(Chief Rabbi of Pinsk, 1865-1942). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew to Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Eretz Israel.

WALKIN, AARON.

Third day Parshath Ki-Thisa

Pinsk

(1942)

A desperate plea from Nazi-ravaged Europe.

An impassioned, heartrending plea: “Min hameitzar ekra” - “I call to you from great distress, grant me amnesty…” “Ushu, Gushu, Chusu” - “Hurry, make haste, rush to rescue myself and my family and bring us to the Holy Land… Save us while there is still time. My soul begs and writes with tears.” Rabbi Aaron Walkin was one of the foremost Poskim (halachic decisors) of the generation immediately prior to the Holocaust. A prolific author of over ten volumes of responsa (Zekan Aaron), novellae (Beth Aaron) and sermons (Metzach Aaron) - all cited widely to this very day. He and his family were murdered by the Nazis very shortly after this letter was sent, the summer of 1942. See H. Seidman, Eleh Ezkarah I (1956) pp. 64-71; E. Katzman, Yeshurun Vol. 11-12 (2002), pp. 891-905; EJ Vol. 16, col. 253.