Auction 7
Letters from Gedolei Yisroel of all times! – Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, Chasam Sofer, Reb Hershele Lisker, Reb Shulem Leizer of Ratzfert, the Maharsham, Maharam Shick & many more.
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Monday, Mar 31, 8:00 PM
ריינס 5 בני ברק, Israel
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Auction date: Sunday, March 30th 2025 - 20:00 Israel time
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LOT 138:
"He does not believe that the words of the Or HaChaim are inspired by Ruach Hakodesh" — a remarkable ...
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"He does not believe that the words of the Or HaChaim are inspired by Ruach Hakodesh" — a remarkable and rare letter from Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, head of the Telshe Yeshiva.
A highly interesting letter that addresses a case regarding a sofer who reads inappropriate literature and also does not believe that the words of the Or HaChaim are divinely inspired.
''Telshe, Purim, 1909
Greetings,
Regarding the matter of one who reads inappropriate romantic literature, he should not be disqualified, for, unfortunately, in our generation, almost all scribes and shochtim read various newspapers that contain heretical ideas, which are even worse than inappropriate literature.
As for the matter you mentioned — that he claims the Or HaChaim missed an obvious verse, he should not be disqualified either. Even if he does not understand the commentary of the Or HaChaim, as you, dear Rabbi, wrote that he does not understand it — it is only concerning his doubt whether the words of the Or HaChaim were divinely inspired, due to his belief that an obvious verse was overlooked."
In the second postcard, the original question about this matter was sent to Rabbi Eliezer Gordon by Rabbi Mattityahu Morgenstern, Rabbi and head of the Rabbinical Court in Bolgrad (Bessarabia).
The postcards are joined together, combining the question and answer into one piece to save on costs. Due to the urgency of the matter, Rabbi Eliezer sent his reply on Purim itself. Rabbi Eliezer’s response is in his own handwriting, without a signature.
Rabbi Eliezer Gordon (1841–1910) was one of the prominent & brilliant Torah scholars and Rosh Yeshiva in Lithuania. A disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, he displayed extraordinary intellectual abilities even in his youth and was known for his sharp mind, clear thinking, and deep understanding, alongside noble character traits, which he imparted to his students in his renowned, profound classes. Since 1881, he served as the head of the Telshe Yeshiva, elevating it to international fame, and is thus known as “Reb Lazer Telzer”. Under his devoted leadership, the yeshiva in Telz became one of the flagship yeshivas in Eastern Europe, attracting hundreds of students, as well as a most distinguished faculty.
In 1910, he traveled to England to raise funds for the yeshiva but fell ill due to his distress and passed away there. His responsa are collected in the sefer Teshuvot Rabbi Eliezer. (See The Musar Movement, Vol. 2, pp. 347–354.)
