Lengthy Letter from Rabbi Akiva Altschuller, Just Before his Tragic Passing. Shevat, 1938

Lengthy Letter from Rabbi Akiva Altschuller, Just Before his Tragic Passing. Shevat, 1938

Lengthy letter that covers three pages, with five halachic responsa marked with the letters א-ה. The letter is entirely handwritten and signed by the renowned gaon Rabbi Ezra Altschuller, one of the rabbis of Lithuania, and towards the end of his life, in the Land of Israel. Kfar Saba, Shvat, 1938. Written just four months before his passing.

At the beginning of his letter, Rabbi Ezra begins by writing that he does not know the addressee, and "I don't know with whom I am speaking at present, whether it is with a youth, or with an avreich, or with a wise elder ..." Despite this lack of knowledge, R' Ezra responds in his humility with a lengthy and detailed response, just as if he were addressing an old friend!

This letter was written approximately four months before Rabbi Ezra's tragic passing on 8 Iyyar of that same year. When he left the synagogue to go home, he was run over by an Arab taxi driver from Jaffa, and passed away a short while later.

In retrospect, we can interpret his opening line in a different and shocking way, where Rabbi Altschuller writes: "תרצ"ח בכפר סבא" ["You will be murdered in Kfar Saba"] - and he was indeed murdered, a short while later, in Kfar Saba. Apparently it was not for naught that it was decided that the letters representing the year should be rearranged, and the year was designated as "תרח"ץ" instead, so as not to give Satan a way in.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Ezra Altschuller.

[3] written leaves. [53] lines. 13.5x22 cm.

Fine-very fine condition. Fold marks with slight tears (blemishing individual words, without lack). Minimal aging stains.