RARE HISTORIC LETTER WRITTEN BY RABBI AHRON TWERSKY (1787-1872),...

RARE HISTORIC LETTER WRITTEN BY RABBI AHRON TWERSKY (1787-1872), THE REBBE OF CHERNOBEL, TO RABBI SHMUEL HELLER OF TZEFAS, REVEALING PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN INFORMATION ON A COMMUNAL DISPUTE IN TZEFAS 1840-1872 .

Historic background to this letter

For many hundreds of years Jews from Europe and other parts of the world dreamed to settle in the Holy Land and many of those who did make the long and often dangerous trip to settle there were supported financially by their friends, relatives and countrymen who considered it an honour and merit to share in the mitzvah of settling in Eretz Yisrael. Over the centuries the collections in support of the settlers in the Holy Land became more organised, but also more fragmented, divided by communities, origins and religious ideology.

The early groups of chassidim who left Eastern Europe to settle in the Holy Land were more or less united and formed the Kollel Reissen. After a time, one group split off and formed Kollel Volyn, which functioned under the presidency of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhyn from about 1830, with the main collection points for funds being in Berdichev and Sadagura. Prominent Sadagura – Ruzhin chassidim R. Yisrael Bak and his son R. Nisan Bak were leading figures in the Kollel Volyn, but the main leadership of the Kollel in Tzefas was under Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avrutch – the Bas Ayin, until his passing in 1841. Leadership in the Kollel in Tzefas then passed over jointly to Rabbi Shmuel Heller (who was an adherent of the Rebbes of Chernobel) and to Rabbi Yaakov Dov, Rabbi of Roman (an adherent of the Sadagura dynasty).

A dispute soon broke out over the allocation of funds and the trustworthiness of those responsible for their distribution, based on their affiliation with the two groups prominent among Kollel beneficiaries. Pressure was also brought upon the Rebbe of Chernobel to withdraw from his involvement in the affairs of Kollel Volyn, and threats were made that the major funder of the Kollel may withdraw support as a result of the dispute.
This letter, written by Rabbi Ahron of Chernobel to Rabbi Shmuel Heller, attempts to bring about a peaceful settlement and reveals previously unknown aspects of this controversy. Apparently, this settlement was achieved and the peace held until after the passing of Rabbi Ahron of Chernobel, when the Chernobel chassidim separated from Kollel Volyn to form their own Kollel, known as Kollel Zhytomir.

An important historic discovery contributing significantly to the study of the history of the Tzefas community and its Kollelim.

Rabbi Ahron of Chernobel, son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobel and son-in-law of (I) Rabbi Gedalia of Linitz, author of Teshuos Chein, and (II) Rabbi Tzvi of Koristchev. Rabbi Ahron was a disciple of his grandfather, the Maggid of Chernobel and author of Me’or Einayim, and succeeded his father in Chernobel in 1838. He was greatly revered by large numbers of Chassidim and also by his brothers, who were great tzadikim and heads of distinguished Chassidic courts of their own.

1 side. 21x26.5 cm. Excellent condition.