Kollel America Polemics
Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski to Rabbi Shmuel Salant
Vilna, 1899
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Historic letter sent by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, Av Beis Din of Vilna, to the legendary Rav of Yerushalayim Rabbi Shmuel Salant regarding the conference of Rabbanim in Vilna to promote the Vaad Haklali and oppose the controversial founding of Kollel America.
Spanning two complete handwritten sides and several lines on a third side all written by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinksi with his autograph.
this letter Rabbi Chaim Ozer describes the recent conference of Rabbanim in Vilna which was attended by prominent Rabbanim, among them Rabbi Dovid Karliner. During the conference, the majority of the Rabbanim expressed their opinion that the base for collecting donations should remain in Vilna which was “the city that was the center before the Kollels divided, ” and he requests Rabbi Shmuel Salant’s opinion and consent.
He further expresses his fervent objection to the founding of Kollel America.
“A letter was sent to America, signed by the hands of the Rabbanim of the conference, to annul and rescind the plans of the destroyers who wish to create a separate platform.”
Written while he was still in his thirties, this is one of the earlier known letters penned by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski.
Letters from him during this period are very rare.
The Kollel America Controversy
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 was strongly objected to by Rabbi Shmuel Salant and other Roshei Kollel in Jerusalem who feared that it would lead to the dissolution of the Vaad Haklali which had been supported primarily by American donations. This dispute continued for five years until 1901 when all sides finally reached a compromise (See Genazym Catalog 1 Lot #86).
Vilna, 1899. Folded leaf. Handwritten on 3 sides and autographed. Page size: 20×13 cm. Old reinforcement on margins of Leaf 1b. Preserved in its original envelope!
Printed in Iggros Rabbi Chaim Ozer Vol. 3 p. 198. The letter sent by Rabbi Dovid Friedman, Av Beis Din of Karlin, on this subject was printed by Rabbi David Kamenetzky in his work Rabban shel Kol Bnei Hagolah Vol. 1 p. 607 (also see ibid 606-609 for further information regarding this letter)
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