Bidspirit auction | Interesting letter from the Gaon

Interesting letter from the Gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alter of Pabianice, son of the Sfas Emes, 1938. - A remarkable letter to his son: “I was in Gur this past Wednesday for the wedding of R’ P. bar R’ M. Jaskowitz, may he live. Surely you will see or hear that in the newspapers it was reported that on the way there was an attack against me, etc.—but in truth it is completely false. Only some despicable fellow made an insolent remark against the Piaseczner Rebbe, may he live, who was then traveling together with me until Piaseczno… Why should I not desire the seforim of Mekitzei Nirdamim… We are planning to travel to Kalisz, with God’s help, on Parashas Vayigash, the coming Shabbos. Regarding the rabbinate here, until now it was kept secret, but by the time this letter reaches you, I believe the secret will already be known: that already from the beginning of the winter I arranged confidentially with the Sochatchover Rebbe, may he live, that Rabbi Lozanowski would be accepted as dayan here… He will be the Rav, but it was necessary that this remain hidden until now. At length my brother R. M.B.Tz  may he live, spoke with my brother, shlit”a, about your claims regarding Yom Tov, but it was of no avail…” Entirely in his own handwriting and with his signature, on official letterhead. Pabianice, 1938. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alter (1877 – martyred in the Holocaust, summer 1942), the youngest son of the Admor of Gur, the Sfas Emes. In 1921 he began serving as rabbi of Pabianice near Łódź, and in 1934 he became rabbi of Kalisz. He was head of the “Union of Rabbis” in Poland, one of the foremost leaders of Agudas Yisroel, and among the great rabbinic figures of prewar Polish Jewry. He also founded and published daily newspapers for the Orthodox community in Poland. R. Mendel was renowned for his brilliance and sharp wit. As described: “Chassidim who came to their Rebbe in Gur would hurry to seize an additional spiritual delight: the opportunity to sit with R. Mendel, to hear a Torah insight or even casual conversation from him, for his words would fly with wings throughout the land… His style burned with the hidden fire of his soul, sparkling with wit and intelligence. His speech was sharp, precise, and striking—like his personality. His sermons were remarkable, and his appearances at conventions and gatherings always left a powerful impression on the audience. Thus he stood out as one of the great leaders and influential figures in Orthodox Polish Jewry.” (Dr. Hillel Seidman, Eleh Ezkerah, vol. 2, p. 60). During the Holocaust, he was deported to the Warsaw Ghetto, and from there taken to Treblinka. Various traditions describe his final moments. One testimony relates: when Jews were forced off the train and stripped before execution, Rabbi Mendel requested a little water from a kapo, promising him a portion in the World to Come. When he received the water, he washed his hands and began to recite Viduy together with the entire crowd. The German murderers shrieked wildly, “What is this, a synagogue!?” and opened fire. Among those who fell sanctifying God’s Name was Rabbi Mendel Alter, may Hashem avenge his blood.