Bidspirit auction | Letter by Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz

Letter by Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz Regarding the Writings of the “Ilui of Rakov” [Including a Sharp Response Letter] - A letter in the handwriting and with the signature of the renowned Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva in the United States. Brooklyn, 1962 (תשכ”ב). The letter was sent to Rabbi Zvi Kaplan of Shaarei Chessed, Jerusalem, son of Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu Kaplan ztz”l, former head of the Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin. The letter concerns the publication of the writings of the “Ilui of Rakov, ” about whom the Chafetz Chaim wrote (printed in Yeshurun): “My friend and beloved, a genius in Torah and righteous in deeds, the honorable Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu ztz”l of Rakov—he was one of the beloved of my soul!” In the letter, Rabbi Kalmanowitz expresses his deep admiration for the Ilui of Rakov and attempts to assist in securing financial support for printing the sefer in the United States, by listing names and addresses of potential donors—either descendants of the Ilui or natives of Rakov—who would surely help with the printing expenses. The response letter: On the reverse side of the letter appears a draft of Rabbi Zvi Kaplan’s reply, expressing a measure of sadness over the difficulty in finding support for the publication: “There is no voice, no answer, and no attention! Not from the two aforementioned individuals, nor from Your Honor yourself! I wonder!” (Exclamation marks in the original). In the end, despite the challenges, the efforts of Rabbi Kalmanowitz succeeded, and the sefer was published the following year, 1963 (תשכ”ג), in splendid form. (See attached image.) [1] Airmail letter, 31 cm. Condition: Good. Fold marks. Some age stains. On the reverse appears the handwritten draft of Rabbi Kaplan’s reply. Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz (1891–1964), formerly rabbi of Rakov and later of Tiktin, and subsequently Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir in the United States, was a close disciple and confidant of the Chafetz Chaim and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. At the outbreak of World War II he escaped to the United States and joined the Vaad Hatzalah, where he worked tirelessly to save European Jews. He maintained contact with the Mir Yeshiva students and rabbis in Shanghai and was active in fundraising throughout American cities. Several times he traveled on Shabbat for reasons of life-saving, to rescue Jews from the dangers of the Nazi regime. He also initiated efforts to persuade the Allied forces to bomb Auschwitz, though unsuccessfully. After his passing, Rabbi Simcha Elberg eulogized him as “the rescuer of Torah in our generation.” His son is Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchak Kalmanowitz, author of Ahalei Yeshuah.