Letter from Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer to Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher, Regarding Rabbi Natan Friedland and Activities ...

Letter from Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer to Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher, Regarding Rabbi Natan Friedland and Activities in Support of the Settlement of Eretz Israel
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, addressed to his friend R. Eliyahu Guttmacher - "The Tzaddik of Greiditz", regarding the activities of their friend, R. Natan Friedland, on behalf of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel (The Society for the Settlement of Eretz Israel). Torun (Poland), 1870.
R. Tzvi Hirsch writes to his friend R. Eliyahu Guttmacher that their mutual friend, R. Natan Friedland, partner to their cause of settling Eretz Israel, seeks to acquire subscribers to their society (Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel, founded in 1860) and that he is on his way to visit him. R. Tzvi Hirsch also writes that he sent two letters with R. Natan, addressed to the German rabbis R. Ezriel Hildesheimer and R. Bamberger of Würzburg, and proposes that they sign a joint proclamation, at the beginning of R. Natan’s notebook, supporting the cause.
R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer (1795-1875), a prominent Torah scholar, disciple of R. Akiva Eger, of R. Yaakov Rabbi of Lissa, author of Netivot HaMishpat, and of his uncle, R. Yehuda Leib Kalischer, head of the Lissa Beit Din. He served as rabbi of Torun without receiving a salary. Author of Moznayim LaMishpat on Choshen Mishpat (Krotoszyn, 1855), Tzvi LaTzaddik - glosses on the Mishnah and Shulchan Aruch, Even Bochan, Emuna Yeshara and more.
He was one of the first activists and advocates of Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, writing the books Derishat Tzion (Torun, 1866) and Shelom Yerushalayim (Torun, 1868) on this subject. His book Derishat Tzion was reprinted in several editions after the founding of the Chovevei Zion movement, he is considered the spiritual fathers of Chibat Zion and many streets in Israel are named after him.
He worked hand in hand with R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz, "The Tzaddik of Greiditz", promoting the settlement of Eretz Israel. They exchanged a prolific correspondence and together initiated various activities strengthening the settlement in the Holy Land, including the founding of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel in Frankfurt an der Oder (in 1860). R. Tzvi Kalischer and R. Eliyahu Guttmacher were the heads of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel and together signed its proclamations. One of the main activists promoting the society’s cause was R. Natan Friedland (1808-1883), disciple of R. Yosef Zundel of Salant. R. Natan was active in promoting the settlement of Eretz Israel even before he met R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, believing that the Redemption must happen naturally (following the view of the Vilna Gaon’s disciples). He travelled to many towns and villages, spreading his ideas. During his travels, he met R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, and found in him a friend and partner to his ideas, working with him from then on. R. Natan acted as the envoy of R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer and R. Eliyahu Guttmacher, recruiting supporters to Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel by sending letters to various communities, campaigning and more.
[1] leaf. Approx. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and folding marks. Tear to bottom of leaf, affecting several letters and damaging the end of the signature, repaired with tape.