HaDerech, Booklet 1, "'Derech Tzaddikim' – farewell sermon of … Rabbi Mordechai Rokeach, Rabbi of the Bilgoraj community..'Derech Kedoshim' – holy words spoken by… Rabbi Aharon Rokeach Rabbi of Belz… delivered in the capital city of Budapest prior to his departure for Eretz Israel". Edited by Rabbi Menachem Aharon Levovitz, rabbi of Tshop. Budapest, 13th of Shvat 1944. First edition.
After miraculously escaping the Bochnia ghetto, the Belzer rebbe and his brother, Rabbi of Bilgoraj arrived in Budapest, where they stayed from Iyar 1943 until Tevet 1944. This booklet which was published on the 13th of Shvat (Feb 7, 1944) contains the sermon of the Rabbi of Bilgoraj taking leave of Hungarian Jewry, in which he relates the atrocities of the Holocaust in Poland and Galicia, and the urgent need to assist refugees of these countries. He apologizes for their departure to Eretz Israel, and confidently states that the disaster will not reach Hungary and that they are not leaving for Eretz Israel for this reason, but rather for his intense passion for the holiness of the Holy Land and his brother's love of the Holy Land. “… I am obligated to inform you, dear friends, Hungarian Torah scholars… that anybody who is in the proximity of my older brother… certainly knows that he is not running away… he only desires to move to the Holy Land… and the righteous rabbi foresees that residents of this city will live in peace and serenity…” (Page 19). Further in the booklet, the rebbe says that his journey to Palestine is temporary and he intends to return, and his brother the Bilgoraj Rebbe explains that according to the tradition of their holy forefathers, settling in Eretz Israel is not advantageous before the coming of Messiah (page 26). After ten days, on February 17, 1944, an additional edition of this pamphlet was published with many revisions omitting some reference concerning the move to Eretz Israel. One month later, a third edition was printed in Budapest with the caption “Second publication, Adar 1944”, which is censored as well. This is the first and rare edition which includes the rebbe’s entire speech.
[2], 28 pages. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears on the cardboard cover. Detached leaves and cover.

Tractate Bava Kamma, with vowels and Yiddish translation, by Rabbi Shmuel Hibner. Brussels, 1952.
On the flyleaf are a handwritten dedication and the signature of the publisher Netanel Lefkowitz of Brussels, who writes that the translation and the vowels were done during the Holocaust in 1942-1943 during the Nazi occupation of Belgium.
In his introduction to the book, the publisher relates the circumstances of the writing of the book at that time after Hitler's plan became apparent: annihilation of the Jewish people and the destruction of all Torah study and Jewish culture which had evolved for more than one thousand years among Eastern-European Jewry. Therefore, the publisher initiated the translation of the Talmud to preserve its knowledge among the remnants of the Jewish people lest they remain a thing of the past, G-d forbid. For this purpose, he requested Rabbi Shmuel Hibner to undertake the task of translating the Talmud into spoken Yiddish in a clear coherent translation faithful to its source. This mission was done with great devotion during a time of danger and hardship, under the German occupation while experiencing hunger and war privations.
On the leaves of memorialization which appear further in the book are the names of his family members who perished during the Holocaust [most in the Warsaw ghetto], including a special memorialization of libraries and books destroyed and burnt by the Nazis.
On the title page it is noted that this book is the first volume, but no additional volumes of this translated edition of the Talmud were printed.
[4], 118, [3] leaves. 36 cm. Good condition, original binding - worn and damaged.
Numbered edition, Copy no. 221.

One million dollar campaign – Le'Shana Tova Tichatvu Ve'Techatmu – a printed leaf with New Year wishes requesting a donation to the Reshit Chochma She'erit HaPleita yeshiva for Torah observant families who survived the extermination camps, presided by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam. [New York], 1947. Yiddish and English.
The notice is signed by Rabbi Zvi Ya'akov Avraham [author of Le'Korot HaYahadut Be' Transilvania]. On the verso of the leaf are photos of American newspaper clippings reporting the condition of Holocaust survivors and the Klausenburg Rebbe's activities on their behalf.
Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam of Sanz-Klausenburg (1905-1994) was renowned for his tremendous efforts for rebuilding the Torah world after the Holocaust from its state of destruction. After the end of World War II, in which Rabbi Halberstam's wife and their 11 children perished, he moved through several DP camps wherein he established yeshivas and Torah education institutes. In 1946, he travelled to the US and founded a special fund for the She'erit HaPleita. He established Torah institutes for Holocaust survivors in New York, Mexico and in Israel.
Leaf printed on both sides, height: 28 cm. Width: 43 cm. Good condition, folding marks and several tears.

Printed leaf, the agreement reached at the meeting of Kollel America representatives and representatives of Va'ad HaKlali and gaba'im of Eretz Israel in America. New York, October 1896.
Agreement and regulations reached "When we all convened together, the gaba'im who support Eretz Israel here in New York and the other large cities in America, with a committee which was chosen by Kollel America in the Holy City and their emissary R' Yosef HaCohen" . The decision reached in the agreement was to cancel the establishment of Kollel America and to give special conditions to the American representatives, by the "Va'ad of all the kollelim of the Holy City". 41 rabbis and gaba'im signed the agreement in print: Rabbi Ya'akov Yosef, the Rabbi of the Kollel; Rabbi Duber Zilberman; Rabbi Katriel Sarason; Rabbi Dov Ber Abramowitz a New York rabbi; Rabbi Yechezkel Shlang; Rabbi Shmuel Zvi Wein the Rabbi of Wiżajny; Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Elyach emissary of the Va'ad HaKlali and Rabbi Yosef HaCohen emissary of America.
Kollel America was established in 1896, to support the poor immigrants from America who came to settle in Eretz Israel and did not receive "Chaluka" from the veteran kollels. The establishment of this kollel kindled many disputes in Jerusalem from the veteran heads of the kollelim, who were concerned lest this rescind the Va'ad HaKlali, whose income was primarily dependent on American donations. That year, Rabbi Shmuel Salant published an open letter, sent all over the Diaspora, in which he announced, "That the obliteration of the Va'ad HaKlali is the obliteration of the entire Yishuv". He was joined by various heads of kollelim who also opposed the new kollel. This agreement was written in support of Rabbi Shmuel Salant's approach. On the other hand, the Brisker Gaon the Maharil Diskin, supported the establishment of the kollel. At the end of 1897, the Maharil Diskin published his letter in which he wrote, “Kollel America was established with my consent”. Only in 1901, was an agreement reached initiated by the Ridvaz (see Item 454), with the recognition of the rights of Kollel America to collect their own funds, under certain conditions.
This document is an unsuccessful attempt at the beginning of the polemic to cancel the establishment of the kollel which was founded a few months earlier. This topic was the focus of a severe public polemic which lasted five years, from 1896 until the agreement (Item 454) was reached in 1901.
Printed leaf, 30.5 cm. Good-fair condition, wear damages (restored) without damage to text and stains.
Not recorded in the Bibliography Institute, nor by Singerman and Goldman.