Bidspirit auction | “The Wretched Ones Who Were

“The Wretched Ones Who Were Burned” – A Historic Letter from the Leader of the Generation, the Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovno - An important letter of rare historical significance from the rabbinic leader of all the Diaspora, Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, one of the foremost halachic decisors of his generation and the recognized spiritual, communal, and political head of Lithuanian and Russian Jewry. Kovno (Kaunas), 20 Tevet 5642 (1882). The letter – unpublished. Background of the Letter: In 1878, a devastating fire broke out in the city of Vilkomir (Wilkomir), near Kovno, consuming all the Jewish homes in the city and leaving thousands destitute. As described in Igrot Rabbi Elchanan Spektor (Part I, Letter 199): “…the great city near us, Wilkomir, was entirely consumed by fire. More than a thousand houses with all the property and possessions within them… twelve synagogues and study halls… all alike became food for the flames… and some six thousand souls of our brethren, the Children of Israel, lie rolling about naked, barefoot, and hungry beneath the open sky. Such an awesome and terrible destruction has neither been seen nor heard.” The catastrophe touched the depths of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan’s heart, and he issued an impassioned public appeal: “In my body there is no strength, in my heart no spirit, and in my mouth no words to describe and explain the great, awesome, and terrible calamity that has shattered these six thousand souls. Have pity, show compassion and mercy… The one who pleads on their behalf and writes in tears, Yitzchak Elchanan…” Now, some four years later, when the city had still not recovered, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan turns in the present letter to Rabbi Dr. Isaac Rülf, rabbi of Memel, with a personal and heartfelt plea to come to the aid of the “burned and wretched ones.” In his sharp language, he defines the assistance as “literally a matter of pikuach nefesh (saving lives), ” and implores: “I request of his honor that he cast aside all distractions and devote his pure heart and deeds solely to the benefit of the fire victims.” Although the fire is documented many times in Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan’s correspondence, the present letter does not appear among the hundreds of letters printed in the two volumes of Igrot Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan, and to the best of our knowledge, it is published here for the first time. However, another letter that was printed there (Part II, Letter 201) testifies to the results of this appeal: the residents of Memel established an organized relief committee for the victims of the fire, led by rabbis and philanthropists headed by Rabbi Dr. Rülf, and initially raised 18,000 silver rubles. Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan wrote of this achievement: “This distinguished sum… shall yet serve as an example to many cities… and of the deeds of Ashkenaz it shall be said: May their like increase in Israel!” In his great humility, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan did not mention there that the initiative had come in response to his personal appeal, but simply wrote: “When the dreadful news reached the city of Memel.” It now becomes clear that behind the great awakening stood the direct call of the leading sage of the generation. Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817–1896) was among the greatest halachic authorities and responsa writers of his era, recognized as the foremost leader of Lithuanian and Russian Jewry. Among his published works: Be’er Yitzchak, Ein Yitzchak, and Nachal Yitzchak. [1] Bifolium (two conjugate leaves), each page 19 × 13 cm. Entirely in the autograph handwriting of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan. Very fine condition. Folding marks.