An Important Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook - Most Important Content ...

An Important Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook - Most Important Content Regrading the "Heter Mechira" and His "Sorrow Over the Loss of the Genius of Jerusalem Rabbi Shmuel Salant" - 1909
Letter by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook to Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tikochinsky. 20th of Elul (6.9) 1909, the eve of the Shemitah.
The letter was sent during the days of penitence of the month of Elul. Rabbi Kook opens his letter by referring to a letter he had received from Rabbi Tikochinsky on Shmita matters. Rabbi Kook explains that he had delayed replying to the letter due to the many troubles he has encountered, especially "the general sorrow felt by every person in Israel over the loss of Rabbi Shmuel Salant".
Rabbi Shmuel Salant greatly appreciated and loved Rabbi Kook. "In his mind's eye, he saw Rabbi Kook as his spiritual successor and replacer" (from the recollections of Rabbi Dov Nathan Brinker, "Midrash Ha'Rav" pp. 19). Rabbi Kook mourned the death of Rabbi Shmuel Salant. In the letter before us, he emphasizes that the sorrow "was felt by every person in Israel".
Rabbi Kook then turns to Rabbi Tikochinsky's request that Rabbi Kook write to him what he thinks about the "Heter Mechira" so that he could include his opinion in the booklet "Kuntras Hilchot Shevi'it" he had been writing towards Shenat Shmita of 5670. The booklet was about the Halachot of the Shmita and contained glosses by the Ridbaz, Rabbi Chaim Berlin and Rabbi Kook.
That year, the tempers flared in the country due to the question whether to impose the "Heter Mechira" during the upcoming Shmita. The farmers of the settlements had asked the opinion of Rabi Kook and he published his support of the Heter Mechira. Rabbi Tikochinsky thought Rabbi Kook's opinion should be included in the new booklet he was about to publish.
In the introduction to the booklet, Rabbi Tikochinsky writes: "Saba Kadisha the great genius my father-in-law Rabbi Shmuel Salant told me that after I finish the booklet and receive the responses of the great rabbis Shalita I should show him everything and he too will express his opinion. However, when I finally received all the responses, he was already sick … which led to the great disaster". Either way, Rabbi Tikochinsky found in the writings Rabbi Salant left "few crumbs related to the Shvi'it" and introduced them in his booklet. At the end of his introduction, he writes: "due to the general grief in the Holy City over the death of the glory of our generation Rabbi Shmuel Salant, the printing of the booklet has stopped and its publishing has been delayed for many days". The delay led to it that the booklet was published only at the end of Elul 5669.
As said, Rabbi Kook writes that troubles have prevented him from sending his response to Rabbi Tikochinsky on time, the greatest trouble being the loss of Rabbi Shmuel Salant. Therefore, since his words will not be able to be printed in the booklet, he avoids responding to Rabbi Tikochinsky's request to write about the "Heter Mechira". However, he adds a most important point: "I particularly do not want any Heter to be published in my name, since by no means whatsoever do I want to take upon myself the responsibility of being a Posek to the whole Jewish people". Thus, from the outset, he did not accept the idea of writing for this booklet, which is to be published, about the "Heter Mechira" and his support of it!
Later in the letter, Rabbi Kook explains his real approach to the "Heter Mechira", while addressing in detail this halachic issue, and adds: "And God knows how much sorrow and bitterness I have of this". He also mentions his well-known composition "Shabbat Ha'Aretz".
This sheds new light on Rabbi Kook's approach to the "Heter Mechira"!
Photocopies of the letter have not been and will not be permitted.
This important letter reveals the background of the "Heter Mechira" re-imposed by Rabbi Kook following the example of the Geonim before him.
The letter is handwritten and signed by Rabbi Kook. Written on official stationery. 22 lines.
Condition: Very Good. Folding marks.