Bidspirit auction | ”Support the Government's Candidate” –

”Support the Government's Candidate” – Rare Letter of the Imrei Baruch of Vizhnitz Regarding the Austrian Parliamentary Elections Rare family letter from Hagaon HaKadosh Rabbi Baruch Hager , the Imrei Baruch of Vizhnitz (1845–1893), bearing his signature and official seal , written on Tuesday, Parshas Beshalach , 1890, to Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz , author of Harei Besamim , then serving as Rav of Stryi , and to his brother-in-law Rabbi Shlomo Alexandri Sofer of Seret . Contents of the Letter The letter opens with heartfelt words of consolation upon the passing of their father-in-law, the Vizhnitz chassid Rabbi Moshe Wachs of Seret. The letter then discusses the upcoming elections ( di vohlen ) for representatives to the Reichsrat in Vienna. The Rebbe asks that the communities of Seret, Suczawa, and Radautz elect the honorable Baron Hormuzaki , explaining that it is the wish of the government that he be elected . He adds that the Baron has done much good for our Jewish brethren wherever they reside. Especially at this time, he writes, when we who are chareidim li'dvar Hashem are in need of great assistance, since the General Assembly is about to debate the new Kultus law concerning the rabbinate, which the reformers seek to use to undermine the foundations of our holy Torah , it is to be hoped that he will stand at the side of the yerei Hashem in their struggle against the reformers. The Imrei Baruch adds that although the Harei Besamim is only temporarily in Seret, nevertheless every yerei devar Hashem will surely heed his words. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz , author of Harei Besamim , received semichah from both the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the Sho'el U'Meishiv . He served as Rav of Zaliztsi , Stryi , and Stanislav , and authored the renowned She'eilos U'Teshuvos Harei Besamim . Rabbi Shlomo Alexandri Sofer , son of Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Krakow , declined rabbinic positions out of humility, instead devoting himself to strengthening Torah and publishing the writings of his grandfather, the Chasam Sofer , a task later completed by his distinguished son-in-law Rabbi Yosef Naftali Stern . An exceptionally rare letter of the Imrei Baruch of Vizhnitz, reflecting the active involvement of the gedolei haChassidus in defending the interests of Torah Jewry during a pivotal political campaign.