Polemic Letter from the Directors of "Kollel America" - Jerusaelm, 1897 - Clarification of the View of Maharil ...

Polemic Letter from the Directors of "Kollel America" - Jerusaelm, 1897 - Clarification of the View of Maharil Diskin as Supporter of the Kollel
Long handwritten letter signed by the seven directors of "Kollel America-Tiferet Jerusalem". Jerusalem, 1897.
The letter's signatories are: R. Shalom Yona Ellis, R. Mordechai Rosen, R. Zev Wolf Eisenstein, R. "Shimon Yaakov R---", R. Moshe Aharon Levin, R. Nachum Broshan and R. Hertz Levenstein.
The letter was sent to R. Nathan Rogin in the United States. It harshly accuses the members of the "Vaad HaKelali" of spreading falsehoods. The latter also denies the claim that the Maharil Diskin did not support the Kollel: "especially when they claim that the great R. Yehoshua Leib Diskin opposes Kollel America… the American consul visited the Maharil, who stated that he could be quoted as supporting the Kollel… additionally, the Maharil accepted a rabbinical approbation from us, which explicitly stated that 'Kollel America-Tiferet Jerusalem' accepts him as our leader, and all our guidance is from him - how can they dare to deny the blatant truth? Their actions stem only out of a desire for money…".
This letter was written during the heat of the controversy between the "Vaad HaKelali" of R. Shmuel Salant and "Kollel America", which was disputed in Eretz Israel and America for five years.
"Kollel America" was established in 1896 and a means of support for Americans who immigrated to Eretz Israel and were unable to receive stipends from any of the established "kollelim" and organizations. Its establishment engendered great opposition from the directors of the more established "Kollelim" as well as the "Vaad HaKelali" whose base of support was in America. R. Shmuel Salant published a public letter stating that the destruction of the "Vaad HaKelali" would be the ruin of the entire Yishuv. Maharil Diskin, on the other hand, supported the formation of the new Kollel. In the wake of false rumors regarding the Kollel, he published his famous letter stating, "Kollel America was founded with my approval". In 1901, the Ridvaz of Slutsk initiated a settlement between the two parties, enabling "Kollel America" to establish its own fundraising efforts under specific conditions.
Official stationery, 28.5 cm. Written on both sides. Good condition.