A Farewell Letter with Blessings by Rabbi Itzele Blazer – Before his Immigration to Eretz Israel

A Farewell Letter with Blessings by Rabbi Itzele Blazer – Before his Immigration to Eretz Israel
A leaf of paper containing four letters: from Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer; from his stepsons, Rabbi Aharon Shatzkes and Rabbi Moshe Shatzkes; and from Rabbi Avigdor Menkewitz. Kaunas, Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheni 1902.
The letters were addressed to their beloved friend Rabbi Yeshaya Dov HaCohen Kosovsky. The letter by Rabbi Aharon Shatzkes contains information as to the distribution and sale of Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer's books and about their immigration to Eretz Israel. In his letter, Rabbi Moshe Shatzkes tells of his plan to travel to Telz after his family will leave for EretzI Israel. Rabbi Avigdor Mankewitz writes words of friendship and inspiration: "set much time for the study of Torah and mussar, and you should be successful in all your endeavors".
The fourth page is a letter of 11 lines handwritten and signed by Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer who writes words of friendship and rapport. He apologizes for the many burdens that prevent him from writing often and concludes with a farewell blessing before his imminent journey to Eretz Israel: "and I bless you with a farewell blessing, G-d should bestow upon you plenty of blessings and success, and He should allow you to peacefully study Torah and serve Him, and every way you turn you should succeed".
Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer, known as R' Itzele Peterburger (1837-1907), one of the leading disciples of Rabbi Yisrael of Salant, who spread the Mussar Movement throughout Lithuanian yeshivas. R’ Blazer was an exceptional Torah prodigy - among the greatest of his times. A man of ethics, he was the epitome of holiness and humility. Following the instructions of his teacher, Rabbi Yisrael of Salant, he served in the rabbinate of St. Petersburg during 1862-1878. In 1879, he resigned and moved to Kaunas and from 1880 he headed the Kaunas Kollel. After a while, he left this position and continued his holy work as a private individual. During all these times, he delivered mussar discourses to his companions from the Mussar Movement and at the Knesset Yisrael Yeshiva in Slobodka near Kaunas.
In 1902, he planned to immigrate to Eretz Israel and dwell there but he left Kaunas with his family only in 1903. Passing through Vilnius, he was met by a gathering of leading rabbis headed by the Chafetz Chaim and Rabbi Chaim Ozer who beseeched him to remain in Vilnius since he was needed there for the benefit of the Vilnius community. Rabbi Itzele conceded to their request and stayed for a year and a half after which he finally left Russia and arrived in Eretz Israel in 1904. Upon his arrival to Jaffa, he was greeted by many Jerusalem Torah scholars. He moved to Jerusalem and resided in the “Strauss Courtyard” together with the leading Mussar Movement figures who had previously moved to Jerusalem. He wrote the Pri Yitzchak responsa and Kochvei Or which was published as part of Or Yisrael authored by his teacher, Rabbi Yisrael of Salant.
Official stationery, 4 pages, 20.5 cm. Fair condition, damages and tears restored with paper filling. Stains.