Letter from the Chabad Bureau in Eretz Yisrael for Sending Packages to Russia, sent to the Gaon Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin. Tel Aviv, ca. 1936.
“I will dare to request his Torah’s honor to make with him [Rabbi Dov Chaskind] some connection for transfer of packages from Ezras Torah to Russia” – a letter from Rabbi Yechiel Michel Mushkin to the Gaon Rabbi Henkin, secretary of the Ezras Torah organization, requesting their cooperation in the endeavor to send care packages to Jews in the USSR. Tel Aviv, ca. 1936.
Official letterhead of the offices of “The Bothers Gurary, Dov Chaskind, and Rabbi Kresik”, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Mushkin.
Rabbi Yechiel Michel son of Rabbi Yermiyahu Mushkin (passed away in 1947) – from the heads of the Me’ah She’arimi Yeshiva, son-in-law of Rabbi Simcha Halevi Soloveitchik – the grandson of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin. Author of “Meichal Hamayim” – speeches, 1913, “Michlal Yofi” on the Torah (1916-1924), “Milei De’Avot” (1930), “Taryag Mitzvot” (1935), and “Mechil Mayim Chayim” (1936-1946). Passed away on the 4th of Shvat 5707 (Jan. 25, 1947). His son and sons-in-law published posthumously his elucidation on the Haggadah (1948).
The Gaon Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (1881-1973) – from the leading Rabbonim of the USA. One of the pillars of ruling there. Served as Rabbi in various lands and cities, and became noticed everywhere due to his leading decisiveness and his genius in ruling Halacha. Stood at the helm of the Ezras Torah organization for close to 50 years, during which time he oversaw the distribution of millions of Dollars to charity, In unprecedented scope.
The Ezras Torah Organization – set up during WWI with the purpose of assisting Rabbonim, Torah scholars, and their families. Over the years, the organization assisted Bnei Torah in Europe, the US, and in Eretz Yisrael, in a large variety of subjects. For many years was headed by the Gaon Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin and the Gaon Rabbi Yisrael Rosenberg.
Historical background: The Chabad Chassidim who lived in the USSR suffered terribly under the communist regime. Many Chassidim were sent into exile or were executed, leaving their families bereft of financial support. Some of these families became completely destitute and literally starved. In order to assist these families and to the exiles with food and clothing, the Bureau for Sending Packages was established in 1936, in Tel Aviv. The bureau was set up by Rabbi Eliezer Krasik and his partners, the illustrious R’ Dov Chaskind and the brothers R’ Moshe and R’ Shmaryahu Gurary. This bureau was one of the pioneers in assisting the Jews who were trapped behind the Iron Curtain, and continued its operations for many years under the auspices of Rabbi Krasik, his wife, and their daughter, until the collapse of the Iron Curtain. See more in “Eved Avraham Anochi” by Shneur Zalman Berger, Kfar Chabad, 2013, pp. 135-140.
[1] p. Official letterhead. Fold marks, with tears along the folds. Filing holes. Slighte defects. Fair-good condition.
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