Kollel America Polemics – Historic Document!
Famous Ruling Objecting to Establishment of Kollel America, Signed by the Chief Rabbi of New York Rabbi Yaakov Yosef (Jacob Joseph). New York, 1897.
Legendary ruling rejecting the founding of Kollel America, signed by Chief Rabbi of New York Rabbi Harav Jacob Joseph Charif and members of the Beis Din.
In 1896, American immigrants in Israel founded Kollel America with the goal of supporting American Jews who emigrated and settled in the Holy Land. The founding of this Kollel stirred the severe opposition of Hagaon Harav Shmuel Salant and other Roshei Kollel in Jerusalem who feared that it would lead to the dissolution of the Vaad Haklali which was supported primarily by American donors.
Rabbi Jacob Joseph, who corresponded regularly with Harav Shmuel Salant regarding charity funds and distributions in Eretz Yisrael, arranged an assembly of 200 Rabbanim in America who signed against the founding of the Kollel.
The Rabbinical ruling was signed by America’s great Torah sages of the time:
1. Harav Hillel Hakohein Klein (1848-1926), a disciple of the Ksav Sofer, Assistant Kollel Rabbi in New York and leading early 20th century Rabbi in America
2. Harav Yosef Eliyahu Fried (1841-1927), Rav of Shokian, was among the prominent authors of halachic responsa in America who corresponded frequently with Lithuanian sages. His responsa were compiled into Ohel Yosef, the first halachic responsa work printed in the United States.
3. Harav Shabsai Rosenberg (1851-1913) was Rav of Brooklyn. He studied in Volozhin and subsequently under Harav Yaakov Brit of Vilna, author of the Bris Melach.
4. Harav Gershon Meir Biarsky (1862-1908) was the Rav of Uteca. He was ordained by Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor and authored Yerushalayim Hatzrufah on the Talmud Yerushalmi. He numbered among the leading Rabbanim of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada in America.
New York, 1897. Page size: 20×26 cm. Several holes restored. Folds.
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Rabbi Jacob Joseph Charif (1841-1902)
Hagaon Harav Yaakov Yosef (Jacob Joseph) Charif authored Beis Yaakov. He was an illustrious student of the Volozhin Yeshivah whose genius earned him the moniker ‘Rabbi Yaakov Charif (the Sharp)’. He later became one of the first disciples of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter. In 1888, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of New York where he founded the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada and endeavored greatly to promote Judaism and religious observance in America.
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