Archive of Historical Documents and Letters from the Establishment of the Moshava Bnei Berak in 1925 until the ...

Archive of Historical Documents and Letters from the Establishment of the Moshava Bnei Berak in 1925 until the First Years of the State
An archive that includes approximately 35 letters, documents, certificates and invitations, from the first years of the agricultural Moshava Bnei Berak until its first years as the city of Torah and Hassidism. The archive also includes important and rare autographs of the most prominent rabbis in Israel, Zionist leaders and well-known writers and journalists.
The various documents reflect the special spirit that had accompanied the establishment of Bnei Berak and describe the challenges and deliberations that its first settlers had to face.
The archive contains valuable historical material. Its documents have never been published until now.
Following is a partial list of the documents, according to subjects:

The purchase of the land and the building of the Moshava
On the fifth of Iyar 5682 (3.5.1922), the founders purchased the first plots of land of Bnei Berak from several Arab families from the village of Ebn Ibraq. The sale was negotiated by the "Geulah" company and the efforts of its manager, Bezalel Yaffe, who signed some of the documents before us from the first days of the Moshava.
Two years later, in Sivan 1924, the first group of immigrants from Poland settled in Bnei Berak and built its first houses.
Before us are important documents from the first years of Bnei Berak:

• Official document by the "Geulah" Company, to "Agudat Bayit Ve'Nachala" in Tel Aviv and its heads, Y.L. Pinchas and Yisrael Chavas. (On the upper part of the leaf it is written: "Leaf 2". The first leaf is missing). The document details various terms related to the purchase of the lands of Bnei Berak and the conditions of the sale. Stamp of the Geulah Company and the signature of Bezalel Yaffe, its manager. Undated. Most likely, summer 1922, when the lands of Bnei Berak were purchased. On the reverse side of the leaf, various stamps.
This document is early, even before the first settlers came to Bnei Berak.
• Official letter by the Geulah Company to Yisrael Chavas an Y.L. Pinchas, the managers of "Bayit Ve'Nachala" in Tel Aviv, about the suggestion of Dr. Moshe Wallach of Jerusalem. 25th of Kislev 5684 (3.12.1923). Stamp of the Geulah Company and the signature of Bezalel Yaffe, its manager.
This letter is also early.
• Official letter by the Geulah Company, by its manager Bezalrl Yaffe and with his signature, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren, one of the founders of Bnei Berak. 17th of Iyar 5685 (11.5.1925).
• In the letter before us, Yaffe describes the difficulty to reach the big city - Tel Aviv: "the cars are worn out, the wagons break down and the beasts of burden cannot carry their load … and although the road is greatly neglected, the traffic between the Moshava (and other Moshavot in the area) and Tel Aviv is heavy, since it is the major consumer of the land's products …"Yaffe explains that "a good road is a prerequisite for the development of the Yishuv, the increase in production and reduction of prices". Therefore, he asks the committee of "Bayit Ve'Nachala" in Bnei Berak "to send a representative for a delegation that will present the case before the Baron Rothschild, complaining about the state of the road and the government's attitude, and ask him to help influence the government to help the Yishuv". The letter implies that Bnei Berak as a Moshava, together with the other Moshavot, supplied agricultural products and milk to Tel Aviv. The initiative to appeal to the Baron Rothschild was unknown until now!
• Letter by Rabbi Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel, the rabbi of Tel Aviv, on official stationery from the 6th of Tishrei 5689 (20.9.1928) to the committee of Bnei Berak.
• Rabbi Uziel thanks the settlers for their greeting for the New Year and blesses them: "Be strong and for good courage in your work, which combines Torah and work … we shall help in what we can to develop your Moshava on the base of the healthy foundations of Torah and Avodah…" his signature with an addition of a line in his handwriting.
• An additional letter by Rabbi Uziel, on official stationery of the Rabbinate of Tel Aviv, signed by him, to the committee of the Moshava, from the 17th of Elul 5690 (10.9.1930).
• In the letter, Rabbi Uziel apologizes for not being able to accept the invitation to the party that will take place in the Moshava and adds his greetings: "May you spread to the right and the left to build the wilderness of our country and settle it with Jews who will be in soul and mind like the disciples of Rabbi Akiva with his Torah and nationalism!"
• Letter from the Prime Minister David Ben Gurion's Office to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren about a housing cooperative for the residents of the transit camp of Bnei Berak. 1951.

Security challenges
Another area which the documents of the archive relate to is the security of newly founded Moshava.
During these years, the country suffered from violent incidences (especially in 1929 and 1936) and the founders of the Moshava appointed guards to guard the Moshava against the Arab rioters from the nearby villages. Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren himself was one of the guards, together with the members of the Haganah.

