(Leader of Neturei Karta, Jerusalem. 1894-1974). Autograph Letter in Hebrew, written to the Beth Din of the Eidah HaChareidith, Jerusalem.

Amram Blau (1894–1974) was one of the founders of Neturei Karta, the most extreme sect within the anti-Zionist Chareidi community of Jerusalem. Ruth Ben-David (1920-2000) was born a French Catholic. She played an active role in the French Resistance during World War II, married and gave birth to a son. It was then she began to show a deep interest in Judaism, subsequently divorcing her husband and in 1952 she converted. In her frequent visits to Israel she established a relationship with members of the Neturei Karta and it was due to these ties that in 1962, she assisted in the smuggling out of Israel of little Yossele Schumacher, kidnapped by his grandparents to assure he was raised in a religious environment. Although the Mossad eventually cracked the case, Ben-David subsequently became a heroine within Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and much sought after as a prospective match. In short order she was introduced to Amram Blau and they became engaged clandestinely since Blau wanted time to inform his ten children about the impending marriage, especially as he and Ben-David became engaged less than twelve months after the death of his first wife. The present lengthy autograph manuscript is a first draft of an important confidential letter concerning Blau’s passionate defense of his intention to marry the convert Ruth Ben-David. Once the match became known, it was strongly opposed by members of his family, and more publicly, by the Beth Din of the Eidah Hachareidith. Blau here extols Ben-David’s extreme righteousness and self sacrifice in seeking to save a Jewish soul by becoming involved in the Yossele Affair. He states that a binding commitment for marriage currently exists between them, but he implies he had thought his fiancé would receive a lengthy prison sentence due to her exploits in the Yossele Affair, and thus in the period of time before she would have been released from imprisonment, there would be opportunity for his family’s feelings of opposition to settle down (this portion is crossed out). Blau often refers here to those with criticism against him with the anonymous term “Me’arer” (a complainant), however in the crossed out sections the name “Reb Gershon” can be seen. Concerning the Beth Din’s opposition to the marrage based upon the 26 year age difference between the rabbi and his young fiancé, Blau states in one of the crossed out sections: “Am I forced to only marry someone older than I?” As to Ben-David being a convert, he provides lengthy Biblical passages concerning Boaz and Ruth and the importance of displaying compassion to the convert. As to the Beth Din’s assertion that he should rescind his commitment to Ben-David, Blau writes that he is surprised equal consideration is not extended to the personal feelings of the woman herself. Eventually the couple were indeed married, however Blau’s public esteem and political capital was considerably damaged as a result.