(POALEI AGUDATH ISRAEL).

AUCTION 62 | Thursday, June 26th, 2014 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic and Ceremonial Art

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Lot 210

(POALEI AGUDATH ISRAEL).

Collection of historical correspondence from the New York office of Poalei Agudath Israel; pertaining to many post-Holocaust matters and later State of Israel political and religious issues (c. 120 pages). Contains much interesting correspondence sent to the New York office managed by Shimshon Heller (Honorary President Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung) from many of the party’s leaders and Knesset members: Rabbi Kalman Kahana, Assistant Minister of Education and Culture (c. 15 letters), Binyamin Mintz, Minister of Posts (c.15 letters), Avraham Yehuda Goldrat, Ya’akov Katz, Avraham Werdiger, Raphael Katzenelenbogen, Y. Hildesheimer, Y. Edelman, Y. Pffefer and many others. Includes autographed or signed letters from Chassidic Rebbes: R. Nachum Mordechai Perlow of Novominsk (3 letters), R. Mordechai Shalom Yoseph Friedmann of Sadigora, R. Moshe Lipschitz of Philadelphia. Rabbinic leaders: R. Pinchos Teitz (Chairman of the Poalei Agudah Israel National Convention of 1948), R. Isaac Tendler, R. Asher Zev Werner of Tiberias (concerning Miriam and Jacob Lubling), R. David Ochs (Toronto), R. Meyer Schwartzman (Winnipeg), R. Abraham Baruch Rosenberger of Gamzo (concerning meeting with the Satmar Rebbe), R. Shalom Pinchas Wohlgelernter (Chicago), R. Isaac Breuer (post-Holocaust encouragement to make the Land of Israel into a spiritual center), R. Pinchos Lewin (post-Holocaust message in the name of the Gerrer Rebbe), R. Yitzchak Meir Lewin (c. 8 letters), R. Dr. Isaac Lewin, R. Yehuda Rezmivesh (later Nachshoni) of Arad, Romania, R. Moshe Munk, R. Jacob Rosenheim (5 letters). Political figures: Tzvi Kaspi, A. Luria (Consul General), E. Epstein (First Israel Ambassador). Issues include placement of orphans, preparation for the Knessia Gedola, discussion of the formation of a “Chazith Dathith” (Religious Torah Front), struggles over religious matters in the public arena, government coalition matters, impact of the Six Day War and many other political and personal topics.

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, London, Zurich, Milan, etc: 1945-67

Est: $5,000 - $7,000

The Poalei Agudath Israel political party stemmed from the Orthodox workers trade union party in Poland. With the establishment of the State of Israel, Poalei Agudath Israel associated with Agudath Israel while remaining part of the general Histadruth labor organization. The party organized a religious settlement movement, establishing some twenty religious Kibbutzim and settlements (such as Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim, Sha’alavim, Gamzo and Modi’in). These settlements did not perform agricultural work during the Shemittah year (see correspondence with Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik). They also administered many children’s homes for orphans from Morocco and elsewhere, as well as sponsoring the religious youth organization Ezra. During the early years, many prominent Rabbinic personalities supported or were associated with the Poalei Agudath Israel, such as Rabbis Eliezer Silver, Pinchos Teitz, Isaac Small, Michel Feinstein, Eliezer Levine, Zvi Eisenstadt, Noach Chodosh and others. In later years, Poalei Agudath Israel was to split into a separate party, later rejoining Agudath Israel and again disbanding into separate factions. At the height of its strength Poalei Agudath Israel helped bring down Ben Gurion’s government after disagreeing with him over religious issues. This large archive should be seen.