Before us are several letters referring to the security of the Moshava:
• A letter from the Zionist General Council, signed by Rabbi Meir Berlin, to the committee of the Moshava, from the 17th of Elul 5689 (22.9.1929), immediately after the 1929 Palestine Riots: "We would like to inform you that the central committee has decided to authorize the amount of 100 Lirot for the expenses of defending your location".
• Printed postcard - invitation from the management of the Jewish Agency to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren to "a closed meeting to clarify problems of security and defense", which will take place on Tuesday 27.1.1948 in Tel Aviv. The lecturer: the chairman of the Jewish Agency, David Ben Gurion. The invitation is personal and serves as an entrance ticket. Hand-filled details.

• Letter by "Magbit Hitgaysut Ve'Hatzalah", (The United Jewish Appeal) Adar 1948, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren, with a request of him "to be a member of the evaluation committee of the United Jewish Appeal, as he had done with previous enterprises". Stamps and signatures of the managers of the United Jewish Appeal, which was founded by the Jewish Agency. Added is an additional letter on behalf of the presidency of the Appeal, inviting Yitzchak Gershteinkoren to a national meeting of the leaders of the Jewish population in Israel.

Economics and Building
Matters related to economics and the building of the young Moshava are also discussed by the material before us:
• Letter from the general postal office of Jerusalem to the committee of Bnei Berak about the postal services of the Moshava. 1928.
• Handwritten letter - short description of a trial that took place at the district court of Jaffa in 1927 between an iron factory and the defendants - the committee of Bnei Berak (several names of the founders are mentioned). According to the court ruling, the defendants had to pay the iron factory. An additional document, most likely related to this affair, written in Arabic, signatures and a stamp (most likely of the court).
• Letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Shlomo Ha'Cohen Aharonson, the rabbi of Tel Aviv, to Yitzchak Gershteinkoren from Tamuz 1931 about a recommendation for a Jew who wants to immigrate from Moscow and work at the "Brakai weaving factory in Bnei Berak. At the time, it was one of the largest weaving factories in Israel. (It should be noted that letters by Rabbi Aharonson are extremely rare!)

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook
During the first years of Bnei Berak, its members were aided by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook, who was glad to help when possible in both spiritual and material matters.
• A rare letter by Rabbi Kook, on his official stationery, to the committee of the Moshava, from the 28th of Cheshvan 5788 (23.11.1927). the letter was written on behalf of Rabbi Kook by his secretary, Reb Avraham Moshe Rabinowitz-Te'omim, regarding the first rabbi of Bnei Berak, Rabbi Aryeh Mordechai Rabinowitz, who himself was one of the founders of the Moshava. Rabbi Kook's stamp on the margins of the letter.
• Official letter sent by the "City Committee of the Ashkenazi Community" to the committee of Bnei Berak in 1925:
"We hereby inform you that according to the information we have received, the head of the rabbis, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ha'Cohen Kook, will arrive in our country next Wednesday, the 20th of Kislev (17.12.1924). We invite you to participate in the first reception that will take place in Lod …" Typewritten and signed by the secretary.
Such letters are extremely rare!

Peace and Unity
Naturally, there were also disagreements and disputes in Bnei Berak, especially concerning ideological matters that were not yet determined. Thus for example, the majority of the founders were members of "Ha'Mizrachi"; yet many others were connected to "Agudat Yisrael". After Rabbi Kook's death, many of these disputes were presented before Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Ha'Levi Herzog.
Before us are documents and letters dealing with the subject of making peace in the Moshava:
• Letter by Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Ha'Levi Herzog, the Chief Rabbi, from the 5th of Adar A 5714 (8.2.1954), to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. Invitation to his house. "Subject matter: returning the peace and unity to a large an important city in Israel, Bnei Berak". Rabbi Herzog's signature.
• Letter by Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Ha'Levi Herzog (signed by him), to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren: "I find it my holy duty to tell my friend that he must not resign and abandon a large an important city in Israel, Bnei Berak". Later in the letter, he refers to disagreements among the leaders of the city. The 6th of Adar A 5714 (9.2.1954).

• Letter by the Foreign Minister Moshe Sharet (signed by him) to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren, Iyar 1951. "… I have signed a release letter for Mr. Shimon Siroka, according to the recommendation of the police". Siroka was a member of Agudat Yisrael in Bnei Berak and its fifth mayor. Sharet also asks Gershteinkoren to Hebraize his name: "If you merited standing at the head of a Hebrew city, why should not the city merit a Hebrew name for its mayor?

