Shadar Letter for emissary, R. Asher Nissan Levitan: “Kethav Harsha’ah shel ha-Yeshivah ha-Merkazith ha-Olamith…mi-yesod R. Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook.” [Writ of Emissary of The Central Universal Yeshivah of Jerusalem]

(ISRAEL, LAND OF)

22nd May

Jerusalem

1929

Typed Letters Signed (bound), some on letterhead of Chief Rabbi Kook, in Hebrew, Yiddish and English. Ornate multi-colored manuscript title-page. With signatures of Rabbis Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, Jacob Moses Charlop and Zevi Judah Hakohen Kook—in both Hebrew and English

Rabbi Kook’s role in the Yeshivah was somewhat honorific, consisting of a shi’ur kelali (general lecture) on the Yeshiva’s chosen Talmudic tractate at the start of each zeman (semester). Daily shi’urim were delivered by Rabbi J.M. Charlop and other faculty members of the yeshivah. Administration of finances was delegated to the Chief Rabbi’s son, Rabbi Tzvi Judah Hakohen Kook. This historic document states the urgency to absorb the influx of new students applying from Soviet Russia and other countries of the Diaspora. The emissary, R. Asher Nissan Levitan (d. 1957), was the uncle of R. Eliezer Shach, late Rosh Yeshiva, Ponevezh, B’nei Berak. Eventually, R. Levitan became rabbi of a congregation in the Bronx, New York. See N.Z. Friedmann, Otzar Harabanim, no. 3615