First Letter about the (Pre-State) Draft Decree: Handwritten by the Netivot Shalom of Slonim

First Letter about the (Pre-State) Draft Decree: Handwritten by the Netivot Shalom of Slonim

"At present it is not possible to obtain exemptions for yeshivah men"

Constitutive historic-philosophic letter of inestimable value, entirely handwritten and signed by the Admo"r Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky, a leading Admo"r of the previous generation. The letter was sent in the midst of the War of Independence, and it discusses drafting yeshivah students to the army of the as-yet-unfounded state. Jerusalem, 1948.

This is without a doubt one of the first letters by gedolei Yisrael - possibly the very first - dealing with the most acute issues in Chareidi society and all of the State of Israel. This topic has not left the State agenda for the entire 75 years of its existence. It is also the issue most responsible, in some ways, for the present political chaos in the State of Israel.

The letter is addressed to Rabbi Shmuel Aharon Shadrovitsky, one of the leaders of the Agudat Yisrael movement in the Land of Israel (son of the Admo"r of Kobrin-Bialystok and father-in-law of the Admo"rim of Biala and Modzhitz). It is one of the most important and constitutive letters by the Admo"rim on this subject ever offered at auction.

The Netivot Shalom of Slonim writes in his historic letter, "At present it is not possible to obtain exemptions for yeshivah men. Continuous and exhausting negotiations are currently taking place at headquarters and we hope for positive results ... Please do whatever is necessary in Tel Aviv; don't rely on what we may achieve from here." Even at the height of the War of Independence, with artillery thundering across the battlefields, the Rebbe does not yield to headquarters and does not apologize. With sacred Chassidic fire (mixed with a dash of Baranovitch-Lithuanian obstinance), the Rebbe states emphatically: Bitul Torah shall not occur - it is the only weapon in our hands!

The Admo"r of Slonim was known as a gifted educator. His series of sefarim, Netivot Shalom, is utilized far beyond the boundaries of the Chassidic movement. It is not unheard of to see members of Lithuanian yeshivahs, even those wearing crocheted kippahs, delving deeply into his sefarim, being uplifted higher and higher, far above the mundane. Even in this constitutive letter, which deals with the most acute political issues, the Rebbe does not abandon for a moment his primary role as a guide to the path of Divine service. He adds another important passage in the margins of this letter, with another signature: "As above" - addressed to Rabbi Shadrovitsky's youngest son.

With his devoted and loving renowned golden tongue, that very Divine angel entrusted with the plants in Hashem's garden, the Rebbe strikes the young yeshivah student's head, telling him - grow! "Regards to you, dear Chaim David ... I was happy that you temporarily joined the Achi Temimim yeshivah [the Lubavitch yeshivah where the Rebbe previously served as a prominent lecturer], which is close to my heart, until the anger passes ... and the main thing is to be strong in consistently studying the sacred Torah. The protector and shield from the ravages of times ... The members of the yeshivah and your friends are striving to overcome the disturbances of the present times liable to cause bittul Torah. Torah is the only weapon in our hands, and "the spirit in the yeshivah is strong and steadfast."

At the end of his letter, the Rebbe requests that regards be sent to "the mashgiach of the yeshivah, Rabbi Bruk - the renowned Chaba"d influencer Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk, known as "Shaul Sanowsker" who served as rosh yeshivah of Tomchei Temimim in Zvhil, and then as rosh yeshivah of Achei Temimim in Rishon LeTziyon.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo"r Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky of Slonim.

[1] leaf paper. 22x27 cm. Official stationery of the Beit Avraham yeshivah. Entirely [16 lines] handwritten and signed by the Rebbe.

Very fine condition. Fold marks.