R. Eliezer Zusyia Portugal. Skulener Rebbe.

R. Eliezer Zusyia Portugal. Skulener Rebbe.
Autograph letter of recommendation on behalf of R. Yosef Friedman and R. Yerachmiel Kaufman who are involved in teaching Torah and Kiruv. The Rebbe writes at length about the importance of the Mitzvah of learning Torah.
R. Eliezer Zusyia Portugal (1897-1982), was born to R. Yisroel Avrohom a Chossid of Bohush and Sadigura who was Rav in Skulen. Upon R. Yisroel Avrohom’s passing in 1915, the young R. Eliezer Zusyia, who was already proficient in Shas and Poskim, succeeded him as Rav in Skulen and became the town’s first Rebbe. It was there that he established the first local Talmud Torah and was a staunch opponent to the Haskalah movement. In 1935, he accepted an invitation to serve as Rov in the community of Chernowitz where he became one of the prominent Rabbonim in the region and served as the Nasi of Agudas Yisroel.
During and after the war, he was instrumental in taking care of the needs of hundreds of young orphans who had survived. After being persecuted by the communist authorities, the Rebbe relocated with the children to Bucharest. In Bucharest he was tortured on numerous occasions by the Communist regime for his work on behalf of the children. In 1959, The Rebbe and his son (the present Skulener Rebbe) were imprisoned and tortured for 5 months. After an international outcry, the Rebbe was released and he immigrated to the United States where he continued his heroic efforts on behalf of the Jews of Romania and world Jewry.
12.5 by 20 cm. Good condition. Some stains.
Opening bid $1000