• Two letters by "Merkaz HaMifkad LeSherut Ha'am" on behalf of the Jewish National Council. 1948.

• Handwritten copying of a polemic letter by several of the first residents of Bnei Berak, about "a bloody hovel in Bnei Berak". This copying was sent to the press in Israel. 1929. The letter deals with a bitter argument between the committee of the Moshava and several of the settlers which eventually led to the involvement of the police, which arrested several of the settlers.

• Letter by Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren to Rabbi Herzog: "I was shocked to hear what happened yesterday at the Ponovezh Yeshiva during the funeral of Rabbi Dessler … the despicable act that had been done in our city…" During Rabbi Herzog's eulogy, several fanatics interrupted him with shouts. An agitated letter. Typewritten. Tevet, 1954.

• Letter by Rabbi Herzog (signed by him) to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren about the establishment of a religious council in Bnei Berak, which must be approved by Rabbi Landau.

Additional Letters by the Rabbis of the Land of Israel
• Letter by the Rishon Le'Zion Rabbi Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. 1951. Greetings for the new year. His signature.
• Letter handwritten and signed by the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rabbi Issar Yehuda Unterman, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. Greetings for his 60th birthday. 1951.
• An additional letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Unterman regarding the supervision of the kashrut of the hospital in Pardes Katz, which "now is part of your municipality". 1949.
• Letter by Rabbi Ya'akov Moshe Harlap (written on his behalf by his assistant), the 28th of Tamuz 5711, (1.8.1951), with DivreiTorah, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. Written on Rabbi Harlap's deathbed.
• Letter by Rabbi Katriel Fischel Tchorz to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren - invitation to Melaveh Malka with the leaders of "Ha'Poel Ha'Mizrachi". Undated.

Additional Letters by Zionist leaders
• Touching letter, handwritten and signed by the well-known writer Rabbi Dr. Avraham Kaminka, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. Shevat 1941. Among others, Kaminka writes: "it was nice to remember the days I lived in Bnei Berak several years ago…"
• Two letters by Knesset member Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Norok, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. Among others, he greets him: "may you continue your important historical work".
• Three letters to the committee of the Moshava and to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren by Rabbi Meir Berlin (Bar Ilan), written on the official stationery of the Zionist General Council. Rabbi Bar Ilan was greatly involved in the establishment of Bnei Berak and supported it with all the means he had. The first letter is from the 25th of Tamuz 5787 (25.7.1927) about his speech during the ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone of the Talmud Torah and the schools of the Moshava. His signature. An additional letter from the same date regarding "a memorandum to the congress on behalf of your Moshava" in which he notes: "undoubtedly that during the congress, I will try to help you with this matter". The third letter is from the 29th of Nissan 5790 (27.4.1930).
• Letter handwritten and signed by Moshe Glikson (the editor of "Ha'Aretz newspaper and a Zionist leader), on the official stationery of the newspaper to the committee of Bnei Berak, regarding a certain affair that occurred in Bnei Berak which reached the press. 1929.

• Letter by the Jewish National Council to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren - invitation to a meeting of the Elected Assembly in Tel Aviv on 25.11.1948.

• Official letter by the religious council of Tel Aviv, signed by David Zbi Pinkas, to the Committee for the 50th anniversary of Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren - greetings and praise for his blessed activity and devotion.

• Letter signed by Reb Moshe Shapira, Minister of Social Services, to Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren. 1957.

The "Bayit Ve'Nachala" group dealt with buying agricultural lands in the Land of Israel in order to build towns for religious Jews. The group was founded during the period of the fourth Aliyyah by a group of Hassidim in Warsaw headed by Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren.
The group, encouraged by Rabbi Kook and the Rebbe of Gur, founded the Haredi Moshava of Bnei Berak, which later became a city, on lands bought by the "Geulah" company from the Arabs of a nearby village.
A short while after Passover 1024, the first group of twenty five families left Poland to the Land of Israel headed by Reb Yitzchak Gershteinkoren and settled in Bnei Berak.
The booklet of regulations of the new Moshava reflects the ideology of its founders: "This settlement is most valuable to the Jewish settlement of the Land of Israel and it is especially important for the Haredim … Bnei Berak will serve as a model of Torah and Avoda and as an example demonstrating the the Haredim are interested in the revival of the Holy Land no less that the national Jews".
Added is the book "Chalutzim Be'Zion" (Pioneers in Zion) about the establishment of Bnei Berak.

Condition: Most items are in Good-Very Good condition.