Rabbi Avraham Kalmanovitz

The belief in the coming of moshiach is one of the thirteen principles in which every Jew must believe: to look forward to and wait for that great time when he will come. Therefore, one should not be in doubt about this even for a moment, but rather he must believe clearly that the word of Hashem will stand forever, and even if he delays, wait for him. The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 11:1), writes about moshiach, “Anyone who does not believe in him or does not await his coming is denying not only the other prophets but also the Torah and Moshe Rabbeinu, because the Torah testifies about him.” So we see in the Rambam’s words that there are two obligations here: to believe and to wait for his coming. If one does not wait for his coming, it is a sign that he doesn’t have complete faith.

The Chafetz Chaim zt”l in his last years used to teach and review these two obligations of emunah: to believe and to wait for him to come. And he used to say over the words of the Pesikta: “You love my Torah but you do not wait for my kingdom.” Even if someone loves the Torah, he’s an ehrlicher Yid, that’s not good enough if he does not wait as he should for the Kingdom of Heaven and the coming of moshiach, without giving up even for a moment, with faith that can be felt. It’s like a father and mother would wait for their only son whom they haven’t seen for a long time and he sends a telegram that in a short time he will come to them. Will they go to sleep? Or will they check every wagon and every train, because maybe, maybe that’s the one? And even if he is late, they will wait for him.

We say, “And let our eyes see your return to Zion.” And, “Rule over us, You Hashem alone.” But our awaiting is not something we feel the way we should. And those who are very at fault for this are the desecrators of all holy things among all heretics: the nationalists. This includes even those nationalists who pretend to be religious, and use the language of geulah, applying the term to every secular movement led by sinful Jews, which can definitely never be successful in the holy Eretz Yisrael. To our sadness, unfortunately, we see that even when we were already there, because of our sins, we were exiled from our land. And all the more so that it is impossible to return to our land through sins

However, unfortunately, there are enough false prophets who interpret the Torah wrongly and connect pesukim to this movement, confusing the Jewish mind so much that every think every weekly chshurkl is a prophet, and every wild and adventurous boy is like the tanna Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues who gave their lives to sanctify the name of heaven, and gathered crowds in public to teach them Torah. (Kulmus Halev, page 74, from an essay written in 1930)

With the help of Hashem, Wednesday of Parshas Ki Sisa, 15th of Adar 1, 5708 (1948). Greetings to his honor my friend Harav Hagaon Reb Zeidel Semiatitzki Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Toras Emes London.

I received your letter as well as the telegram sent by Mr. Goodman to Rosenheim, and we gathered together in my house and also in Reb Yaakov Rosenheim’s house in New York, several Gedolei Rabbonim: Rabbi Teitelbaum of Satmar, Rabbi Moshe Rosen, Rabbi Henkin, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Yerushalayim, uncle of Reb Michel Feinstein, and Rabbi Aharon Kotler….  But we all recognize and understand the danger of the Jewish state and the UN plan, which puts the lives of all Jews in danger.

And especially, all of them agreed and recognized that the biggest danger is fighting against the British, which is forbidden by the law of the Torah: to go up as a wall, and these three oaths are forbidden under the pasuk “Hishbati Eschem Bnos Yerushalayim.” See the end of Masechta Kesubos, 111a.

And we already know about what the Zionists said, that they are suggesting this themselves. Also seven university professors came out with this idea. And today they know already what was said yesterday at the sitting of the Security Council. Yet those mistaken people still stand and confuse others with their rebellion, and together with them, all those members of the Yishuv have completely gone out of their minds, G-d forbid, and they do not see the danger and the destruction. Even rabbis, it seems, have gone out of their minds, and they are drawn after the emptiness and they have become vanity – and danger awaits.

Also the Agudah leaders, aside from Rosenheim, are following the emptiness of the terrible belligerents (biryonim), who endanger the existence of our people, may G-d save us. For example, today Rabbi ____ came and I spoke to him on the telephone, and I think that he also does not understand the dangerous and fearful situation. Who permitted him to leave Jewish lives for the taking and to spill blood for nothing?

