Letter of protest signed by prominent disciples of the Kamenitzer Yeshiva, including R. Noach Shimanowitz and R. Yehuda Cooperberg. Written in Hebrew to the Mashgiach, R. Naphtali (Leibowitz).

(KAMENITZ YESHIVA).

49th day of Sephirah (before Shavuoth)

Yeshivath Kaminetz

1929

Expressing their shock and horror “concerning the terrible scandal which occurred whereby the honor of the Torah and the Yeshiva was shamefully disgraced in public …Irresponsible and wild people interrupted the lecture of R. Baruch Ber’s son-in-law R. Yitzchak Turetz in a savage and uncivilized manner.”

An historical document reflecting inner turmoil within the Yeshiva. Written in a lyrical Hebrew with Talmudic references, the writers state they bear witness that R. Turetz’s lecture did not contain any reference to the administration of the Yeshiva, it only related to Torah and Mussar and was delivered with the agreement of the Mashgiach. “We bitterly protest with all our might against this abomination. We demand that you warn those who desecrate the honor of the Torah and spill pure blood that they not dare bring strange fire into this holy citadel. We sign in the cause of truth and peace.” The signatories were among R. Baruch Ber’s outstanding disciples: R. Noach Shimanowitz (founder of Yeshivath Knesseth Chizkiyahu) and R. Yehuda Cooperberg (later of the Kamenitzer Yeshiva Kollel, Jerusalem.