Ben-Av”i, Itamar. Kera’on le-Hithchayuth Datheinu be-Artzah [An Appeal for Renewal of Our Religion in Her Land]

(ISRAEL, LAND OF)

Azriel

Jerusalem

1935

On title, dedication in blue pencil to “R. Binyamin,” pseudonym of Joshua Radler-Feldmann (see below). On final page, “Ex libris R. Benjamin, Jerusalem”

In the newspaper Do’ar Hayom, Itamar Ben-Av”i (acronym Eliezer Ben Yehudah), son of “the father of modern Hebrew,” published an open letter to the rabbis of Israel, stating that the young generation who thirst for spiritual renewal, find the prayers too lengthy and require shorter passages. He suggested that a renewed Sanhedrin address this issue. As the writer was perceived in certain circles as perhaps an aspiring “chozeir bi-teshuvah,” several renowned rabbis penned responses to Ben-Av”i’s letter, among them: Rabbi Chaim Nahum, Chief Rabbi of Egypt; R. Benzion Uziel, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel-Aviv; R. Jehiel Michel Tocaczynski, Director Etz Chaim Yeshivah, Jerusalem; R. Samuel Bornstein (of the Sochaczew dynasty); R. Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, Chief Aschkenazic Rabbi of Eretz Israel. Responses were also forthcoming from Profs. Chaim Tchernowitz (Rav Tza’ir) and Joseph Klausner. In his dedication to the journalist “R. Benjamin” (1880-1957) - himself something of a “chozeir bi-teshuvah” - the author asks, “Lamah lo anah li?” (Why have you not answered me?) Concerning “Rabbi Benjamin,” see EJ, Vol. XIII, cols. 1458-9. The author had the distinction of being the first Hebrew child whose native language was modern Hebrew