(Leader of the Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft Frankfurt, 1870-1965). Autograph Letter Signed, written in German to “Herr Unna.”

ROSENHEIM, JAKOB

September 30th

Frankfurt am Main

1917

Written on letterhead in German (with few Hebrew words). Comforting a bereaved Herr Unna whose son died apparently fighting for Germany in World War One.

A letter underscoring Jewish fealty to their home in Germany. Writing just before the Sukoth holiday, Rosenheim writes, ‘I am tortured by the question as to how we can rejoice on this festival… Aharon the Priest was consoled when God called his sons ‘Kerovim’ (close ones). May you find inner peace with the thought that your dear son was also amongst those close to God, Who shall surely ‘redeem the souls of His servants.’ R. Ya’akov Rosenheim was a founder, and later president of the Agudath Israel movement, as well as a prominent member of German Jewry’s isolationist Orthodox camp (IRG).