Hillel Zeitlin, handwritten letter. Warsaw, Adar, 1922. Hebrew.
The letter deals with Zeitlin's work on the translation of Sefer Hazohar. Addressed to Dr. Friedman – most probably, David Aryeh Friedman (1889-1957), physician, author, editor and literary and art critic; among the founders of "Ayanot" publishing house in Berlin.
"My friend Dr. Friedman…I shall soon approach the editing of 'Hazohar'. I tend to believe that both the original and the translation have to be presented so as to enable the student or the scholar to enter the 'Pardess'…as for the conditions, I still have to consider whether to receive a percentage or a fixed wage…".
Hillel Zeitlin (1871-1942), Jewish philosopher, author and publicist, born in Korma, Belarus. Zeitlin was educated in the light of the Chassidic Chabad discipline and was recognized as a prodigy from childhood. His father died while he was still young and Zeitlin left his hometown and started to work as a Hebrew teacher. At the time he went through a spiritual crisis and drifted away from religion. After writing for several Hebrew newspapers and periodicals he found a permanent post in "Hazman" newspaper in Vilnius. At the same time he participated in the Zionist movement functions. Moved to Warsaw in 1919 and began writing for leading Yiddish newspapers. He soon became a prominent figure in the Jewish congregation of the city. At the same time he drifted back towards faith and developed a unique religious philosophy aiming at the spiritual revival of the Jewish people.
During this period Zeitlin composed numerous essays about Kabbalah, Chassidut and the Messiah believing that the return of the Jewish people to Kabbalistic and mystic origins is the key to the spiritual salvation of the Jewish people.
In 1922 the publishers of the German publishing house "Ayanot" (David Aryeh Friedman and Shimon Rawidowicz) turned to Zeitlin with a proposal to translate Sefer Hazohar to Hebrew. At first he was asked to edit compilations from the Zohar but Zeitlin asked to print the complete book, original text and translated text. The translation was supposed to be published in parts, starting in 1923, but the plan did not materialize and was abandoned during its first stages [see enclosed material]. Zeitlin was murdered by the Nazis in September 1942. It is told that when murdered he was wrapped in a prayer shawl and Tefillin holding Sefer Hazohar in his hands. [1] leaf, approx. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains, horizontal folding mark, creases and minor damages.