Bidspirit auction | The Decree Against Shechitah: A

The Decree Against Shechitah: A Letter from Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski on Efforts to Prevent “Stunning of Animals” Law in Poland – 1937 * A long handwritten and autographed letter by the preeminent Gadol Hador, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski of Vilna, whose authority guided all matters of public and halachic concern. In this letter, Rabbi Chaim Ozer addresses the most urgent and pressing issue facing Polish Jewry at that time: the intention of the Polish government to legislate mandatory electric stunning of animals prior to shechitah. The Gedolei Hador deliberated extensively and ruled that animals subjected to such stunning are, at the very least, considered safek treifos and are therefore forbidden. The direct consequence of such a law would be the effective elimination of kosher meat for the millions of Jews living in Poland. Indeed, nearly all of the letters of Rabbi Chaim Ozer from this period revolve around tireless public efforts to prevent this decree, which he described in stark terms as “an act of wickedness the likes of which has never been heard, ” even proposing the establishment of a worldwide public fast in response (Iggros Rabbi Chaim Ozer, vol. I, letter 433). At the beginning of the present letter, Rabbi Chaim Ozer refers to a proposed solution that might avert the decree: stunning the animal prior to slaughter not by electricity, but through the administration of a certain medicinal substance. He writes that he forwarded this proposal to the Gedolei Hador in order to obtain their opinion. It is noteworthy that in the months that followed, experiments were indeed conducted to determine whether this method could be considered halachically acceptable, and from Rabbi Chaim Ozer’s correspondence, it is evident that he closely monitored their progress and results. He further notes toward the conclusion of the letter that he sent several rabbanim a copy of the periodical Daas Vort, which contained the formal “gilui daas Torah” issued by the Gedolei Hador opposing electrical stunning. Among the signatories of this declaration were Rabbi Chaim Ozer himself, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, and others. A copy of that newspaper issue is attached. ------------------------ A significant and noteworthy passage appears in this letter regarding the question of turning on an electric light on Shabbos. The recipient had cited the opinion of a posek who permitted turning on an electric light (most likely referring to turning on a light on Yom Tov, see Even Yekarah, vol. III, siman 168). In response, Rabbi Chaim Ozer writes: “For us, it is clear that it is prohibited, as explained in Shu”t Beis Yitzchak by the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Schmelkes, zt”l, for it involves the prohibition of molid.” (He is likely referring to Beis Yitzchak, Yoreh Deah, vol. I, siman 120, os 5, where this topic is discussed. Interestingly, in that very teshuva, the Beis Yitzchak permits lighting Shabbos candles with electric lights!) This letter was later printed in Iggros Rabbi Chaim Ozer, vol. I, letter 475. Vilna, 1937. The entire letter is in the handwriting and bears the signature of Rabbi Chaim Ozer. Written on official stationery, measuring 21.7×28.2 cm. Condition : Good; minor, small tears along the margins. ----------------------- In the letter, Rabbi Chaim Ozer also refers to the difficulties he encountered in printing his sefer Achiezer, volume III, whose publication was only completed in 1939. He also mentions the instructions of his physicians that he must rest in the vicinity of Vilna, as well as his plans toward the end of the summer to travel to Vienna.