Auction 51

Polemical pamphlet Tomat Yesharim on the sale of etrogim (a codephrase) to the Chabad Kollel. Jerusalem 1913. Extremely rare!

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Pamphlet Tomat Yesharim, in which is explained the justness and fairness of the negotiations in Israel about the sale of etrogim to the Chabad Kollel, “true answers to the libels printed about them by Bogin and Bichovsky and their supporters here.”

The term “sale of etrogim” was a codephrase for the collection of donations across Russia, which was officially banned by the Czarist government and often considered a kind of espionage. The Admor HaZaken, for example, was investigated for the collection of money for poor people in Israel, and he needed to hide his activity in this matter. Most of this pamphlet was written by Rabbi Mendel Na’eh in response to claims made by Rabbi Chaim Bogin and Rabbi Chaim Aharon Bichovsky about inconsistencies in the kollel’s treasury. This pamphlet was part of a wider controversy which led to a split in the Chabad Kollel and the opening of the “Kollel Chabad Meyuchad” by the Admor Rabbi Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn of Bobrisk-Kapost.

The Mifal Bibliographia notes that some copies of this were printed without a title page—this copy is complete, including the rarer title page. [2], 16, [2], 4 pages. Stains, good condition.