Letter from R. Mendel Alter Rabbi of Pabianitz

Letter from R. Mendel Alter Rabbi of Pabianitz
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Menachem Mendel Alter Rabbi of Pabianitz. Pabianitz (Pabianice), 1927. Written on the official stationery of the Pabianitz Beit Din. The letter relates to mediation attempts between two litigants, and accords one of the parties the authorization to go to court to obtain repayment of the debt. R. Mendel notifies him of the failure of the mediation efforts, "he is adamant not to abide by the ruling… I hereby apprise you that according to Jewish law, you have no way of recouping your loan, and you are authorized to seek solutions on recovering your due in whichever way you can…". R. Mendel informs him that since the ruling of the Pabianitz Beit Din was somewhat based on the compromise, "it is understood that now, the ruling is null and void". R. Menachem Mendel Alter (1877-perished in the Holocaust summer 1942), youngest son of the Sfat Emet, Rebbe of Ger. In 1921, he began serving as rabbi of Pabianitz near Łódź, and in 1934, went to serve as rabbi of Kalisz. He was the head of Agudat HaRabbanim in Poland and of Agudat Yisrael, and one of the foremost leaders of Orthodox Jewry in Poland. He was the founder and publisher of the daily papers of various Orthodox sects in Poland. R. Mendeli was known for his exceptional wisdom and pleasant wit. "Chassidim who came to their Rebbe in Ger, would hurry to seize a side benefit, the spiritual pleasure of an audience with R. Mendel, hearing one of his discourses or Torah thoughts, or even the mundane talk of this Torah scholar, whose words spread throughout the country… His style was burning with the passion of his soul, and brilliant with the charm of his wisdom. His tongue was sharp and on the mark - just like his personality. He excelled in his sermons as well, and his appearance at conventions and meetings always made a strong impression on the crowd. In this way, he stood out as one of the most distinguished and influential figures of Polish Orthodox Jewry" (Dr. Hillel Zeidman, Eleh Ezkera, II, p. 60). During the Holocaust, he was confined to the Warsaw ghetto, and later deported to Treblinka. Various legends are recorded, of R. Mendel striding confidently to his death in Treblinka. One testimony reports: "As the Jews were removed from the train and sent to the valley of death, where they were divested of their clothes, R. Mendeli pleaded a kapo for a bit of water, promising him in exchange a share in the World to Come. Upon receiving the water, he washed his hands, and began reciting the Vidui prayers with the crowd. The German murderers pounced upon them with savage cries: "Is this a synagogue?!" and fired a volley of shots, R. Mendeli was amongst the casualties (see enclosed material). [1] leaf, official stationery. 14X21.5 cm. 8 autograph lines and signature. Good-fair condition. Wear and minor tears.