(The Dombrava Gaon, 1875-1939). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew and in Polish to the community leaders of Lvov.

WEIDENFELD, NACHUM

Dombrov (Dąbrowa Tarnowska, Poland)

1920

In response to an intended meeting set to establish a Beth Midrash for rabbis and teachers. The rabbi here is concerned that if there is an intention to introduce secular studies to the curriculum, then the “abominations of the Haskalah emanating from Berlin will enter our community.” Although he agrees there should be proficiency in certain scientific studies as well as a need for languages, all of this must be secondary to the primacy of Torah study. “If you agree to this, then you will have the support of myself and of my rabbinical colleagues.”

One of the great Galician Torah scholars. Following the death of their father R. Ya’akov (author of Kochav MiYa’akov), R. Nachum supervised the studies of his younger brother, R. Dov Berish who later became the Tchebiner Ruv (1881-1966). R. Nachum is renowned for his responsa Chazon Nachum which was published in 1939 just months before he suffered a fatal heart attack following the German invasion of Poland. Many unpublished manuscripts of his were destroyed during the Holocaust. See https://www.geni.com/people/R-Nachum-Weidenfeld-A-B-D-Dabrowa/6000000000044104267.