Bidspirit auction | “The Delegation Did Not Harm

“The Delegation Did Not Harm the Balfour Declaration” Historic Letter by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld Refuting the Balfour Declaration Accusations * An exceptional letter, filled with remarkable content, in which Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld — the leader of Chareidi Jewry in Eretz Yisrael — expresses his views on the most burning issues of that time: the Balfour Declaration, the renewal of settlement in Eretz Yisrael, the deteriorating state of religious observance, and the right of the Chareidi community in Jerusalem to independence from Zionist control. This historic letter is a direct response and defense regarding the worldwide uproar that erupted after three leaders of Agudas Yisrael met with Lord Northcliffe in 1922, at the instruction of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. At the heart of the storm stood the rumor that the members of the delegation had informed the lord of Agudas Yisrael’s opposition to Zionism and to the Balfour Declaration (see more below.) Rabbi Yosef Chaim writes the following in his sharp letter: “I hereby have the honor to inform you that the despicable libel cast upon the honorable Rabbanim, members of the delegation that went at my instruction, is founded on falsehood, and woe to the ears that hear such disgraceful and brazen slander and gossip about men who went on a mission for the honor of Heaven. And it has become entirely clear to me that the delegation did not harm nor touch the Balfour Declaration, and certainly did not, Heaven forbid, speak against the holy idea of the return of Yisrael to its land… It merely fulfilled its duty… for the sake of the autonomy and equal rights of the communities in Eretz Yisrael…” He then writes with deep pain about the deteriorating religious state in Eretz Yisrael, hinting that if the Zionists were to manage to place their hands on the Chareidi Torah institutions, Chareidim abroad would refrain from moving to Eretz Yisrael: “Such leadership would lock the gate before tens of thousands of our brethren, Bnei Yisrael, who fear the word of Hashem, preventing them from making aliyah to Zion.” Mention of this unique letter already appears in the newspapers of the time, from 104 years ago — its content summarized in three lines in Kol Yisrael (24 Adar 1922, p. 4; facsimile attached). To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, the letter itself has never been publicized before! In certain respects, one may view this foundational letter as marking the beginning of the development of the worldview of Chareidi Jewry in Eretz Yisrael from then until today. The letter is written by a scribe, with its final two lines in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld himself: “Awaiting salvation soon for the community and the individual, to bring complete teshuva to all sinners of His people… and bring redemption to Zion, etc., and to the returning of transgressors, etc.… and to the elevation of the honor of the holy Torah, the humble Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.” Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849-1932) was the leader of the Chareidi Jewish community in Eretz Yisrael. He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael from Hungary in his youth with his teacher, Rabbi Abraham Shag. In Jerusalem, he became close to Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin and received Torah and guidance from him. In addition to his greatness in Torah, he served for decades as the administrator of Kollel Ungarin. From 1920 until his passing, he served as the first Av Beis Din of the Eidah HaChareidis. He fought fiercely to safeguard the independence of the Eidah HaChareidis. Jerusalem, 19 Adar 1922. Two leaves, written on one side. Official letterhead. Size: 20.3 × 28.2 cm. Condition: Good. Fold marks; binder holes at the top of the leaves. ---------------------- Background to the Uproar In Shevat 1922, the English magnate Lord Northcliffe arrived in Eretz Yisrael, a man of tremendous public influence and the owner of The Times, the Daily Mirror, and other widely read global newspapers. On 9 Shevat, he held a meeting with three important figures of the Eidah HaChareidis: Rabbi Moshe Leib Bernstein, one of the rabbanim of the Eidah HaChareidis, the secretary R' Reuven Shlomo Jungreis, and the noted activist Dr. Yaakov Yisrael De Haan. About a week after the meeting, a tremendous storm erupted across the world — among Zionist circles, the Mizrachi, and even parts of Agudas Yisrael — due to a report published abroad claiming that the Chareidi delegation had informed the lord of its opposition to Zionism and to the Balfour Declaration! Many scathing articles were published in the newspapers against the delegation members, who were labeled “traitors, ” “informers, ” and “collaborators.” Rioters severely beat Rabbi Bernstein; death threats were sent to Dr. De Haan, and he was nearly fired from his legal post. Since Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld had sent the delegation, many turned to him seeking clarification. In response,