Lengthy letter (4 pages) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor (grandson of the Yitav Lev of Sighet). Nyírbátor, [9 Av], 1929.
Written on the Rebbe's official stationery: "Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of the Orthodox community of Nyírbátor and the region". The letter was sent to the leaders of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot in Jerusalem, and deals with various matters related to the management of the Kollel in Eretz Israel and elsewhere, and the split of the Kollel.
Rebbe Naftali tells how the "accursed Zionists" falsely reported to the Slovakian authorities that the president of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot, R. Akiva Sofer, Av Beit Din of Pressburg, was in contact with foreign states against the interests of his own state. In response, he continues, discussions were held whether to split the Kollel into two – one for Hungary and one for Czechoslovakia. While "the rabbi of Piešťany" [R. Yissachar Shlomo Teichtal] supported the suggested split, the president of the Kollel, R. Akiva Sofer of Pressburg, opposed it.
Rebbe Naftali describes a visit he made to R. Sofer of Pressburg's house, noting his impressions of his personality and his approach to the matter. R. Sofer was familiar with all the particulars of the Kollel, and mentioned he had the statutes of the Kollel in manuscript written by the Ktav Sofer.
Further on appear various reprimands on the Kollel's management, but Rebbe Naftali adds his fond memories from his visit in Jerusalem, and describes his great love for the people of Jerusalem and how he misses those days and their time spent together.
Rebbe Naftali gives the leaders of the Kollel rebuke and guidance and conveys the words of R. Sofer of Pressburg: to bring the yeshiva students closer together, to dispense with anger and forgive all grudges. He asks their forgiveness for his harsh rebuke, assuring them it was from his love for them and his desire to improve their condition.
Rebbe Naftali also mentions "the terrible tragedy that took place in the Holy Land" [the 1929 Hebron massacre; the present letter is dated 9 Av, 1929, before the outbreak of the massacre on 17 Av, 1929, but as Rebbe Naftali writes in his letter, this lengthy letter was written over the course of many weeks, and much of it was written after the end of the massacre on 23 Av, 1929].
In the letter are mentioned other personages including: R. Yisrael Ze'ev Label, who traveled to Eretz Israel for the sake of the Kollel; R. Yom Tov Yekutiel Zalman Weber of Jerusalem; and other Kollel directors in Jerusalem. The letter likewise mentions the artist R. Shlomo Zalman Zweig, who worked in the office of the Kollel in Jerusalem, drawing and coloring certificates for donors.
As a postscript, R. Naftali writes why he was unable to travel to Vienna – he did not want to be suspected of being a member of Agudat Yisrael.
R. Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor (1867-1938), second son of Rebbe Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Volova (Mizhhiria), and grandson and disciple of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum of Sighet, the Yitav Lev. Son-in-law of his uncle R. Moshe Yosef Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely; son of the Yitav Lev). Served as Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor for forty years, starting in 1898, and led with determination, love and integrity. A prominent rebbe in his times, and head of the Orthodox Bureau in Hungary. He was a close friend of his cousin Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Satmar, and although he was older than him, he honored him and followed his advice as though his student and follower. He is mentioned in some of the letters of the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, who worked together with him to bolster Judaism and oppose the Zionist movement and religious parties Agudat Yisrael and Mizrachi.
[2] leaves (4 written pages). Approx. 29 cm. Good condition. Folds. Light stains.
