Bidspirit auction | Chassidim and Misnagdim! “May Hashem

Chassidim and Misnagdim! “May Hashem who is peace bring peace between you.” Famous Historical Letter In the holy handwriting of the Alter Rebbe Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya. * Famous historical letter by the Alter Rebbe Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch Harav, to his followers in the community of Vilna, written in his own holy handwriting and signed by him. The letter pertains to the matter of the ordinance concerning polished knives used during shechitah, a ruling instituted by the Maggid of Mezeritch, which had become a source of contention between the Chassidim and the Misnagdim. In this letter, the Alter Rebbe outlines his lofty approach of seeking peace and preventing conflict between the Chassidim and the Misnagdim. He directs his followers in Vilna that, despite the significance of the ordinance concerning polished knives - “which our holy and exalted teachers of blessed memory upheld with great devotion, even risking their lives for it” - peace and achdus are of greater importance. Therefore, he instructs them not to refrain from participating in mitzvah-related meals together with the Misnagdim, even if the latter do not slaughter using polished knives. It concludes with a blessing: “May Hashem, place peace within your gates.” Background to the Letter The Ordinance of Polished Knives One of the ordinances established by the holy Maggid of Mezeritch and his disciples was the requirement to slaughter with a polished knife. Until that time, slaughtering knives were thick, with the blade and back of the knife being of equal thickness. This made it difficult to sharpen the knife to be both smooth and sharp. The Maggid ruled that knives should be thinner toward the blade, allowing the slaughterer to easily sharpen the knife to meet halachic standards of sharpness and smoothness without requiring exceptional skill. (See 'Shu”t Hadmor Hazakein', Siman 7.) This ordinance was enthusiastically embraced by the Chassidim, particularly by the Alter Rebbe, who instituted and firmly established this practice among his followers in all their communities. Concerning this ordinance, the Rebbe wrote in the current letter: ”The slaughtering with polished knives is a great and exalted mitzvah upheld by our holy and exalted teachers of blessed memory.” This concept is further elaborated upon by his brother, the holy Rabbi Yehuda Leib (in 'She'eris Yehuda', Yoreh De'ah, Siman 19): ”The shochtim who trained with polished knives... the first to introduce this were the renowned shochtim of Mezeritch, supported by the holy and exalted leader, the Maggid, may his memory be a blessing.” The Misnagdim, who did not share the chassidic perspective on this stringency and were generally opposed to innovations introduced by the Chassidim, objected to this ordinance. They issued bans and prohibitions against slaughtering with polished knives (see 'Shu”t Hadmor Hazakein', Siman 10). This led to significant friction in towns with both Chassidic and Misnagdic communities, as each group maintained separate slaughtering practices. After the Alter Rebbe’s second imprisonment in 1802, efforts to establish peace between the Chassidim and Misnagdim intensified. One question raised during this period was whether the separate slaughtering practices, which had prevented joint participation in mitzvah meals and similar events, could be reconciled. The Chassidim brought this question to the Alter Rebbe, who responded with the present letter: ”The slaughtering with polished knives is a great and exalted mitzvah... and money has no value when it comes to ensuring that there is a consistent and qualified shochet in this manner. However, if occasionally one participates at a mitzvah meal with others from their city, Heaven forbid that one should refrain [from eating] and thereby imply that they are considered as eating non-kosher meat, Heaven forbid, such a thought must not be entertained! For I have never avoided eating from their utensils, even if used that same day (bnei yoma).” (Adapted concisely and with minor modifications from the introduction to ”Igros Kodesh” by the Alter Rebbe, edited by R. Shalom Dovber Levine, Brooklyn, 2012, p. 63.) Summary This remarkable letter serves as a historical testimony to the efforts and self-sacrifice of the Alter Rebbe in fostering peace between the Chassidim and the Misnagdim. Despite his profound dedication to upholding the ordinance of his teacher, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe decisively ruled that one must not avoid eating from the slaughter of the Misnagdim. Date of the Letter Rabbi Shalom Dovber Levine, based on various evidence, dates the writing of the letter to between the years 1802 and 1809. The Rebbe’s Emissary – Rabbi Moshe Meisels As mentioned in the letter, it was delivered to the followers in the holy community of Vilna by the trusted emissary of the Rebbe, the Chassid Rabbi Moshe Meisels of Vilna.