Two official forms of the Imperial Japanese Telegraphs. Typewritten, with handwritten corrections (Yiddish and German, romanized) - transcript of a telegram sent by R. Aharon Kotler, regarding the rescue of yeshiva students temporarily residing in Lithuania, who were unable to escape Europe, despite possessing entry visas to the United States or other countries. Kobe (Japan), [ca. 1941].
During WWII, Lithuania enjoyed a brief period of independence (before it was conquered by the Russians, and later by the Germans), during which time it drew many yeshiva students escaping the horrors of the war. After all the civilian ports in occupied Europe were closed down, a miraculous escape route was discovered, via the Trans-Siberian railway and the Far East. Many refugees, rabbis and yeshiva students were saved in this way, thanks to the dedication of Sugihara - Japanese consul in Kovno, who decided on his own accord to sign thousands of transit visas to Japan, and thereby rescued some ten thousand Jews. A short while later, Russia reconquered Lithuania and closed all the foreign consulates in Kovno. Some two months after the Japanese consul began his mass issuance of visas, the Japanese consulate was closed, and this escape route was no longer available to the refugees.
The telegram was sent by R. Aharon Kotler, who had already escaped Europe and reached Japan, in attempt to try and save 85% of the refugees, who had not yet succeeded in escaping to Japan. He begs to hurry and save everyone: "Save everyone, through new recommendations and telegraphic prima affidavits. Moscow uses everything, any delay is catastrophic!!!... Additional assistance is urgently needed for travel expenses from Kovno to Japan, please help…" (free translation).
R. Aharon Kotler (1892-1962), a leading yeshiva dean in Lithuania and Poland, in the Slutsk and Kletsk yeshivot. He was one of the founders of Vaad HaYeshivot, and a member of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Lithuania and the United States. During the Holocaust, he escaped to the United States (via Japan), and was very involved in the rescue activities of Vaad HaHatzala, under the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada. He held meetings with senior figures in America, and worked intensively to obtain visas for Holocaust refugees, arrange the expedition of packages to survivors, and run fundraising campaigns in Jewish communities throughout the United States.
[2] official leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Good condition.