Bidspirit auction | ”The Gedolei Yisroel Oppose the

”The Gedolei Yisroel Oppose the Establishment of the State!” – Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz Reports on a Historic Gathering with the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, and Other Gedolim Lengthy and impassioned letter from Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, to Rabbi Yitzchak Tzvi Seidel-Semiatitzky, Rosh Yeshivas Toras Emes in London, written on 15 Adar I, 1948. In this remarkable letter, Rabbi Kalmanowitz gives a first-hand account of a historic gathering of leading gedolim convened at the home of the renowned Agudas Yisroel leader Rabbi Yaakov Rosenheim, at the height of the debate surrounding the proposed establishment of a Jewish state. A Historic Gathering of Gedolei Yisroel Rabbi Kalmanowitz reports of a gathering of leading rabbanim convened at the home of the renowned Agudas Yisroel leader, Rabbi Yaakov Rosenheim. Among those in attendance were, first and foremost, the Satmar Rebbe, together with Rabbi Moshe Rosen, one of the senior Lithuanian rabbanim in America, Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, and Rabbi Aharon Kotler. He writes that all those present fully recognized the grave danger posed by the proposed Jewish state, maintaining that, according to Torah, it is forbidden to establish a Jewish state by force, as this violates the Three Oaths with which HaKadosh Baruch Hu adjured Klal Yisroel. He laments that, chalilah, the entire community has lost all sense of the terrible danger facing them. Not only the public, but even rabbanim have, in his words, ”lost their judgment” and have been swept along by the prevailing tide. He writes that even Agudas Yisroel—with the sole exception of Rabbi Yaakov Rosenheim—has been drawn after ”the empty slogans of those terrible baryonim, ” who are pursuing the establishment of the state. He likewise voices sharp criticism of one of the leading roshei yeshivah in Eretz Yisroel for his position on the matter. Rabbi Kalmanowitz concludes by urging Rabbi Semiatitzky to use whatever influence he can with the British government to prevent the impending bloodshed, emphasizing that only they possess the power to stop it. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Complete Translation of the Letter: ”I received your letter, and I also saw the telegram that Mr. Goodman sent to Rosenheim. We gathered together at my home, and also at the home of Rabbi Yaakov Rosenheim, with only a select number of the leading rabbanim: Rabbi Teitelbaum of Satmar, Rabbi Moshe Rosen, Rabbi Henkin, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rosh Mesivta of Tiferes Yerushalayim , uncle of Rabbi Michel Feinstein, and also Rabbi Aharon Kotler (although he is still among those who hesitate, remaining uncertain as to where to draw the line, and his position is not yet firm). But we all recognize and understand the danger of the Jewish state and of the proposal of the U.N., which endangers the lives of all Jews. Above all, everyone acknowledged and recognized that the greatest danger is the conflict with Britain, for according to the holy Torah it is forbidden to 'ascend as a wall, ' this being included in the Three Oaths with which HaKadosh Baruch Hu adjured Klal Yisroel, as explained at the end of Maseches Kesubos. The intentions of the Zionists were already known to us, that they themselves would put forward such a proposal. Likewise, seven university professors came forth with the same proposal, and by now they already know what was discussed yesterday at the meeting of the Security Council. Yet those who have gone astray, and who lead others astray, continue in their rebellion. Together with them, the entire yishuv has, chalilah, completely lost its judgment, and they no longer see the danger and the destruction before them. Even rabbanim, כביכול, have completely lost their judgment and have been swept along by empty slogans, while the danger continues to hover overhead. Even the members of Agudas Yisroel—with the sole exception of Rosenheim—have been drawn after the emptiness of those terrible baryonim, who pursue the establishment of the nation, rachmana litzlan. For example, today Rabbi Z. S. came, and I spoke with him by telephone, and it seems to me that he, too, neither understands nor fully grasps the exceedingly dangerous and terrifying situation. And who permitted him to endanger Jewish lives and spill innocent blood? In short, in my humble opinion they are endangering even our lives here in the lands of the exile. Until they become our Urim VeTumim, we are forbidden to go out to war. Therefore, I repeat once again that it is essential to make known, discreetly, to the British government that the Gedolei HaTorah and those who truly fear Hashem all oppose, with all their heart and soul, every path pursued by the Zionists and their campaign. Our only desire is to allow the yishuv to exist in peace and tranquility, and to increase immigration on behalf of the refugees. In every event,