Bidspirit auction | KALMANOWITZ, AVRAHAM. (Rosh Yeshiva Mir-New

KALMANOWITZ, AVRAHAM. (Rosh Yeshiva Mir-New York, 1887-1964). Autograph Letter Signed, written on letterhead in Hebrew to Avraham (Edwin) Kraushar. Sending wishes of congratulations upon the engagement of their daughter Frimet (Fannie) and offers many thanks and accolades for the support that their son (Henry) has given to the Mirrer Yeshiva. * With: Autograph envelope. One page, 4to. Brooklyn: Tuesday, Parshath Lech Lecha 1940 R. Avraham Kalmanowitz escaped to the United States in 1940 following the German occupation of Poland and became a tireless rescue activist on behalf of Jews trapped in Nazi Europe and the Soviet Union. He is credited with the successful transfer of the entire Mir yeshiva from Lithuania to Shanghai, providing for its support for five years, and obtaining visas and travel fare to bring all 250 students and faculty to America after World War II. He established the U.S. branch of the Mir in 1946. In the 1950’s and 60’s he aided North African and Syrian Jewish youth suffering from persecution and pogroms, and successfully lobbied for the passage of a bill in Congress granting ”endangered refugee status” to Jewish emigrants from Arab lands.