Draft of most fascinating letter prepared by the Gaon Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer to the famous Holy Rebbe Avraham Landau of Ciechanow.
Four Sides, 20.5 Cm.
"What I want to write to the distinguished Gaon from Ciechanow. Would i hide from (our teacher Abraham) from the Customs who am one of his (God’s) lovers, desire to make a path for our God to ascend to the Holy Temple, speedily in our days. This is my aspiration every year, as the holy thought does not move from within my heart…….. Especially, as it is stated in my Sefer ‘Drishat Zion’ which I have already sent, describing the greatness of the sanctity of the Land of Israel."
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"However, the main focus of my residence will be in Jerusalem, the holy and revered city, to strive for truth and tranquility. Also, the advice of our dear genius and great saint, the honored Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher , the rabbi of Griedetz, to whom I inquired and he responded to me, ”Yes, indeed, the truth will prevail, whether it is for his place here or for his son’s house. For I have a young daughter, and also some business with the government, and in all of this, I have examined this important matter and found that his soul is from the center of the middle chamber of his soul, which is fully dedicated to the center of the holiness of the Holy Land, and in the rotation and transformation, and in their constant turning, their faces are directed only towards that place, etc. May he rise and succeed, and may God be with him. May he merit the hope of all Israel, a great hope. The entire assembly of Israel will soon come to fulfill your desire, O Lord, for your land, through the commandments of the Torah in the land. And may the return of Jacob’s captivity occur, and anyone who opposes this is, God forbid, causing the destruction of redemption. Against this backdrop, it is important to provide assistance in order to rejoice greatly in accordance with his pure language”.
And now, my dear friend and esteemed teacher of Israel, I ask for your advice and blessing for this distant path, and may you intercede in prayer that God will save his servant and guide him in a way where light will dwell. I especially request a swift response from him, and may it be signed with his own hand, for it is a mitzva upon him, etc."
The famous Gaon Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer (1795-1874), a leading Torah scholar of his times, disciple of Rabbi Akiva Eger and Rabbi Ya’akov Av Beit Din of Leszno, author of Netivot Mishpat, and of his uncle Rabbi Yehuda Leib Kalischer Rabbi of Leszno. He served as Rabbi in the community of Thorn for over 40 years and famously refused any remuneration, being supported instead by means of a small business run by his wife.
He was one of the first leaders active in inspiring the Jewish people to establish the Jewish settlement and purchase land in Eretz Iisrael, and he published his Seforim Drishat Zion (Thorn, 1866) and Shlom Yerushalayim (Thorn, 1868). His Sefer Drishat Zion was reprinted in several editions after the founding of the Hovevei Zion movement and Rabbi Kalischer is considered one of the spiritual fathers of Hibbat Zion. Many Israeli cities have streets named after him. Rabbi Kalischer was also famous for his great vision of renewing the sacrifices in the temple, a subject which he wrote of in his books and periodicals of that time. He had contact concerning responsa with leading Torah scholars of his times, especially with his friend Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher Av Beit Din of Grodzisk Mazowiecki.
He authored the Seforim Moznayim LaMishpat on Choshen Mishpat (Krotoszyn, 1855); Zvi LaTzaddik glosses on Mishnayot and Shulchan Aruch, Even Bochan, Emuna Yeshara, and more.
The Holy Torah giant of his generation Rebbi Avraham Landau of Ciechanow (1784-1875). Eldest righteous leader, and from great poskim of his generation, whom all great Chassidim referred to him as sacred and holy. Rabbi Akiva Eiger stood up for him when his name was mentioned. Disciple of Rabbi Fischel of Strikova and the Holy Rabbi Aryeh Leibish Charif author of Maharal Tzintz, the Holy gaon the Avnei Nezer of Sochatchov (Sochaczew) and the holy gaon Rabbi Yechiel Meir of Gostynin, friend and associate in Torah and leadership of the Torah holy Moron the Chidushei HaRim of Gur.
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Lot #269