Lengthy letter (4 leaves), from Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Sharp protest against the proposed establishment of a religious council in Bnei Brak. Sharon Springs, NY, [20th Tammuz] 1964.
Typewritten on the official stationery of the rebbe, with his hand signature.
Addressed to R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of Bnei Brak. The letter was written in 1964 during the course of the debate between various rabbis over the establishment of a religious council in Bnei Brak - see following items (see sidebar regarding the affair and particularly the involvement of the rebbe of Satmar).
[4] leaves + attached piece of paper (addition to letter). 29 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Filing holes.
The letter was published in Divrei Yoel - letters.

The Rebbe of Satmar and His Involvement in the Bnei Brak Religious Council Polemic
The Orthodox city of Bnei Brak was unique since it's founding for its independent rabbinate. Unlike other cities, Bnei Brak never had a religious council - the rabbis received their salaries directly from the municipality, and all kashrut and religious services in Bnei Brak were funded directly by the municipality, without the involvement of a third, governmental party such as a religious council. In other places, all religious services were under the control and supervision of the religious council, which in those days was under the Ministry of Religions, led by members of the Mizrachi movement.
Bnei Brak was also the only city in Eretz Israel were Satmar Chassidim participated in the municipal elections, with the approval of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, fierce opponent of any cooperation with the Zionist government, and with the approval of the rabbi of Riskeva, rabbi of the Satmar community in the city. The main reason for this exception was the necessity to maintain the independence of the Bnei Brak rabbinate, and to preserve the power of R. Landau and his colleagues who upheld proper Torah observance.
In the summer of 1964, the Ministry of Religions established a religious council in Bnei Brak. Knowing that the Orthodox community would not passively accept this move, it was done in an underhanded way, on paper only. A notice from the Ministry of Religions was published in the HaTzofeh newspaper, announcing the establishment of the religious council headed by 12 members lead by R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of the city. The notice was published without the knowledge of the new council members, and without a prior notification. This placed them in a difficult position - on the one hand R. Landau and his colleagues did not wish to cooperate with the establishment of a religious council led by the Ministry of Religions, yet on the other, if they would renounce their positions, the Ministry of Religions would appoint other members to the council instead, and they would thus lose their control over the religious services in the city (see item 430 and enclosed material).
At the beginning of Tammuz 1964, R. Landau sent a letter to the rebbe of Satmar, explaining at length why his resignation from the religious council would wreak havoc on the religious services in Bnei Brak (see item 430). The rebbe of Satmar sent him a sharp letter in response (this item), to which R. Landau replied with another letter, in Av 1964, in which he clarifies certain points (see item 430).

Two letters handwritten and signed by R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner Rabbi of Zichron Meir. [Bnei Brak, ca. 1964].
In these letters, R. Wosner coordinates with R. Yaakov Landau several issues related to the battle against the establishment of a religious council (the letters were presumably written in preparation for the rabbinical conference against the establishment of a religious council in Bnei Brak, called for the day after Shavuot 1964 - see next item).
In the first letter, R. Wosner encourages R. Landau in the battle for maintaining the independence of the Bnei Brak rabbinate, and urges him not to compromise in any way. In the second letter, R. Wosner asks him to try to get the signature of R. Moshe Hager (later rebbe of Vizhnitz), presumably for the proclamation issued by the rabbis of Bnei Brak, see items 432-433.
2 letters, official stationery. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Filing holes in one letter.

The Orthodox city of Bnei Brak was unique since it's founding for its independent rabbinate. Unlike other cities, Bnei Brak never had a religious council - the rabbis received their salaries directly from the municipality, and all kashrut and religious services in Bnei Brak were funded directly by the municipality, without the involvement of a third, governmental party such as a religious council. In other places, all religious services were under the control and supervision of the religious council, which in those days was under the Ministry of Religions, led by members of the Mizrachi movement.
Bnei Brak was also the only city in Eretz Israel were Satmar Chassidim participated in the municipal elections, with the approval of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, fierce opponent of any cooperation with the Zionist government, and with the approval of the rabbi of Riskeva, rabbi of the Satmar community in the city. The main reason for this exception was the necessity to maintain the independence of the Bnei Brak rabbinate, and to preserve the power of R. Landau and his colleagues who upheld proper Torah observance.
In the summer of 1964, the Ministry of Religions established a religious council in Bnei Brak. Knowing that the Orthodox community would not passively accept this move, it was done in an underhanded way, on paper only. A notice from the Ministry of Religions was published in the HaTzofeh newspaper, announcing the establishment of the religious council headed by 12 members lead by R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of the city. The notice was published without the knowledge of the new council members, and without a prior notification. This placed them in a difficult position - on the one hand R. Landau and his colleagues did not wish to cooperate with the establishment of a religious council led by the Ministry of Religions, yet on the other, if they would renounce their positions, the Ministry of Religions would appoint other members to the council instead, and they would thus lose their control over the religious services in the city.

