Аукцион Bidspirit | SIDDUR HA’SHALOM. INSCRIBED COPY BY

SIDDUR HA’SHALOM. INSCRIBED COPY BY R. YEHUDA LEIB LEVIN CHIEF RABBI OF MOSCOW. MOSCOW/NEW YORK 1968! - SIDDUR HA’SHALOM. INSCRIBED COPY BY R. YEHUDA LEIB LEVIN CHIEF RABBI OF MOSCOW. MOSCOW/NEW YORK 1968!  Rare prayer book, with the Passover Haggadah, and prayers for Yamim Tovim printed in the Soviet Union. Inscribed by R. Yehuda Leib Levin as a gift to R. Paul Z. Levovitz during R. Levin’s symbolic visit to America in 1968. In 1968, in an effort to show the free world that religion was permitted and even encouraged in the U.S.S.R the authorities permitted the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, R. Yehuda Leib Levin, to publish a Siddur – with certain stipulations. Ironically titled “Siddur Ha’Shalom” (Prayer-book of Peace), the siddur has various passages censored, including the omission of the words “V’al Ha’Milchamos” in the Al HaNissim recited on Chanukah & Purim apparently to dissuade the Soviet Jews from the idea of planning an armed revolt. Includes two rather ironic prayers to be said on behalf of the U.S.S.R “the defender of peace in the entire world” but lacks directives in the Russian language in order to prevent the younger generation from adopting Jewish prayers. R. Yehuda Leib Levine (1894–1971) learned at Yeshivas Slabodka and was a talmid of R. Boruch Ber Leibowitz. Trapped behind the Iron Curtain, he served as Rav in Dnipropetrovsk. In 1956, R. Shlomo Shleifer (Chief Rabbi of Moscow) brought R. Levin to Moscow to serve as head of the new Soviet sanctioned Yeshiva Kol Ya‘akov. After R. Shleifer’s death in 1957, he succeeded him as Chief Rabbi of Moscow. In that capacity, although he was under the constant surveillance of the oppressive Communist regime, he valiantly attempted to maintain a framework of Orthodox Judaism under impossible circumstances.  In 1968, he was sent by the Soviet government on a visit to the United States to assure the West that Soviet Jewry faced no discrimination and was free to practice religion. He met with countless great rabbinical leaders including R. Moshe Feinstein and The Lubavitcher Rebbe. During his visit to America, he was followed by Russian agents who meticulously controlled and recorded his every move.  Lot includes an original Telegram sent by R. Pinchas Teitz and Irving Bunim to R. Levovitz inviting him to a farewell banquet with 100 Jewish leaders in honor of R. Levin.  479 pages. 23.5 cm. Excellent condition, original binding. Opening bid $150