Important Historic Letter from the Holocaust from the Gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler

Important Historic Letter from the Holocaust from the Gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler

"I am collapsing under the load!"

Historic letter, lengthy and very important, from the gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler, rosh yeshivah of Kletzk, Lithuania. After the Holocaust, he was a leader of American Jewry and chairman of the council of Torah Sages. New York, 1941.

In this historic letter, the gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler describes in detail the difficult situation of the members of the Kletz yeshivah (along with the other Lithuanian yeshivahs) who are in constant life-threatening danger, experiencing poverty and starvation. They wander from city to city without a place to rest their weary feet: "Recent events in the war have yet again placed our yeshivah between a rock and a hard place and rain a flood of blood and fire upon us."

He continues, describing the spiritual suffering from the lack of knowledge about the fate of his beloved disciples - even whether they are still alive: "I attempted in every way to connect with the yeshivah, but still know nothing ... what is clear is that events require us to redouble our efforts and be alert."

"How will I bear this on my own?!" shouts Rabbi Aharon Kotler, "I am doing everything possible ... I have already accrued an impossible debt, which is increasing every day. I am collapsing under the load." It is terrifying to read the pain of the gadol hador while the blood of his students is being spilled like water and he is incapable of saving them.

However, Rabbi Aharon strengthens himself in his faith, even through the inconceivable hester panim, writing "Whatever Hashem does, he does for the good, and perhaps it has been Heavenly ordained that the path to rescue for the bnei hayeshivot is specifically through the present events. It is a distressing time for the Jewish people, yet they will be saved. There are several reasons for this prospect. We must be prepared for this, and increase our assistance, because if we turn a deaf ear, we will have greatly transgressed."

The story of the rescue of the bnei hayeshivot in Lithuania at the outbreak of war through Japan is written on the glowing leaves of Jewish history, the Divine Providence of the preservation of the "jug of oil" and the rescue of the sacred Torah for future generations. When WWII broke out, members of the Kletzk yeshivah, led by Rabbi Aharon Kotler, fled to Vilna. From there, they traveled to Yanova. Then, due to persecution from the Bolshovik regime, the yeshivah split into three groups: One was in Salok, near the Latvian border, another was in Dusiat, and the third group was in Duksht. Rabbi Aharon was in Salok. This stationery reads: "Aharon Kotler, rosh yeshivah of Kletzk, presently in Solak and Dusiat, Lithuania." In this letter, Rabbi Aharon calls for help to be sent to the Kletzk yeshivah students in the European exile, wandering from city to city, from Kletzk to Yanova, on to Vilna and from there to Japan and Shanghai."

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the great gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler, rosh yeshivah of Kletzk and Lakewood.

[1] leaf. 22x28 cm. Official stationery. Typewritten, signed by Rabbi Aharon Kotler.

Very fine condition. Fold marks.