Provisional halachic ruling from a discussion of the leading rabbis in the United States: "Regarding the disagreements between the Peilim Committee in America with their agent, the Peilim Committee in the Holy Land".

The halachic rulings states: "After we listened to the arguments of both parties, we the undersigned decided based on Torah law as follows: 1) It is by no means permitted to hold two special fundraisers in America in any form, as this involves much dissent, desecration of G-d's name and dishonor of Torah learners… 2) Since the local committee has been working for several years, they are considered to have the prevailing right, and their agent, the committee of Eretz Israel, is not permitted to collect by itself for Peilim, nor to conduct a special campaign, nor to cause any disturbance to the work of the local committee. 3) The American committee is required to answer the Eretz Israel committee in a Torah lawsuit in a distinguished court with each party selecting a judge, or in a court agreed upon by both parties… 4) Until the Torah lawsuit is held, the agent of the Eretz Israel committee is permitted to enter as a member of the local committee and to be present at the meetings of the committee… in accordance with the agreement of last Tamuz… 5) An agent of Peilim of Eretz Israel is permitted to participate in the treasury management, in accordance with the agreement of last Tamuz. 6) Both parties are obligated to conduct everything peacefully and uprightly, and not to cause any loss to the office and the overall matter. 7) Each party is allowed to call the other to a Torah lawsuit for a decisive arrangement on coordination of work with the Eretz Israel committee, but until the Torah lawsuit is held they shall act in accordance with the above paragraphs…".

[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.

The present leaf was brought to Kedem for auction along with the following letters sent to Jerusalem relating to this issue – see following lots.

Two letters handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Kamenetsky, a dean of the Torah Vodaath yeshiva and a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in the United States. Netanya, Tamuz 1963 / Brooklyn, Erev Rosh Hashanah 1963.

The letters are addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Israel, and relate to the rift between the Israeli branch of Peilim and the committee of its American branch (which later established a separate American Peilim organization).

In the first letter, written during R. Yaakov Kamenetsky's visit to Eretz Israel, he discusses the coordination of a meeting with agents of the Israeli branch of Peilim and with R. Abramsky and R. Sarna, together with R. Kamenetsky, R. Alpert and R. Plato. In the letter, R. Kamenetsky writes of his plans to travel the next week to Safed and Tiberias, to heal in the "hot springs of Tiberias".

In the second letter, written after R. Yaakov Kamenetsky's return to the United States, he begins and ends with blessings for a Shanah Tovah and lengthy life. Towards the end of the letter, for the upcoming high holidays, he requests of R. Abramsky to pray for him "that G-d assist me to attain merit and bring merit to the public, for the yeshiva work is too hard for me, and that G-d help me to find a worthy person to whom I can transfer the administration of this lofty and holy institution".

Regarding the Peilim organizations, R. Kamenetsky writes: "…I now come to what relates to the dirty business, that of the Peilim. Apparently the agreement has had no effect, since the main funds held by the Peilim here are those given to them for the purpose of building, while they for their part, so long as the yeshivas have not been legally transferred to the deans, are afraid to transmit the money to the Peilim in Eretz Israel out of concern that they might expend it on other things. And it appears from the letter that reached here that some changes have been made to the agreement itself, and the check to the committee of yeshiva deans has been changed…". He goes on to write of a telegram he received from R. Yechezkel Sarna on the matter, and he writes that "R. Yechezkel Sarna sent us a new text version and he requests of R. Moshe Feinstein, me and the agents of Peilim in the United States to sign it, and I don't know if the version is his or if it was made with your agreement as well… According to the Peilim here, they are ready to fulfill whatever has been written and signed in the agreement you wrote and signed by the Peilim both here and there, but I don't know what is holding back the two parties…".

R. Yaakov Kamenetsky (1891-1986), a head of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in the United States, a leader of Orthodox Jewry and a founder of the Torah world in his generation. A leading disciple of the Alter of Slabodka. He served as rabbi in Lithuania, Canada and the United States. From 1945 he served as dean of the Torah Vodaath yeshiva in New York, and years later he moved to Monsey, where the Torah Vodaath administration established an advanced yeshiva for older students. Author of Emet LeYaakov on the Talmud, Torah and more.

2 letters. One on aerogram. Varying size. Overall good condition. Stains and folding marks.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Feinstein, with signatures of five leading rabbis and yeshiva deans in the United States: R. Moshe Feinstein, R. Yaakov Kamenetsky, R. Menachem Mendel Zaks (son-in-law of the Chafetz Chaim), R. Yitzchak Hutner and R. Dovid Lifshitz. New York, 12th Adar 1964.

Addressed to the Torah leaders of Eretz Israel – R. Yechezkel Abramsky, R. Yechezkel Sarna and R. Elazar Menachem Shach – after a meeting of yeshiva deans in the United States where it was decided to attempt to reconcile and reunite the two Peilim organizations which had split, by coordinating their fundraiser and activity schedules.

"…Now regarding the Peilim, although an agreement has already been made, according to what we received from you that currently it is impossible in any way other than having two independent organizations, and we arranged this so that both could work at a pressing time. But afterwards, we the undersigned met; perhaps we can fix things so that it will be done in a peaceful manner, and the best and most correct thing is for them again to be one organization…".

