Auction 137 Summer sale Early Prints, Chassidut, Belongings of Tzaddikim, Amulets, Segula Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical letters, Chabad.
By Winner'S
Jul 14, 2022
3 Shatner Center 1st Floor Givat Shaul Jerusalem, Israel
Early Prints, Chassidut, Belongings of Tzaddikim, Amulets, Segula Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical letters, Chabad. 
The auction has ended

LOT 85:

Historic Letter about Aliyah Attempts, from Rabbi Aharon HaKohen - The Chafetz Chaim's Son-in-Law

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$ 300
Estimated price :
$600 - $800
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Historic Letter about Aliyah Attempts, from Rabbi Aharon HaKohen - The Chafetz Chaim's Son-in-Law


"When a reason came to me from Above ... to ascend to the Land of Israel ... I know how precious and beloved it is to my father-in-law" (from this letter)


Lengthy and important letter covering three pages, entirely handwritten and signed by the gaon Rabbi Aharon Cohen, son-in-law of the nasi - Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin. Written on official stationery bearing the letterhead: "Aharon HaKohen, Av Beit Din of Nowo-Święciany, Son-in-Law of the Gaon Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen Shlit"a, Author of Chafetz Chaim and Mishnah Berurah." Nowo-Święciany, a suburb of Vilna, 25 Sivan, 1924.


Letter with rare and important historic content. Sent during the Chafetz Chaim's lifetime (he is mentioned several times in this letter with reference to his being among the living). There are also two parts of the writer's sefarim,  Avodat HaKorbanot, mentioned here, Part I - which had already been published (in 1913) and Part II that was about to be published (in 1924 - and the rabbi promises in this letter that he will mention its supporters by name). To the best of our examination, this letter has never been published!


The letter discusses Rabbi Aharon's attempts to ascend to the Land of Israel. Rabbi Aharon writes in his letter that he received an immigration visa from his friend, the chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, who also told him that there is a Torah position awaiting him in the Land of Israel, and he hopes that this will assist his economic stability, and also "extricate my dear children from the net spread over all the youth." The only problem that remained for Rabbi Aharon was the enormous expense of the trip - costing over 100 pounds "Without this, I remain at the precipice and not able to move from my place."


Rabbi Aharon, who never requested financial help from anyone, out of his deep love for the Land of Israel, beseeches Rabbi Tuviah for help ascending to the Land, and blesses him from the depths of his heart "The merit of supporting Torah and its scholars will stand by [you] and all who join [you] to help me and extract me from my distress, so that Torah shall never leave [you] and [your] descendants; [you] will be blessed from the source of all blessings with all goodness, and may [you] merit to behold and celebrate the consolation of Tziyon and Jerusalem in the true redemption. May [you] enjoy all goodness, selah .." He then signs "From me, your friend, who anticipates Hashem's salvation and blesses [you] and all who take part in assisting me with the priestly blessing which includes all goodness. Aharon HaKohen, son-in-law of the tzaddik, author of Chafetz Chaim, shlit"a."


It is well-known that the Chafetz Chaim's family bore a powerful love for the Land of Israel. The Chafetz Chaim himself (unsuccessfully) attempted to ascend to the Land in his later years. The Chafetz Chaim even set a condition with his sons-in-law that although he obligates himself to support them, they may not prevent him from ascending to the Land of Israel.


Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Aharon HaKohen.


[1] double leaf paper, [3] written pages. [43] lines. 20.5 cm.

Very fine condition. Fold marks. Minimal aging stains.