Letter handwritten (Rashi script) and signed by R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook. London, Tevet 1918.
Addressed to "My beloved friend, the illustrious scholar… Mr. Mordechai Elias" – his disciple during his stay in London. Rav Kook composed for him an interesting poem of well-wishes. The first section is an acrostic of the recipient's name – Mordechai Elias. R. Kook then praises his disciple for successfully pursuing his higher education while remaining steadfast in his faith and fear of G-d.
This poem was written on the occasion of Mr. Mordechai Elias's immigration to Eretz Israel.
Written on the official visiting card of R. Kook, from his stay in London at the end of WWI, with the following letterhead (Hebrew and English): "A.I. Kook (Chief Rabbi of Jaffa & Colonies of Palestine) – at present Rabbi of Machzike Hadath… London".
The recipient of the letter, Mordechai Elias (1892-1950), immigrated to Jerusalem in 1919. A diplomat and Zionist activist, he worked as a senior lawyer in Eretz Israel during the British Mandate. Following the declaration of the State of Israel, he served as first ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom. He studied law in the universities of Jarosław, Berlin and Oxford. During his stay in England, he became attached to R. Kook (who was then in exile in Europe, due to WWI), and became his close disciple. He was one of the founders of the Yeshurun synagogue in Jerusalem.
Printed card. Approx. 11 cm. Heavy stock paper. Fair-good condition. Open tears to corners, affecting text.
The entire letter was printed in Igrot HaRaayah (part III, p. 308, letter 13 in appendix). See enclosed material.