Auction 66 - Rare and Important Items
Two Letters from Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch in his Early Years – Guidance on Educational Matters and Other Topics – 1911-1914
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Unsold
Two letters from Rebbe Rayatz – R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch, in his youth, during the lifetime of his father Rebbe Rashab, addressed to R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin in Hebron. Lubavitch (Lyubavichi), 1911 and 1914.
1. One leaf (2 pages, over 52 lines) handwritten by Rebbe Rayatz, without his signature, of a lengthy personal letter discussing the weighty responsibility of educating disciples. Lubavitch, [1911].
Addressed to his friend, R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin, several weeks following the latter's immigration from Russia to Hebron. R. Havlin had been sent by Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch at the head of a group of students, to found the Torat Emet yeshiva there: "Know my friend… my heart is not with me since you have left, lest you are not aware of the importance of the field you have entered, and the magnitude of the responsibility you have undertaken… my thoughts are with you constantly, worrying whether you are carrying out your holy work diligently".
Further in the letter, the Rebbe writes: "The burden of supervision has been laid upon you while you are still young, and before you have finished maturing, you have already begun begetting souls, guiding and educating". The Rebbe then writes words of reproach regarding the vigilance with which one must approach education, and cautions not to rely on one's own intellect, since we are too lowly and materialistic. Rather, it is imperative to cleave to someone greater than oneself (in reference to his father, Rebbe Rashab) who has already purified himself from materialism and whose intellect is untainted, and by following his directives to the letter, can one hope to be successful in our mission of educating.
At the top of the letter, the following instruction, underlined: "For you only and return it".
The letter is incomplete, and originally comprised more than one leaf. The rest of the letter has disappeared over the years.
The first part of the truncated letter was first printed in HaMashpia, Jerusalem 1982, pp. 53-54, and from there was copied to Igrot Kodesh of the Rayatz, vol. I, pp. 70-72.
[1] leaf (2 written pages), official stationery of the Rebbe. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
2. Lengthy letter (2 pages, over 34 lines) regarding the financial debts of the Lubavitch institutions in Hebron, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch. Addressed to R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin of Hebron. Lubavitch, Tevet 1914.
In the letter, the Rebbe expresses his displeasure over the irresponsible and unconscientious management of the finances of the Torat Emet yeshiva in Hebron, noting that the expenses are excessive, and do not correlate with the income. The yeshiva's accounts, income and expenditures are subjected in this letter to the Rebbe's fine scrutiny.
The letter was published in HaMashpia, Jerusalem 1982, pp. 272-273, but was not printed in Igrot Kodesh.
[2] written pages, official stationery of the Rebbe. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
The background of the letters: In autumn 1911, Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch established the Torah Emet yeshiva in Hebron. To that end, he sent his disciple R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin to serve as spiritual and material director, accompanied by seven of his disciples, leading students of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch.
At the time these letters were written, Rebbe Rayatz was still a young man assisting his father Rebbe Rashab. At the time the first letter was written, Rebbe Rayatz was 31 years old, and at the time the second letter was written, 33. Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch and his son the Rayatz served as directors and presidents of the yeshiva, and they undertook to provide for all the yeshiva's material needs.
Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch (1880-1950) directed the Chabad yeshivot already during the lifetime of his father – Rebbe Rashab, and was his father's close attendant in public leadership and disseminating Chassidut. After his father's passing in 1920, the Rayatz was appointed Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty. Educational and yeshiva matters were focal points for Rebbe Rayatz, who apart from being indefatigably engaged in communal work, was an outstanding educator, who deeply understood his disciples. In his many letters, he comprehensively explores various educational issues (see his booklet: Klalei HaChinuch VehaHadracha).
1. One leaf (2 pages, over 52 lines) handwritten by Rebbe Rayatz, without his signature, of a lengthy personal letter discussing the weighty responsibility of educating disciples. Lubavitch, [1911].
Addressed to his friend, R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin, several weeks following the latter's immigration from Russia to Hebron. R. Havlin had been sent by Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch at the head of a group of students, to found the Torat Emet yeshiva there: "Know my friend… my heart is not with me since you have left, lest you are not aware of the importance of the field you have entered, and the magnitude of the responsibility you have undertaken… my thoughts are with you constantly, worrying whether you are carrying out your holy work diligently".
Further in the letter, the Rebbe writes: "The burden of supervision has been laid upon you while you are still young, and before you have finished maturing, you have already begun begetting souls, guiding and educating". The Rebbe then writes words of reproach regarding the vigilance with which one must approach education, and cautions not to rely on one's own intellect, since we are too lowly and materialistic. Rather, it is imperative to cleave to someone greater than oneself (in reference to his father, Rebbe Rashab) who has already purified himself from materialism and whose intellect is untainted, and by following his directives to the letter, can one hope to be successful in our mission of educating.
At the top of the letter, the following instruction, underlined: "For you only and return it".
The letter is incomplete, and originally comprised more than one leaf. The rest of the letter has disappeared over the years.
The first part of the truncated letter was first printed in HaMashpia, Jerusalem 1982, pp. 53-54, and from there was copied to Igrot Kodesh of the Rayatz, vol. I, pp. 70-72.
[1] leaf (2 written pages), official stationery of the Rebbe. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
2. Lengthy letter (2 pages, over 34 lines) regarding the financial debts of the Lubavitch institutions in Hebron, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch. Addressed to R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin of Hebron. Lubavitch, Tevet 1914.
In the letter, the Rebbe expresses his displeasure over the irresponsible and unconscientious management of the finances of the Torat Emet yeshiva in Hebron, noting that the expenses are excessive, and do not correlate with the income. The yeshiva's accounts, income and expenditures are subjected in this letter to the Rebbe's fine scrutiny.
The letter was published in HaMashpia, Jerusalem 1982, pp. 272-273, but was not printed in Igrot Kodesh.
[2] written pages, official stationery of the Rebbe. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
The background of the letters: In autumn 1911, Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch established the Torah Emet yeshiva in Hebron. To that end, he sent his disciple R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin to serve as spiritual and material director, accompanied by seven of his disciples, leading students of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch.
At the time these letters were written, Rebbe Rayatz was still a young man assisting his father Rebbe Rashab. At the time the first letter was written, Rebbe Rayatz was 31 years old, and at the time the second letter was written, 33. Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch and his son the Rayatz served as directors and presidents of the yeshiva, and they undertook to provide for all the yeshiva's material needs.
Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch (1880-1950) directed the Chabad yeshivot already during the lifetime of his father – Rebbe Rashab, and was his father's close attendant in public leadership and disseminating Chassidut. After his father's passing in 1920, the Rayatz was appointed Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty. Educational and yeshiva matters were focal points for Rebbe Rayatz, who apart from being indefatigably engaged in communal work, was an outstanding educator, who deeply understood his disciples. In his many letters, he comprehensively explores various educational issues (see his booklet: Klalei HaChinuch VehaHadracha).
Letters – Chassidic Luminaries
Letters – Chassidic Luminaries