Discovery: Historical Letter by Rabbi Shmuel Ya'akov Rabinowitz, Herzl's Friend and One of the Founders of ...

Discovery: Historical Letter by Rabbi Shmuel Ya'akov Rabinowitz, Herzl's Friend and One of the Founders of Ha'Mizrachi, to the Zionist Rabbi Eliyahu Kletzkin, the Future rabbi of Ha'Edah Ha'Charedit - 1900
A historical letter about the Zionist gathering in Vilnius, by Rabbi Shmuel Ya'akov Rabinowitz Av Beit Din of Spetkin to Rabbi Eliyahu Kletzkin Av Beit Din of Mariampol.
Scribal script, the three last lines in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Rabinowitz, with his stamp [It is extremely rare to find letters from him!]
The letter reveals the (hidden) Zionist past of Rabbi Kletzkin, who was one of the contemporary leading Poskim and eventually, the rabbi of the Edah Charedit of Jerusalem.
In the letter, Rabbi Kletzkin recalls that "when I was in Vilnius, I and our friend the genius Rabbi Reines of Lida [the founder of 'ha'Mizrachi'] met with our brothers the Zionist and we decided to organize a large gathering of rabbis … the program of the gathering is: not that the rabbis discuss whether they should adopt a positive or negative position towards Zionism, but, what will be their work for Zionism and how can they contribute to its distribution".
At the time, Rabbi Kletzkin's Zionism was well-known; however, over the years, it was played down and forgotten. In 1909, he was rejected for the position of the rabbi of Lublin due to the "Zionist stain" in his pasty [See hereinafter, a quote from the press of the time]. Only after a long discussion did he receive the post and was appointed the rabbi of the city in 1910.
In 1925, when he immigrated to Jerusalem, the Edah Charedit invited him to serve as its rabbi instead of Rabbi Yitzchak Yerucham Diskin who died a short time previously. Then also, not a word was said of Rabbi Kletzkin's Zionist past…

The background of the letter
In the letter that was published in "Ha'Melitz" newspaper [Ha'melitz, the 27th of Tishrei 1899), one of the participants described the aforementioned gathering:
"I was at the same occasion when eight rabbis of the geniuses of Lithuania gathered … together with many of the best of the Zionists, the geniuses Rabbi Reines of Lida … Rabbi Eliyahu Kletzkin of Mariampol … and decided it was a great Mitzvah for every member of Israel to work for Zionism - according to the Basel program - as much as possible, and they promised on their part to do what they could for the Zionist idea and express their opinion against those who say to appoint a "rabbinical committee" for Zionism, since it has nothing to do with religion and its only purpose is only to save Israel from its material situation…". The writer concludes: "The geniuses of Israel who participated in the Zionist gathering and expressed the joy of their heart at the sight of the great miracles the Zionist idea had caused among our nation and their agreement to the actions of the leaders of Zionism". On this letter, confirmation by Rabbi Rabinowitz was also printed: "The things the respected writer has announced are true".
In an issue of 'Ha'Tzfirah', an article titled "Rabbis' Opinions in Favor of Zionism" was printed. Among the rabbis referred to is also rabbi Eliyahu Kletzkin [the 12th of Nissan 1900].
In the newspaper 'Hed Ha'Zeman', the 27th of Shevat 1907, the following was published:
"Lublin. On the 17th of Tevet there was an important gathering of the dignitaries of our city to choose a rabbi for our community. The main candidate was the well-known rabbi of Mariampol.
… One of the arbitrators … appealed to the rabbi with this offer; however several members of our community, from among the complainers, found a "flaw" in this rabbi. The "flaw" is most interesting and it teaches us about the nature of the local imposrtant people […] it is a heavy to bear sin: he gave a letter of approbation to the Zionist Movement at its outset! Can such a sin be atoned? And these sins caused these complainers to get one more signature in favor of the rabbi of Bindin (a Ger Hassid) in he was chosen rather than Rabbi Kletzkin of Matiampol by a majority of nine votes to eight, which the rabbi of Matiampol had received".
In the book 'Lita Ha'tziyonit' (Zionist Lithuania) by Avraham Tori, it is told about an opinion published by Rabbi Kletzkin for the Zionist Movement.
Condition: Good.