Rare Holocaust Letter from the Gaon Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, Av Beit Din of Shanghai

Rare Holocaust Letter from the Gaon Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, Av Beit Din of Shanghai

Rare and interesting Holocaust letter - from after the arrival of the sacred yeshivah students in Shanghai during WWII - written by the gaon Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, av beit din of Shanghai, among the Rasha"b of Lubavitch's disciples. Shanghai, 1941.

The letter is addressed to the renowned gaon Rabbi Shmuel Aharon shlit"a (Rabbi Ashkenazi notes that it should also be given to Rabbi Margaliot, who also sent him a letter). In his historic letter, the av beit din of Shanghai describes the condition of the bnei yeshivah in Shanghai first-hand, as it was occurring, along with that of the other refugees: "We have established a special home for the bnei Torah with a dedicated soup kitchen so that they won't starve along with the rest of the refugees."

Rabbi Ashkenazi also describes the condition of the local Jewish community: "The rabbinate in the Far East ... is not what we are accustomed to from back home, when householders are bound with spiritual ties to the leaders, as in earlier times, and as such have a wide field of influence, each according to his abilities. In the Far East, it is somewhat different. First of all, it is difficult to describe in writing, and secondly, it is superfluous to Heaven forbid, slander or criticize ..."

The letter implies that the aforementioned Rabbi Shmuel Aharon intended to go to Shanghai himself, and Rabbi Ashkenazi promises that if indeed this happens, may it be at an auspicious time, and he will be happy to assist them and meet them when their boat arrives. He adds, "Promising the earth and sky ahead of time ... when actually it's only Divine providence - but we will try, b'ezrat Hashem."

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the gaon Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi.

[1] leaf paper. 21x28 cm. Official stationery.

Very fine condition. Fold marks. Minimal stains. Tiny tear in the corner.