(Leader of the Toldoth Aharon Chassidim, 1914-96). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew, written to R. Mordechai David (Blum) of Jerusalem.

KOHN, AVRAHAM YITZCHAK.

7th Iyar

Jerusalem

1940

Concerns his father-in-law’s attitude to the oncoming Holocaust.

Discusses the attitude of his father-in-law R. Aharon Roth to the Nazi onslaught against European Jewry. “We have not had such tribulation since Israel became a nation. Now is the last purification about which our sages warned us. Initially he [Rabbi Roth] prayed that the decree should be annulled entirely, however now realizes he will not succeed. He prays that those that believe in God will be saved. They should seek to spiritually attach themselves to God and accept everything with love. There is no time now to be busy with inanities, the only path is to seek repentance and strengthen ourselves with joy so that we may merit welcoming the Messiah. We cannot appreciate His benevolence and compassion. Even though at present He is concealed, His mercy is still as great as it was. For reasons unknown it is clothed differently, just as a father might appear cruel to his son for his own good. Yet we pray that God should openly reveal to us His grace and kindness.” Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kohn was the son-in-law and successor of Rabbi Aharon Roth (”Reb Arele,” 1894-1947) and leader of the Toldoth Aharon community.