Bidspirit auction | Historic: Enthusiastic Letter of Support

Historic: Enthusiastic Letter of Support for the Founding of Agudas Yisrael by Rabbi Meir Atlas, Father-in-Law of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski — Shavel, 1911 * A complete handwritten and autographed letter by the gaon Rabbi Meir Atlas, Av Beis Din of Shavel, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, and one of the foremost leaders of Chareidi Jewry in Europe in the pre-Holocaust generation. In this letter, Rabbi Meir expresses, with great warmth and in his pleasant style, his support for the idea of establishing a “great and exalted enterprise for the strengthening of Yiddishkeit, through a general unification” of those who fear Hashem — an idea which, shortly thereafter, developed into the worldwide Agudas Yisrael movement. Rabbi Meir writes: “This holy matter has the power to raise the banner of Torah and of Yiddishkeit in general, both in our land and in other lands as well, where, alas, it has declined enormously, with those who fear Hashem lacking the strength to stand in the breach; but through a general unification there is hope, with the help of Hashem, that it will grant strength and courage to יחידי סגולה — select individuals — in all their places, to act for the benefit of Yiddishkeit and to draw the youth toward the path of Torah and mitzvos.” He continues and urges the recipient to involve himself in this sacred endeavor: “May you be among those who bring merit to the many, to erect the wall of the faith and to fortify its breaches; and it is superfluous to describe and elaborate before your honor the great benefit that will arise from such an association.” The letter is quite an early letter – it is from the month of Teves 1911, before the name “Agudas Yisrael” had even been established as the movement’s official name. That name was fixed only at the famous Katowice Conference, which took place several months later, in Sivan 1911. To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, this letter has never been publicized! The gaon Rabbi Meir Atlas (1848-1926) was one of the great scholars and tzaddikim of Lithuania in his generation. In 1881 he founded the Yeshiva Gedola in Telz and served as its Rosh Yeshiva. He later held rabbinic positions in the cities of Salant, Liboi, Kobrin, and Shavel. For several years there were discussions regarding his appointment to the rabbinate of Jerusalem, but this did not come to fruition. His sons-in-law were the gaon Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman of Baranovitch and the gaon Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski of Vilna, through his second marriage. Rabbi Meir was an enthusiastic supporter of the Agudah idea from its very inception. He was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, participated in conferences together with the Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Chaim Ozer, and other Gedolei Hador, and signed proclamations on behalf of Agudas Yisrael. Shavel, 1911. 17 lines in the handwriting and with the signature and stamp of Rabbi Meir Atlas. Page Count: [1] leaf. Size : 13.3 × 20.7 cm. Condition : Good, with light stains.