Letter of Rebbe Aharon of Belz to Rebbe Yisrael of Chortkov – Belz, 1927 – Over Two Lines of Handwriting and Signature

Letter of Rebbe Aharon of Belz to Rebbe Yisrael of Chortkov – Belz, 1927 – Over Two Lines of Handwriting and Signature

Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz. [Belz, ca. fall 1927].
Letter on public affairs sent to his relative in Vienna, Rebbe Yisrael Friedman of Chortkov. Most of the letter is in scribal writing, in the margins of which the Rebbe concludes in his handwriting (about two and a half lines in a different ink): "the words of his relative who writes for the strengthening of the holy Torah and seeks the welfare of his holy excellency with love, Aharon of Belz".
The main text of the letter deals with the need for the Orthodox community to organize for the elections to the Polish community councils, and the Rebbe calls for an assembly of rabbis on the topic.
"With the help of God, Belz.
Much blessing and all good forever to my relative… R. Yisrael.
After seeking the welfare of his holy excellency, his letter reached me. Now as to elections for the communities, while some see some good sides, there are other matters in the decree that relate to the very destruction of Torah religion, God forbid, such as the questions for electing rabbis, and more. Therefore, we are compelled to have an assembly of rabbis in order to come up with a plan for this. And there is a good chance that an organization of rabbis could facilitate acting for the good of our fellow Jews in all matters. Therefore, we ask of my relative to please, for the sake of Torah religion, write to our fellow rabbis to gather on a specific date together with us, and to join us in one group. And due to the great urgency of the matters, it is necessary for his holy letter to be as soon as possible, and may God complete this for our good…".
The present letter, written early on in Rebbe Aharon Rokeach's tenure as Rebbe of Belz (succeeding his father who passed away in Cheshvan 1926), demonstrates the Belzer Rebbe's high status in the leadership of Orthodox Jewry in Poland. R. Aharon addresses the Rebbe of Chortkov, who was one of the greatest Orthodox leaders and president of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, and expresses a clear, new opinion about the law instating elections for the Jewish community councils, directs his attention to the concerns involved in the new law, and calls for an assembly of rabbis for communal preparation for these elections.
Background to the Letter
After World War I, the Polish government offered their country's Jews an option to establish official, organized communities (a right that they had been deprived of by the Russian tsar in 1844). The decree to establish the communities was made by the Polish government in the years 1927-1928, and people across the cities began to prepare for the elections for leadership of communities. While the Jewish public initially rejoiced, the Rebbe of Belz penetratingly noticed the danger of the destruction of the rabbinic office and observance of religion which was liable to arise from giving the various parties the power of leading the communities.

Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz (1880-1957) was renowned as a miracle worker and a holy man, earning the epithet "Aharon, the holy one of God". A foremost rebbe and leader of European Jewry before the Holocaust, he also rebuilt Torah and Chassidut after the war. He was the son of Rebbe Yissachar Dov (Maharid) of Belz and grandson of Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz. From a young age, he was known for his great holiness and toil in Torah and Chassidut, together with his outstanding asceticism. He earned the reputation of a wonderworker benefiting from Divine Inspiration, and he encouraged the tens of thousands of Jews who flocked his court to seek blessings, advice and salvation.
He was appointed rebbe of the Belz Chassidut in 1927 and became one of the foremost leaders of Eastern European Jewry. As a worldwide Jewish leader, he was especially targeted by the Nazis during the Holocaust. His followers smuggled him from ghetto to ghetto, until he miraculously managed to escape to Budapest, Hungary, where he remained for a short period, until the Nazis demanded his extradition. From there he was smuggled to Eretz Israel on a difficult journey that spanned Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Syria. His wife, children, grandchildren and entire extended family were killed by the Nazis, and he arrived in Eretz Israel accompanied only by his brother, R. Mordechai of Biłgoraj (who also lost his entire family, his only remnant being his son, Rebbe Yissachar Dov, current Belzer Rebbe, born of his second marriage in Eretz Israel). Rebbe Aharon of Belz settled in Tel Aviv, where he worked to encourage the survivors. Together with his brother R. Mordechai of Biłgoraj, he reestablished Belz Chassidut institutions in Eretz Israel and around the world – in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and elsewhere.

The recipient of the letter, Rebbe Yisrael Friedman of Chortkov (1854-1933), prominent leader of Orthodox Jewry in the generation preceding the Holocaust. He was a founder of Agudat Yisrael and president of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. Son of R. David Moshe of Chortkov and son-in-law of R. Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura (sons of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin), he was an important Ruzhin rebbe. In World War I his court in Chortkov, Galicia was destroyed, and he moved to Vienna. His thousands of followers included many Torah leaders such as R. Meir Shapiro of Lublin (who founded the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva at his behest), R. Meir Arik and R. Avraham Menachem Steinberg of Brody.

One leaf, approx. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and folds.

This letter was published (with a photocopy) in Heichal HaBesht (XI, Tamuz 2005, pp. 77-78), based on the present item, which was previously in the possession of R. Mordechai Harlig, attendant of the Rebbe of Chortkov.
Handwritten letters by Rebbe Aharon of Belz are exceptionally Rare. The present letter is especially unique in that he adds more than two lines of his handwriting, in addition to the important content documenting his involvement and lofty status in leading Orthodox Jewry in Poland (on the assembly of rabbis initiated by the Rebbe of Belz in 1928, see further: Admorei Belz, IV, pp. 225-226).