Bidspirit auction | The Chofetz Chaim’s urgent call

The Chofetz Chaim’s urgent call to support the Yeshivah world, with a powerful blessing: “They will merit children who are great in Torah and fear of Heaven!” London, 1910 * This is a large and historic notice calling for support of the Lomza Yeshiva. The notice was written by the saintly sage Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin - author of Sefer Chofetz Chaim and the Mishnah Brurah, and one of the most renowned tzaddikim of recent generations. The notice was likely printed in London in the year 1910. In his words, the Chofetz Chaim writes passionately about the supreme value and importance of the continued existence of yeshivas in every place and under all circumstances! These are the heartfelt words of the great Kohen and Gadol Hador from Radin: ”That which unites all of Klal Yisrael and fortifies the very foundations of Yiddishkeit, at all times and in every location, is the pursuit of our sacred Torah through maintaining yeshivos and Torah study groups… And this is what has stood by our forefathers throughout the long and bitter exile of two thousand years. All our great leaders and luminaries have always strengthened themselves specifically in this area – dedicating themselves to increasing Torah by raising students, and establishing yeshivos and gatherings of Torah scholars, from early generations to recent times. The Chofetz Chaim then gives examples of gedolim who have done this.  “Such as: the Yeshiva of the Chasam Sofer, the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger, the yeshiva of the great luminary Reb Chaim, of blessed memory - as well as smaller yeshivos in every city, as is well known. Through this, the pillars of Yiddishkeit were upheld and strengthened in every time and place until today.” He then continues with great blessings for those who support and uphold the yeshivos: ”And it is well known how great is the reward for the mitzvah of supporting Torah, for it is with these words that the blessings on Har Grizim conclude: Blessed is he who upholds the Torah... And Hashem, Who is Good, will pour forth blessing from His holy abode upon the doers and those who cause it to be done, and grant them success in all their endeavors.” He concludes with an extraordinary blessing: ”They will merit children who are great in Torah and fear of Heaven”!! The powerful words of the Chofetz Chaim are especially relevant in our own times, when there are unfortunately those who seek to harm the Yeshiva world, and our present-day Gedolei Hador from all communities and groups have to traverse the world in support of the holy yeshivos! To the best of Zaidy's research, this historic letter is almost unknown. (Only a few excerpts, and with altered wording, were printed in the sefer Chofetz Chaim: His Life and Activities by R. M. M. Yashar, I, p. 317). This notice is exceptionally rare. So far, no additional copy of this notice could be found in other archives. Its great rarity makes it especially significant! At the bottom of the notice are five lines in the handwriting and with the signature of the gaon Rabbi Avraham Abba Werner, Av Beis Din of the Machzikei Hadas congregation in London. Originally from Lithuania, Rabbi Avraham Abba - one of the leading Rabbanim of England – writes the following: ”...Please read the words of the renowned and righteous gaon Morenu HaRav Yisrael Meir HaKohen, mentioned above, and be moved by his holy words, with pure awe and love of Hashem, blessed be He, and His Torah.” London? 1910 . Printed poster. At the end there are five lines in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Avraham Abba Werner, dated Sivan 1910. Size: Large format: 21.9X35 cm. Condition: Good, repaired tears at the margins. Stains. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Lomza Yeshiva was one of the most important yeshivos in all of Lithuania and Poland, and at the time this notice was publicized, it numbered about 300 students in its student body! The yeshiva was founded by the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Shulevitz, who was one of the leading talmidim of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter. Many of its students became outstanding Gedolei Torah, as the Chofetz Chaim himself testifies in the present announcement. The Chofetz Chaim was deeply connected to the yeshiva from its founding in the late 1880s, and assisted it in obtaining its building through the generosity of a prominent philanthropist. For more about the Chofetz Chaim’s ties to the Lomza Yeshiva, see the sefer Chofetz Chaim: His Life and Activities, I, pp. 239–240, 243.