Bidspirit auction | The Kollel Polin Polemic! A

The Kollel Polin Polemic! A File with Original and Sensational Documents, Some of Then Revealed for the First Time. Jerusalem-Poland, 1925-1941 - Valuable archive dealing with the fierce dispute that arose in the old Yishuv of Jerusalem in the early 20th century regarding the monetary control of Kollel Warsaw (also known as Kollel Polin). Jerusalem-Poland, 1925-1941.  Those were tumultuous times during which there were difficult struggles between varied factors in Eretz Yisrael and Poland over the way the donations were distributed and the the way the Kollel was managed.  The archive includes dozens of documents: original letters, legal protocols, rare broadsides, sensational Tzetalach and even sharply written documents expressing unacceptable words against Gedolei Hador. Some of the documents are revealed here for the first time, constituting a rare and valuable source for understaning one of the bitter disputes that raged through Jerusalem which even led, G-d forbid, to bloodshed. The repercussions of the controversy lingered for many years, and as is well known, its fallout is still felt to this very day. A partial description of some of the documents:  * ”שגגה שיצאה מפי השליט” - a lengthy and poignant letter to the Imrei Emet of Ger from Tevet 1928. The three leaves which were signed by 12 leading rabbis of Jerusalem introduce criticism of a letter that was published by the Imrei Emet agaibst the management of the Kollel in Eretz Yisrael.  * ”עודם מחזיקים להתעולל בבני הכולל” - sharp letter from Shvat 1928 signed by approx. twenty two of the rabbis and dignitaries of Kollel Polin to the Admorim of Poland, with serious allegations regarding the distribution of the donations from Poland and a demand: ”שלא תשלחו עוד שום מעות לידי הנשיאים שבווארשא, עד שיתנו לב להתחרט על מעשיהם”. * ”במבטאים גסים ונבזים אשר אין להעלותם על הכתב” - sharp letter of protest from Tishrei 1928 by Rabbi Menachem Natan Auerbach and Rabbi Elimelech Rubenstein to the rabbis of Poland: ”מוחים אנו בכל תוקף ועוז בכח התורה ובכח ארצנו הקדושה על חילול השם שגרמו הנהלת קופת רמבעה”נ בווארשא” . * ”כתב חוזה” - an agreement between the Rosh Av Beit Din Rabbi Velvel Mintzburg [ with his signature] to Rabbi david Weingarten about the building and residence rights in the assests of the Kollel.  * ”כתב שלום” - an attempt to unite the old Kollel Waraw and the New one and resolve the dispute among its management.  * ”אין בהנהלת הכולל שום סדר, שורר שם תוהו ובוהו” - letter from Elul 1941, in the midst of the Holocaust, by the temporary committee of Kollel Polin to the mebers of the Badatz of haEidah Hachareidit with claims of complete chaos in the administration of the Kollel, and the deprivation of the Polish poor compared to other Kollels [such as Kollel Galicia and Kollel Ungarin]. Even though the Holocaust is raging in their countries too, they still carry on supporting the Jerusalem poor who originated from their lands, while the doors of Kollel Polin are entirely closed to the needy. * Letter by the Chief Rabbinate of Eretz Yisrael signed by the Gaon Rabbi Zvi Pesach Frank, Rabbi Chizkiyahu Shabtai abd the Mekubal Rabbu Yaakov Ades to the National Committee with a demand to trabsfer funds to the new management of Kollel Polin.  * ”נמצאו במשרדי האגודה חותמות מזויפות של הרב הראשי לארץ-ישראל ועוד דוקומנטים מזויפים” - letter from Kislev 1952 by the future Supreme Court Judge, Reb Yitzchak Kister, to the Governor of Jerusalem with serious claims about forged stamps and documents pertaining to the management of the Kollel. [And many more letters by him].  * Many handwritten copies from the early 20th century of letters by Rabbi Aryeh Mordechai Rabinovich the Rv of Bnei Berak and the Chief Rabbi the Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Herzog, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Biderman and more.  * Cheeky Tzetele that was delivered during a trial with personal questions about the status and authority of the Rosh Av Beit Din Rabbi Velvele Mintzburg: ”לשאול את הרב מינצברג אם הוא רב בפועל או ראש ב”ד, וכמה זמן ומי סמך אותו”. * Many signed affidavits recalling the complaints, claims and  unspeakable acts of both parties in the conflict. One of them describes a visit of the Admor of Strikov to Eretz Yisrael before the Holocaust.  * The official founding documents of the new Kollel Polin from 1941. *  ”800 שק סוכר, 300 שק קאשע, 300 שק בעבליך” - report about the distribution of food for Kollel Polin between Nissan 1938 and Cheshvan 1938.  * ”משוד עניים ואנקת אביונים” - large broadside 50X35 cm. against the appointment of Rabbi Avraham Fisch as president of Kollel Polin. With an original ink stamp. [Including the original typewritten version that was given to the printery]. * ”האמת יורה דרכו” - huge broadside 50X70 cm. from 1929 with rabbis' letters in Yiddish and Hebrew pertaining to the Kollel Polin polemic.  * ”אמת מארץ” - large broadside in Yiddish and Hebrew. Open letter ”to the honorable Admorim and Rabbanm Geonim Shlita”. Aviv Yerushalayim Press.