Two Typed Letters Signed in English, with autograph manuscript corrections in Hebrew and English, Harry A. Goodman, London. Intimate thoughts of Lubavitcher Rebbe on Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch

AUCTION 43 | Thursday, April 02nd, 2009 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 294

SCHNEERSON, MENACHEM MENDEL.

Two Typed Letters Signed in English, with autograph manuscript corrections in Hebrew and English, Harry A. Goodman, London. Intimate thoughts of Lubavitcher Rebbe on Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch

Letter One: Stresses the need for Jewish unity and to reject past divisions between the Chassidim and Mithnagdim. "It is remarkable that when one reads the letters and bans by the early opponents to the Baal Shem Tov and his teachings, and if one does so without prejudice and with an open mind, it should make everyone a Chosid. In fact, the greater the attachment to and veneration of, the Gaon of Wilno, the chief opponent of Chassidus in those days, the greater and more loyal a Chosid one should become." - On a different note, the Rebbe asks Mr. Goodman to use his "influence with certain circles in Washington Heights" to abort plans to establish the Hirschian approach in America, a land for which it is ill-suited. * Letter Two: Returning to the theme of the inappropriateness of Hirschian philosophy in America, Rabbi Schneerson "note[s] with gratification that on the basis of unofficial and behind-the-scenes information which has reached me from the circles in question, the point which I made with regards to this school of thought (i.e. the Breuer's community, Kehal Adath Jeshurun of Washington Heights) has been gaining evermore adherents." The Rebbe asks that Mr. Goodman, "in view of the above, and inasmuch as a considerable impact has already been made in the right direction," continue to use his "good influence in this direction." Letterhead stationery on onion-skin paper. First: pp. (3). Slightly tattered at folds and upper left corner. 12th Tammuz, 1960. * Second: pp. (2). p. 1t ear in upper left corner; p. 2 wanting bottom right corner. 3rd Sivan, 1961

Brooklyn, New York: 1960-1961

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $1,300

In these highly interesting and forceful letters, we are treated to Rabbi Schneerson’s educational philosophy. Though he himself had been a student a student at the Universities of Europe, the Lubavitcher Rebbe opposed college education for Jewish youth in America. Unlike Germany, where there existed a climate of rigorous intellectual examination, Rabbi Schneerson felt American youth are not philosophical by temperament and would be subjected on the college campus to alien ideologies that they would be at a loss to combat. For this reason, the Rebbe believed that R. Samson Raphael Hirsch's philosopy of "Torah im Derech Eretz," which combined Torah with secular education was not suitable to contemporary American society