The Letter of the Gedolim during the Great Depression

“The terrifying news about our unfortunate brethren in Russia are unequaled in the history of the Jews. Hordes of savages and wild beasts thrust themselves on Israel and his religion. Israel is made into mockery and derision by the uncouth and by the wicked; instead of freedom of thought and toleration, a horrible inquisition was levied on them, and about three million Jews are being robbed and persecuted” * The Letter

 

After leaving Russia the Frierdiker Rebbe settled in Riga, Latvia, and immediately began to set up the infrastructure to continue and expand his holy work on behalf of Russian Jewry, ensuring their spiritual and physical survival. His work required extensive sums of money of which part was given by the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and part was fundraised.

When the Great Depression hit in 1929, the Frierdiker Rebbe was in the USA with his son in law, the Rashag, spending time fundraising for Russian Jewry, and his endeavors took a big hit, with people curtailing their donations or cancelling their pledges completely. It was during this time that the following historical letter was submitted to the JDC.

The letter, signed by five of the leading Gedolim of prewar Europe, asked the JDC to set aside a large sum of money for the work of the Frierdiker Rebbe in Russia. The letter was signed by: Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaCohen, known as the “Chofetz Chaim”; Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Alter, the Gerrer Rebbe, known as the “Imrei Emes”, who had over 100,000 Chassidim; Rabbi Yitzchok Menachem Mendel Danziger, the Alexander Rebbe; Rabbi Yechezkel Livshitz, the Rov of Kalish and the head of Agudas HaRabonim of Poland which had 1,600 affiliated Rabbis; and Rabbi Shlomo Dovid Kahana the Av Beis Din of Warsaw, and later the Chief Rabbi of the Old City in Jerusalem.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

The Plea for Help

The five Gedolim signed a letter in Hebrew to the JDC on January 28, 1930 (28 Teves 5690), as a continuation to a telegram they sent earlier. This letter was translated to English for the JDC staff, and submitted to them by the Rashag:

To the Leaders of Israel, Members of the Joint Distribution Committee

Greetings:

The terrifying news about our unfortunate brethren in Russia are unequaled in the history of the Jews. Hordes of savages and wild beasts thrust themselves on Israel and his religion. Israel is made into mockery and derision by the uncouth and by the wicked; instead of freedom of thought and toleration, a horrible inquisition was levied on them, and about three million Jews are being robbed and persecuted; they are dying within prison walls; they are being slain by the hands of merciless murdered – all because they cling to the Jewish beliefs and religion. The human pen cannot describe how bad and how bitter is the plight of those who fear the word of God; they are thrown out of their residences and driven out of their dwelling places; they are left prostrate on the road, needy and hungry. In order to extract the marrow of their bones and starve them to death, – heavy taxes were levied on them, and their lives are embittered with accusations and false indictments.LET NOT THE EARTH COVER THEIR BLOOD!

We beg you, beloved brothers! Let our lives be cherished by you, and lend an ear to our plea for the remaining few in Israel. Organize yourselves, have consultations, find means how and with what to remove the cursed inquisition from our brothers – our own flesh and blood. You have the understanding, you have the ability, you have the possibility of speaking to them in a comprehensive tongue, so not remain silent until the Lord will have mercy on his people. And you will be blessed by His holy name for lending your brother a helping hand in times of trouble, and being their brothers in the time of their redemption.

And also for this WE EXTEND OUR PLEA TO YOU to provide first for the immediate necessities, to revive the souls who are being sacrificed to sanctify His name (Al Kidush Hashem) to lend appropriate support to them in time of trouble. Therefore it is necessary to subsidize FOR THE NEEDS OF RELIGION – AT LEAST $300,000 in your annual budget, for in a time like this it is insignificant to consider the value of money.

We hereby ratify the telegram that we sent to you, honorable sirs, through the Lubavitcher Rabbi I. Schneersohn, as follows:

“The terrifying news coming from Russia is tearing heart and soul. Therefore, Reverend Rabbi, kindly submit our plea to the joint for our unfortunate brothers, so that they should appropriate at least $300,000 for the sake of the perpetuation of our religion, so that the Divine Light should not be extinguished. May the God of Israel repay the members of the Joint for their good work with many blessings.”

May the Lord and God of Israel bless you and fulfill all the desires of your hearts. May success and happiness adorn you now and forever more.

With blessings, honor, and appreciation,

Gerer Rabbi – Abraham Mordecai Alter

Chofetz Chaim – Israel Meir Hakohen

Alexandrer Rabbi – Isaac Menahem Mendel Ben Alexander

Ezekiel Lifshitz – president of the Agudath HaRabanim of Poland

Solomon David Kahana – President of the Warsaw Rabbinate

Attached to this translation was a letter from the Rashag, addressed to Mr. Joseph Hyman, the General Secretary of the JDC, and dated February 22, 1930 (24 Shvat 5690):

Today we received a letter addressed to the Joint from the famous rabbis the Gerer Rabbi, the Alexendrover Rabbi, the Chofetz Chaim, the president of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of Poland, and Rabbi Solomon David Kahana – President of the Warsaw Rabbinate, with a plea to the Joint about the sad condition in Russia, and a petition to help them financially.

I find it important to send you a translation of the original copy for your information. I would be very grateful if you will write to me what the Joint has decided in reference to the financial aid for the religious representatives in Russia. You understand how much this interests us, and I hope that you will inform us as soon as possible.

How To Talk  to The Americans?

In Warsaw lived Rabbi Menachem Mendel Rothstein, a wealthy Chossid who dealt in diamonds, and was very active in supporting the Frierdiker Rebbe’s work; he also served as a board member of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Warsaw and Otwock. When the Frierdiker Rebbe was in the United States there was continuous correspondence between them, and it seems from these letters that it was he who arranged the telegram and the letter from the Rabbis.

In the following letter, from 11 Shvat 5690, the Frierdiker Rebbe writes to him about the Rabbis’ which preceded the letter (Igros Kodesh Vol. 2 page 230):

Greetings and Blessings!

I read with great joy the telegram of [you] my dear friend which came on Friday before candle lighting, signed by the Rebbes of Ger & Alexander, Rabbi Israel Meir Hacohen the Chofetz Chaim, the chairman of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of Poland, Rabbi Yechezkel Lifshitz, the chairman of Agudas Harabonim of Warsaw Rabbi Shlomo David Kahana…

And in another letter dated 25 Shvat 5690, the Friedriker Rebbe writes to him about the Rabbis’ aletter and about the overall situation (ibid page 237):

Greetings and Blessings!

The letter signed by the Rebbes Shlita, the Chafetz Chaim and Rabbis Yechezkel Lifshitz and Rabbi Shlomo David Kahane was received in Baltimore, and was sent from there to Chicago. Thank you my friend for arranging this…

The attitude here towards Russian Jewry is despair and coldness, the Joint on one side and the Agudas Harabonim on the other side. Even public opinion was not in favor of helping our brothers in Russia, and only thanks to the months that we are here, we woke up the Jews somewhat, to start to feel a little that they have to do something in their favor, and we can hope that finally we will see good results, with G-d’s help.

I will write letters to the Rebbes to notify them of receiving the letter and to thank them for it.

I do not know how much these letters will have an effect on the Joint, because with Americans you need to speak in a strong manner and only then do they understand what is wanted from them, and whenever you speak to them softly there is no hope of anything good…