Poignant letter about the involvement of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovno in the Shechita polemic of the Machzikei Hadas in London.
Vekshne (Viekšniai), 1893.
"My heart melts within me over what has occurred in our days, and it causes me great pain that I cannot speak about this matter. For after consulting with esteemed rabbis of our country, who can bring themselves to express an opinion on something they have not seen with their own eyes? Surely, if His Honor, the true luminary of the diaspora, the revered Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan may he live long and prosper would of seen in his eyes saw the Machzikeu Hadas as sincere and true, he would strengthen the Machzikei Hadas with all his might.
But only if one does not believe in their words, and Rabbi Dr. Adler holds in his eyes the Chezkat kashrut, . And all their cries against the revered Rabbi Elchanan may he live long and prosper, how can one judge … at a time when he does not know the matter clearly, and perhaps he truly erred in this, and all that is said in the Kol Koreh is sincere and true, in all this, who can bring themselves to express an opinion on entering the military battles when the matter is not known clearly.
Therefore, my faithful advice is to seek after three renowned rabbis, men of truth, and they shall seek and investigate the matter and give their testimony, and then if they also confirm the words of the Machzikei Hadas, surely the revered Rabbi Elchanan may he live long and prosper will retract from his words, and with all his might, he will strengthen the Maczikei Hadas…"
The Gaon Rabbi Abba Yakov Borochov was born in 1848 in Dershonishok. From 1886-1889, he was the leader and Rabbi in Mayshegole, and later, Rabbi in Vekshne, Polozk and Volkovisk. Author of Chevel Yakov.
The background to the affair is a dispute that erupted between the Chief Rabbi of England, Rabbi Nathan Adler, and Rabbi Abraham Werner, the rabbi of "Machzikei Hadas" in London. The latter established a system of kosher slaughter in opposition to the opinion of Rabbi Adler and his court, which had prohibited their slaughter. At Rabbi Adler’s request, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan wrote a letter of support for the Chief Rabbinate against the separation of the "Machzikei Hadas" community. Apparently, Rabbi Breuer was also involved in the matter. For more information on the incident and the letter, see: A. Shimaaf, "Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor: His Life and Letters, " Jerusalem, 1981, pp. 63-64.
2 sides. 21 Cm.
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Lot #395