The rabbis write that in their meeting, they decided that the Torah leaders themselves should be the treasurers of the fundraisers in the United States for the benefit of the Peilim in Eretz Israel: "That although each one of us is most occupied, we are forced to also take upon ourselves this great responsibility to be the local treasurers for all the money gathered. And we also ask that you take upon yourselves to be the treasurers in Eretz Israel, and we will send from here to you, and you will dispense the funds as you see fit…".

The rabbis ask the Torah leaders in Eretz Israel to "answer immediately to confirm the acceptance of the treasurer role, and we hope that G-d Who makes peace will bring peace among the Torah-observant and G-d-fearing people… With blessing, peace and success in the work for the sake of heaven".

Seven letters on postcards, by Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Weiss, the Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka. Three of them contain words added in handwriting by the Rebbe and his signature, and the other four are handwritten, stamped and signed by his attendant R. Chaim Blech. Selish (Vynohradiv), Elul 1936 to Cheshvan 1938.

The seven letters are written by a scribe (the attendant), on official postcards of the Rebbe. In three of the letters, the Rebbe added approximately a line and a half in his handwriting and with his signature: "Seeking his welfare and hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik". The other four letters are signed by the attendant R. Chaim Blech, with his official stamp in Hebrew and Latin characters: "Chaim Blech, in the holy service – Blech Chaim – Szaploncza".

Addressed to one of the Rebbe's followers, R. "Yitzchak Menachem Mendel son of Rivkah/Brachah Rivkah" [R. Yitzchak Menachem Bloch of Landskrona, Sweden]. The letters contain blessings and advice on various issues.

In the first letter from 1936, the attendant writes in the name of the Rebbe: "Your letter reached the Rebbe… In the merit of observing Shabbat, may G-d help you with bountiful blessing and success", and he goes on to advise him on educating his son to learn Torah: "And regarding your son, make sure to raise him to study Torah only and not to study secular disciplines. If possible, in his home, and if impossible, send him to the Frankfurt yeshiva under the supervision of R. Horowitz, since I heard that there they study Torah and fear of G-d. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In the second letter from Kislev 1936, the attendant writes in the name of the Rebbe: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying for G-d to raise your pride and grant you bountiful blessing and success to be able to make a kosher mikveh and raise your children to study Torah with riches and honor. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In the third letter from 10th Nisan 1937, he writes: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying for G-d to raise your pride and grant you and all your family bountiful blessing and success to be able raise your children according to the ways of Torah and fear of G-d…". He concludes with Pesach blessings: "And may you celebrate the upcoming Festival of Matzot in a joyful and kosher manner… Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In his fourth letter from Cheshvan 1937, he writes: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying to G-d for your salvation, and his advice is to stay there and try to make a kosher mikveh, and you can receive money for this great mitzvah from other sources as well, and may G-d bring about your success, and may the evil decree be annulled, and may G-d help all of your family with health and success, and may you raise them all to Torah. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

From the fifth letter onwards the Rebbe began to add his signature at the end of the letters (and the letters are therefore worded in first person). In the letter from Iyar 1938 the Rebbe writes: "Your letter as well as the pidyon reached me, and I am praying for Baruch son of Chanah for G-d to help set you free, but you should accept the yoke of heaven and the Torah". He goes on to write to him regarding his son's Torah education: "And regarding your son Shlomo Shraga, fulfill the words of the Sages at the end of Kiddushin: 'I leave behind every trade and I teach my son only Torah', etc. This is what you should do, teach him Torah yourself or send him to the Nitra or Pressburg yeshiva in our country to be taught Torah, and may G-d help you and bring you success with the rest of our fellow Jews. With blessings and prayers – seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

In the sixth letter from 28th Sivan 1938, the Rebbe writes: "Your letter reached me, and I agree for you to leave behind the knife and not to be a shochet, and may G-d bring you a kosher livelihood there or elsewhere, because He sustains all and gives bread to all flesh. In accordance with the blessings and prayers of one seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

In the seventh letter from "Monday Vayera" (Cheshvan) 1938, the Rebbe advises him at length on the proper conduct towards a local rabbi. He advises him to sign a document to obey the rabbi, as the document could not bind him to transgress the Torah, only to obey the rabbi insofar as his instructions do not violate the Torah. He adduces a proof from the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite who signed a document to obey Jeroboam without intention to listen to him if he would instruct him to transgress the Torah. The Rebbe concludes: "I am praying for G-d to raise your pride and bring about your sustenance comfortably so you can study Torah in peace and relaxation, in accordance with the blessings and prayers of one seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Weiss of Spinka (1875-1944), only son of the Imrei Yosef, founder of the Spinka dynasty, and son-in-law of Rebbe Yissachar Berish Eichenstein of Veretzky-Zidichov, author of Malbush LeShabbat VeYom Tov. In World War I he relocated to Munkacs and from there to Selish (Vynohradiv), which thereupon became the center of Spinka Chassidut, numbering thousands of followers in the Carpathian region. He perished in the Holocaust along with most of his family. In his lifetime he printed only his famous introduction to his father's Imrei Yosef and several responsa published at the end of his father's book, entitled Ben Porat Yosef. His other writings survived miraculously and were printed in the United States after the Holocaust in Chakal Yitzchak (on the Torah and responsa).

7 postcards. 14.5-15X10.5-11 cm. Varying condition, good to fair-good. Stains. Folding marks, tears and wear. Tears to folds of six postcards, repaired with old tape, with stains.