Salvation from the Decree of the Prohibition of Learning Talmud - A Long and Important Letter from Rabbi Azriel ...

Salvation from the Decree of the Prohibition of Learning Talmud - A Long and Important Letter from Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer to Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ullman the "Yeriot Shlomo" - 1858
A letter signed by Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer to "My beloved friend the true genius Av Beit Din of Mako" - Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ullman author of "Yeriot Shlomo". September 9, Aseret Yemei Yeshuva, 1858.
In this letter Rabbi Hildesheimer relates that he has discovered that there is a suspicion that the ruling authorities in Hungary, together with the clergy, will oppose the Talmud and its study in Yeshivot. Therefore, he wrote a "contract" which is designated to be distributed the officers and judges of the country, as well as the civilian population, in which is written that the written and oral Torah cannot be detached from each other. Judaism has no existence without the Oral Torah, and one who wishes to separate them has no connection with G-d and His Torah.
Rabbi Azriel begins his letter with an introduction: "These days are busy and vital, due both to their holiness and due to communal matters…however I clearly know that the matter before us is above both of the above matters as it is something which relates to the entire Jewish People, both collectively and individually, and it is a matter on which our lives and the length of our days depend…therefore I hope that His Honor will be pleased with the action of my current letter".
Rabbi Azriel relates: "I happened to come to some of the royal officers, and I heard from them…that the same third from the fine…which is taken from the Jews in our country, is intended to build gymnasiums in our country…and so the matter was confirmed by us through questions which were sent…to the Av Beit Din of Pressburg".
Rabbi Azriel also relates in his letter about his initiative to re-print the book "Eidut L'Yisrael" which defends the learning of Talmud, by Rabbi Shlomo Plesner, which was first published, in Hebrew and German, in Breslau, 1826 (thirty years before the letter before us), and which was published "through the efforts of our departed Rabbi Akiva Eiger". "Through the aforementioned book the decree was cancelled". Rabbi Azriel wants to reach 1000 subscribers for the book in order to lower the price, and calls on Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ullman to assist him.
"He shall put in effort for this great matter as much as he is able to and to achieve a head start in his area as much as he is able". Rabbi Azriel's signature is at the end of the letter.
These events are related in the introduction to the book "Chiddushei Rabbi Azriel". As noted in the letter, an identical letter was sent to other Rabbis. A similar letter was printed in the book "Iggerot Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer" (Jerusalem, 1955).

Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899), one of the great Rabbis of his generation, the leader of German Jewry. In 1869 he was appointed as Av Beit Din of Berlin. Founder and head of the Rabbinical Seminary of Berlin. Together with his friend and colleague Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch he fought against the Reform Movement. A student of Rabbi Yaakov Ettlinger, author of "Aruch L'Ner". With the assistance of Rabbi Meir Lehmann, he published books and articles against the Reform Movement. Supported settling the Land of Israel.
Airmail letter, a large leaf with writing on both sides, 23*30cm.
Condition: Very Good. Slight blemishes. Folding signs.