Bidspirit auction | Rare Letter from the Gaon

Rare Letter from the Gaon and Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Kliers, Av Beit Din of Tiberias. 1924 - Lengthy and Rare Autograph Letter, Entirely in the Hand and Bearing Two Signatures of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Moshe Kliers, Author of Tabbur HaAretz, Chief Rabbi of Tiberias and Rosh Yeshiva of the Renowned “Or Torah” at the Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes. Tiberias, Cheshvan 5684 [1923]. In this letter R. Moshe Kliers addresses the Ashkenazic rabbi of Jerusalem and Av Beit Din of the Hasidic community, the Gaon R. Yisrael Ze’ev (Velvel) Mintzberg, concerning financial support for the students of the Or Torah Yeshiva at the Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes. Among these students were many of the future righteous leaders of the generation, who would come to the yeshiva immediately after the close of Shabbat and remain there continuously throughout the week until Friday. R. Kliers himself would also come each Sunday and stay until Thursday, returning only then to his home within the walls of Tiberias. The letter also mentions the Gaon R. Dov Aryeh Abramowitz. [1] Paper leaf, 29 cm. Official letterhead. Entirely autograph, with signature twice and personal stamp. Condition: Fair–good. Stains. Worming with minor textual loss. The Author: The holy Gaon Rabbi Moshe Kliers (1874–1934), one of the leading rabbis of Eretz Israel, Ashkenazic rabbi of Tiberias and rosh yeshiva of “Or Torah” at the Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes. A preeminent sage and a saintly figure, known as the “lion” among the circle of Slonim Hasidim in Eretz Israel. Son-in-law of the holy R. Yudel of Slonim and brother-in-law of R. Mattel of Slonim, with whom he sat on the rabbinical court. He lived in the yeshiva compound from Sunday through Thursday, practicing complete self-denial of worldly pleasures, and was revered for his greatness in both revealed and hidden Torah. His celebrated work Torat HaAretz was received as a fundamental sefer in its field. The Recipient: R. Yisrael Ze’ev Mintzberg (1872–1962), Ashkenazic rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem until its fall in the War of Independence, head of the Hasidic Beit Din of Jerusalem, author of She’erit Yisrael and an edition of the Talmud. He served as Av Beit Din of the Kolel Hasidim (founded by R. Shneur Zalman Fradkin, the Torat Chesed) from 1922–1931, and later as a dayan of the Edah HaChareidis. Other Figures Mentioned: R. Dov Aryeh Abramowitz (1865–1926), born in Lithuania, rabbi in Jerusalem. Emigrated to the United States in 1892, where he served as rabbi of the Suvalk congregation in New York. He was among the founders and leaders of RIETS (Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary) and of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada. Returned to Eretz Israel in 1920. Author of Dat Yisrael, K’tav HaDat, and Sefer Ketubah. The Yeshiva: Or Torah Yeshiva in Tiberias, at the Tomb of R. Meir Baal HaNes, was founded in 1900 by R. Moshe Kliers at the initiative of the Slonimer Rebbe, R. Shmuel Weinberg. About a decade later, R. Kliers was appointed rabbi of Tiberias. The students of the yeshiva resided on the premises continuously throughout the week, as did R. Kliers. Among its alumni were leading sages and tzaddikim, including the Slonimer Rebbes R. Avraham Weinberg (III), author of Birkat Avraham, and R. Shalom Noach Berezovsky, author of Netivot Shalom; R. Aharon Yosef Luria, author of Avodat Panim; R. Yisrael Dov Odesser (“Ba’al HaPatek”); R. Moshe Luria of the Yeshiva of Kabbalists Sha’ar HaShamayim, and many others.