KOOK, ABRAHAM ISAAC.

5th Nisan

Jaffa

1909

(First Aschkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1865-1935). Autograph Letter Signed (with initials). Halachic responsa concerning the (unnamed) respondent’s questions regarding permissibility of selling land to Arabs during the Shemitah year. Includes an examination whether the Arabs of Eretz Israel have the status of “Ger Toshav” thereby allowing them to Halachically acquire Jewish land. Concludes with the premise that despite the preceding legal opinion, it is ultimately preferable to do all in one’s power to encourage farmers to fully comply with all the laws of Shemitah.

Highly important responsum concerning Shemitah and the Heter Mechirah. Although the respondent’s name does not appear in the letter, according to the published version, it was written to R. Yaakov David (Wilowsky) Ridvaz of Slutzk and Safed with whom Rav Kook had a deep disagreement over the appropriate methods by which the new agricultural colonies of Eretz Israel should observe the Shemitah year. See Abraham Isaac Kook, Mishpat Kohen no. 61, pp. 124-25.