Two Letters Handwritten by the Rogatchover - Including a Proclamation Against Jewish Societies After the February ...

Two Letters Handwritten by the Rogatchover - Including a Proclamation Against Jewish Societies After the February Revolution - Addressed to the Wealthy Chabad Chassid Rabbi Shmuel Michel Treinin - St. Petersburg, 1917

Two letters handwritten and signed by the Rogatchover, R. Yosef Rosen Rabbi of Dvinsk:
1. Letter handwritten and signed by the Rogatchover, addressed to the wealthy R. Shmuel Michel Treinin. [St. Petersburg], Tammuz 1917.
2. Letter formulated as a proclamation, handwritten by the Rogatchover. Presumably enclosed with the letter addressed to R. Shmuel Michel Treinin (in which the Rogatchover writes that he is enclosing the text of a particular letter and asks that he review it and edit it as necessary). The letter relates to the freedom of religion granted to Russian Jewry after the February Revolution, and expresses opposition against any Jewish society which may cause the slightest breach in Torah observance - likely referring to Agudath Yisrael, which the Rogatchover vehemently opposed. Presumably, this letter was written for a rabbinical conference and was meant to be signed by the participants. Dated Rosh Chodesh Av 1917. Unsigned.
The letters were written during the Rogatchover's stay in St. Petersburg during WWI, on his official stationery (the word "Dvinsk" in the letterhead of the first letter was deleted), and reflect the Rogatchover's activities to safeguard Torah observance upon the fall of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of a democratic government. Together with Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch, the Rogatchover convened a meeting to discuss the challenges of their times (see previous item).
R. Shmuel Michel Treinin, a wealthy Chabad Chassid in St. Petersburg, close associate of Rebbe Rashab. He utilized his widespread connections to help anyone in need, and served as the Rashab's agent in various communal matters. Igrot of the Rashab and the Rayatz include dozens of letters addressed to him. After the revolution, the communists nationalized all his factories and businesses, and he remained penniless.
[2] leaves (official stationery). 13-26 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Filing holes. Tape repairs to one letter.

The Rogatchover - R. Yosef Rosen Rabbi of Dvinsk, Author of Tzofnat Pane'ach
R. Yosef Rosen (1858-1936) - known as the Rogatchover (after his birth town Rogatchov-Rahachow), was a Chabad-Kopust follower. His father took him as a child to the Tzemach Tzedek, who blessed him with exceptional scholarliness and instructed him to study Tractate Nazir (some say this was the reason the Rogatchover did not cut his hair). In his youth, he was a disciple of R. Yosef Dov Ber Soloveitchik, author of Beit HaLevi, alongside the latter's son R. Chaim of Brisk. From 1889, he served as rabbi of the Chabad Chassidic community in Dvinsk (Daugavpils), Latvia, alongside the Or Same'ach, a position he held for 40 years. A remarkable figure renowned for his tremendous sharpness and genius, he was well-versed in all areas of the Torah, down to its finest details, producing profound definitions, hypotheses and original methods of Torah study. Tales of his genius and indescribable diligence abound. His legendary brilliance was also highly regarded by the secular world in his days and Bialik reputedly said that "two Einsteins could be carved out from the mind of the Rogatchover". The Rogatchover dealt extensively in explaining the teachings of the Rambam and wrote numerous halachic responsa. His responsa and novellae were published in his Tzofnat Pane'ach series. His printed books are a small part of the incessant flow of the inexhaustible fountain of his Torah. Due to the profundity of his teachings and his concise, cryptic style of writing, several projects have risen in recent generations to decipher and explain his teachings, resulting in the publishing of annotated editions of his works.