Typewritten leaf, - decision signed by six rabbis of Bnei Brak (R. Landau, R. Wosner and others) against the Ministry of Religions' initiative to establish a religious council in Bnei Brak, thus rescinding the independence of the rabbinate. Bnei Brak, Sivan 1964. With an addition at the foot of the leaf dated 12th Elul 1969, renewing the above decision, signed by nine rabbis (including the Yeshuot Moshe Rebbe of Vizhnitz).
Typewritten copy of the decision reached at the meeting of the rabbis of Bnei Brak which took place the day after Shavuot 1964, hand signed by the participating rabbis (see previous item).
On 12th Elul 1969, after the debate over the establishment of a religious council was reawakened, the rabbis of Bnei Brak once again gathered, and again affixed their signatures on the present document.
The addition from 1969 is signed by: R. Yaakov Landau, R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, R. Moshe Yehoshua Hager (the Yeshuot Moshe of Vizhnitz, then rabbi of Kiryat Vizhnitz), R. Avraham Shlomo Katz, R. Yitzchak Shlomo Unger, R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss, R. Natan Gestetner (rabbi of Shikun Agudath Yisrael), R. David Shemesh (rabbi of the Sephardi community in Pardes Katz), and R. Yechiel Meir Weingort (rabbi of the Gerrer Chassidim).
[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and torn filing holes.

The Orthodox city of Bnei Brak was unique since it's founding for its independent rabbinate. Unlike other cities, Bnei Brak never had a religious council - the rabbis received their salaries directly from the municipality, and all kashrut and religious services in Bnei Brak were funded directly by the municipality, without the involvement of a third, governmental party such as a religious council. In other places, all religious services were under the control and supervision of the religious council, which in those days was under the Ministry of Religions, led by members of the Mizrachi movement.
Bnei Brak was also the only city in Eretz Israel were Satmar Chassidim participated in the municipal elections, with the approval of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, fierce opponent of any cooperation with the Zionist government, and with the approval of the rabbi of Riskeva, rabbi of the Satmar community in the city. The main reason for this exception was the necessity to maintain the independence of the Bnei Brak rabbinate, and to preserve the power of R. Landau and his colleagues who upheld proper Torah observance.
In the summer of 1964, the Ministry of Religions established a religious council in Bnei Brak. Knowing that the Orthodox community would not passively accept this move, it was done in an underhanded way, on paper only. A notice from the Ministry of Religions was published in the HaTzofeh newspaper, announcing the establishment of the religious council headed by 12 members lead by R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of the city. The notice was published without the knowledge of the new council members, and without a prior notification. This placed them in a difficult position - on the one hand R. Landau and his colleagues did not wish to cooperate with the establishment of a religious council led by the Ministry of Religions, yet on the other, if they would renounce their positions, the Ministry of Religions would appoint other members to the council instead, and they would thus lose their control over the religious services in the city.

Typewritten ruling signed by twelve rabbis of Bnei Brak (R. Landau, R. Wosner, the Yeshuot Moshe of Vizhnitz, and others) - prohibiting any cooperation with the religious council (in the event it would be established), or receiving any benefit or salary from it. Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1969.
Typewritten; hand-signed by: R. Yaakov Landau, rabbi of Bnei Brak; R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, rabbi of Zichron Meir; R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss, rabbi of Neveh Achiezer; R. David Shemesh, rabbi of the Sephardi community in Pardes Katz; R. Yitzchak Shlomo Unger, dean of the Chug Chatam Sofer yeshiva; R. Natan Gestetner, rabbi of Shikun Agudath Yisrael; R. Moshe Blau, rabbi of Pardes Katz; R. Moshe Yehoshua Hager, rabbi of Kiryat Vizhnitz; R. Avraham Shlomo Katz of Riskeva; rabbi of the Yitav Lev community in Bnei Brak; R. Yechiel Michel Weingort, rabbi of the Gerrer Chassidim.
[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and torn filing holes.
Enclosed: printed copy of the ruling, posted in Bnei Brak at that time. [1] leaf. Good condition. Filing holes.

The Orthodox city of Bnei Brak was unique since it's founding for its independent rabbinate. Unlike other cities, Bnei Brak never had a religious council - the rabbis received their salaries directly from the municipality, and all kashrut and religious services in Bnei Brak were funded directly by the municipality, without the involvement of a third, governmental party such as a religious council. In other places, all religious services were under the control and supervision of the religious council, which in those days was under the Ministry of Religions, led by members of the Mizrachi movement.
Bnei Brak was also the only city in Eretz Israel were Satmar Chassidim participated in the municipal elections, with the approval of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, fierce opponent of any cooperation with the Zionist government, and with the approval of the rabbi of Riskeva, rabbi of the Satmar community in the city. The main reason for this exception was the necessity to maintain the independence of the Bnei Brak rabbinate, and to preserve the power of R. Landau and his colleagues who upheld proper Torah observance.
In the summer of 1964, the Ministry of Religions established a religious council in Bnei Brak. Knowing that the Orthodox community would not passively accept this move, it was done in an underhanded way, on paper only. A notice from the Ministry of Religions was published in the HaTzofeh newspaper, announcing the establishment of the religious council headed by 12 members lead by R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of the city. The notice was published without the knowledge of the new council members, and without a prior notification. This placed them in a difficult position - on the one hand R. Landau and his colleagues did not wish to cooperate with the establishment of a religious council led by the Ministry of Religions, yet on the other, if they would renounce their positions, the Ministry of Religions would appoint other members to the council instead, and they would thus lose their control over the religious services in the city.