Call from the Admor of Solkolov [Kotzk] to the Residents of Palestine to Leave the Secular Communities and Join the ...

Call from the Admor of Solkolov [Kotzk] to the Residents of Palestine to Leave the Secular Communities and Join the Holy Community - Sokolov, c. 1920s

Leaflet wherein the Admor of Kotzk-Sokolov Rabbi Zelig Morgenstein calls 'to our brothers who tremble before the word of Hash-m, residents of our Holy Land, leave the secular communities 'which are subordinate to the National Committee' and gather in the holy community established according to the Torah and tradition of our fathers.' The Admor sent this to Palestine, where they published it in the leaflet before us.

Rare leaflet in which the Admor responds to various claims raised in favor of staying within the zionist camp: "And because I know there are Chareidim who have not yet opened their eyes to see the outcome, in that they think this will cause separation of hearts and lack of peace, I hereby tell you - don't let this mistaken idea entice you, as it is written: Greetings to all who love the Torah - he who loves the Torah, peace is with him from beginning, (He) fights his fight ... and when the Holy One gave his covenant of peace to Pinchas, he caused peace, as then there were also gaonim and tzaddikim who murmured that he was disrupting peace in Israel and the Holy One came and gave his covenant of peace which ended it ..." and he concludes: "Don't look at those who want to convince you to remain among them, to be easygoing ... this attribute destroys the world and leads every generation anew to eternal disgrace ... and gather together into a complete group who seeks Hash-m and establishes pure holy institutions for the new generation ..."

The Admor Rabbi Yitzchak Zelig of Kotzk-Sokolov [1866-1940] was among the leaders of Polish Jewry before the Holocaust. Great-grandson of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, and son of Rabbi David Morgenstern, the second Admor of Kotzk. He began to serve as rabbi of Sokolov in 1900, a role he served for 40 years. After his father passed away in 1905, he began to serve as Admor. Chassidim came to his court in Sokolov from all over the world for blessings and salvations. From the beginning of his leadership, he was involved in all the affairs of the Jewish community in Poland, becoming famous as a speaker, an organizer and successful author. He was in touch with all the Jewish leadership in Poland of the time, including Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, Rabbi Menachem Ziemba and others. Among the founders of the 'Agudat HaRabbanim' of Poland, chosen to participate in the delegation of Polish Rabbis to the Rabbi's conference in Peterburg in 1910 which was assembled by order of Czar Nicolas with the participation of rabbinic leaders. He was later appointed to Agudat Yisrael's Council of Torah Sages and participated in all their conferences. He stood at the head of uncompromising struggles with the zionist movement. In 1924, he visited Palestine with a delegation from the Council of Torah Sages which included the Admor of Gur. In this framework, he attempted to make peace between Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. Following the visit, he called on his chassidim to immigrate, and attempted to establish a settlement for Sokolov chassidim in the Land of Israel, but it didn't work out. The author Aharon Sorosky brings interesting testimony from his student, Shimon Wassertzug, saying that in 1935 he said that it appears that it was heavenly ordained that Jewish leaders were mistaken with respect to the Land of Israel and that it was Hash-m's will that the Land be built by Jews who were not Torah observant [She'erit Yitzchak p. 129].

Size: 42x25 cm. Slight stains and tears. Fine condition.