settlements in Eretz Israel. This is a long, unknown letter which illuminate the position and actions adopted by Rabbi Lifshitz in this polemic. The letter is without an addressee, at the top the word "Continuation" is written, but at the end it is signed by Lifshitz: "Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz". [It was a well-known method to send an initial letter without identifying the writer in case the content will fall into unwelcome hands and then the writer would send another letter with his signature]. The letter deals with Lifshitz's activities opposing the Chovevei Zion movement and especially against the wealthy Aharon Yehoshua Shapira of Bialistok (son-in-law of Rabbi Hillel Bishke of Kėdainiai) who financially supported Chovevei Zion. Towards the end of the letter, Rabbi Lifshitz explicitly refers to his involvement in the "heter mechira" polemic and he relates that he made fervent attempts to prevent Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan from signing the letter with the heter (see quote in Hebrew description). Afterward, Rabbi Lifshitz praises the call which was printed opposing the heter (apparently referring to the proclamation of Jerusalem rabbis) and he concludes: “This is that which I have said that only by a committee will the matter be upheld”. Leaf written on both sides, 11X13 cm. Good condition.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