In my humble opinion, they endanger even our lives in the lands of exile. And until the Urim VeTummim arise again, it is forbidden for us to go out to war. And therefore I repeat again: it is very important to make known privately to the British government that the greatest Torah sages and those who truly fear Hashem are all completely opposed with all their hearts and souls to the methods of the Zionists and their wars. All we want is for the Yishuv to exist peacefully, and to increase immigration for the refugees.

And besides, it is a holy obligation to ask and to plead with tears every day, without ceasing, for the British government to save the situation and prevent the spilling of blood, because it’s only under their control. We wish that the dominion of the British could last until the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu soon. And it’s only those belligerents (biryonim) who endanger the Jewish people and wish to negate exile by force – but it will not be successful.

And we have to explain to them that trampled and defeated people after the terrible war have brought bitterness in the life of the Jewish people, and because of this bitterness they’ve gone out of their minds. As Chazal say, “A person cannot be blamed for what he does in pain.” Know that the reason why religious Jews keep quiet is because of the fear of these troublemakers, as Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said to Vespasian in Masechet Gittin.

Please give my regards and blessings to our friend who shares our beliefs, Mr. Goodman, may he live long, may his hands be strong in his holy work, and he should not take his mind off the saving of Jews even for one moment.

And in this merit, may we see Hashem restore the exiles of His people and raise up the pride of His moshiach, Avrohom Kalmanovitz

(Printed for the first time in the booklet Dibros Kodesh by the Satmar Rebbe, published in 2023, pages 366-368)

Reb Avraham’s faithfulness to his obligation to express his true Da’as Torah was amazing. He himself wrote: “If you’re a Gadol BaTorah and you’re a Gaon HaDor and you have Da’as Torah, then you have to say it clearly and explicitly.” And we know of many times that he did not pass up the opportunity to say the truth, even if it cost him a huge amount of money. Even the bribe of a mitzvah did not blind his eye.

For example, this story was testified to by an eyewitness who was involved in the story, Mr. L.K. The story took place in his house in the year 5685 (1925), where after working for about half a year, he succeeded in organizing a tea party for thirty very wealthy men, each of whom was ready to donate a thousand dollars to the Mirrer Yeshiva, which was then in difficult financial straits. At the end of the party, before the donors had donated their money, one of them asked the Rav what he held about a certain Zionist leader and his opinions. The Rav answered forcefully: “This is not the solution for which Jews have waited for two thousand years of exile.” And then he continued at length to explain all about this Zionist. On the spot, all of the guests got up and left without donating even one penny.

Mr. L.K. related, “Although the Rav seemed completely at peace with the situation, as if nothing had happened, I was shocked at what my eyes had witnessed and I asked the Rav, why did you do that? We just lost $30,000 and the work of an entire half year. And your Yeshiva is in financial trouble.” The Rav replied, “We are not responsible for the Yeshivas. Our responsibility is to tell the truth at all times. We have to tell the truth, and the Eibeshter will support His Yeshivas.” (Kulmus Halev, introduction, page 3-4, related by his faithful student Rabbi Moshe Handelsman, administrator of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush, who heard the story from Mr. L.K. himself. Rabbi Handelsman added that he heard from Reb Avraham’s son, the Rosh Yeshiva Reb Shraga Moshe, that a few days later, Hashem sent Reb Avraham the exact sum of thirty thousand dollars in a different way)

At his son’s bar mitzvah, Reb Avraham invited the Satmar Rebbe to speak. In the middle of his speech, he said that Yerushalayim should be an international city and brought many proofs from the Torah. Rav Avraham nodded his head in agreement. Suddenly, an older yeshiva bochur interrupted and said, “Now that we have Yerushalayim, we should give it away?” Rav Avraham snapped back, “If Yoshke Pandrik would be resurrected with his disciples and Yerushalayim would be in their hands, would that be called that we have Yerushalayim?” (Kulmus Halev, page 202)