Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky was born in Minsk in 1872. He ascended to the Land of Israel at the age of ten and settled in Jerusalem in the home of his grandfather, the gaon Rabbi M. Pizicher. He was educated at the Etz Chaim Talmud Torah and Yeshivah. In 1890, he married a daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Beinish son of Rabbi Shmuel Salant, rabbi of the city, whose side he did not leave until the end of the latter's life.
When his father-in-law passed away in 1900, he joined the administration of the Etz Chaim yeshivah and in his first years there, he also gave lessons. From that time until his final day, he devoted all his energies to the yeshivah in particular and to the city in general. He initiated the 'exodus' of the yeshivah to the new city - ['Machaneh Yehudah'], and the opening of various branches of "chadarim, " as is depicted extensively in his archive. In addition, he participated very much in establishing neighborhoods outside the walls, which is also well documented in his archive. One of the revelations in the archive is how deeply he was involved in founding the Ashkenazic community in Jaffa from 1895 forward, especially the establishment of the Neve Tzeddek and Neve Shalom neighborhoods, both in their physical and technical aspect and most especially their spiritual aspect: sending rabbis and other spiritual leaders.
Back to the yeshivah in Jerusalem: He commenced several new initiatives to improve and increase the efficiency of the level of studies: He succeeded in influencing the donor R' Zelig Presitz of Moscow to donate 500 rubles each year for the purchase of prizes for students who excel. He then came to an agreement with the philanthropist R' Rephael Shlomo Goetz during the latter's visit to Jerusalem to dedicate a fund for the benefit of those who excel at Jerusalem's yeshivahs.
At the outbreak of WWI, with the troubles that befell the city, he devoted most of his energies to the good of the yeshivah community, and there is fascinating documentation of this in the archive. He took part in the establishment of the "Association of Talmudei Torah and Yeshivahs" to ensure their existence; he greatly assisted R' Yohonatan Binyamin Horowitz in the establishment of soup kitchens. He raised huge sums to support the teachers. Together with R' Zerach Braverman and R' Nachum Rogosnitzky, he founded Yeshivat Bachurim for the select of all the yeshivahs. They divided the lectures among them and provided two meals a day.
Immediately following the British conquest, in the winter of 1917-1918, he participated in the establishment of Va'ad HaRabbanim HaMeuchad and became an active member. When Va'ad HaTzirim came to the Land, Rabbi Yechiel Michel was summoned by Dr. Chaim Weizmann together with the other members of Va'ad HaRabbanim in order to clarify the question as to how to unite all Jewish sects under the Zionist flag. At this tense meeting, he spoke in the name of the rabbis, and expressed their demand as a condition for the participation of Chareidi Jewry: That the Zionist Federation leave education to other public bodies, who will administer it according to their perspectives, thus ensuring the freedom to maintain respectable Torah education. He therefore participated in the early conferences of the National Assembly and even in the large founding conference, as one of 17 representatives of Chareidi Jewry that were a delegation for all the rabbis! However, he did not find a common language between the two sides, and unification of all the Jews did not come to fruition. There is much material in the archive about this fascinating affair.
Spiritual achievements: From his youth, he published many articles in the press in the Land of Israel and in that of the Diaspora - on topics in Torah, settlements and public affairs, in almost all Torah journals. He was also one of the leading experts on customs in the Land of Israel; there was much give-and-take between him and elders of the city. Following this, he initiated the annual publication of Luach Yerushalayim in 1905, a calendar that can be considered his crowning achievement. From that year on, he began publishing essential and useful works: Taharat Yisrael; Hilchot Shevi'it, Tekufat HaChamah, Bein HaShmashot with many tables for halachic times of day, and Sefer HaYomam about the International Date Line. He was therefore involved in the determination of which day Purim was celebrated in the new neighborhoods that were beginning to be constructed outside the walls, and was very involved in the halachic clarification of this complex question. And finally, his monumental Gesher HaChaim about the laws of mourning, and Ir HaKodesh V'HaMikdash. He passed away in Nissan, 1955.
About all these and more, he received letters of Torah from sages and rabbis of the generation, most of which are contained in this rich archive.
LOTE 3:
Handwritten Letter from the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs
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Handwritten Letter from the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs
Interesting exchange of letters between the Admo"r Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira, author of Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, and the gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky. Jerusalem-Munkacs, 1922.
Rabbi Tukachinsky sent the 'Minchat Elazar' his book Bein HaShemashot together with a request that he receive the book Masa'ot Yerushalayim from him - the Munkacher Rebbe's travelogue of his journey from Munkacs to the Land of Israel.
Th responsum is divided in two. The first part is in the hand of the gabbai Rabbi Moshe Goldstein, right-hand-man of the 'Minchat Elazar' and editor of the book Masa'ot Yerushalayim. He opens the letter with exalted honorifics. With respect to sending the book, he writes that sending it needs authorization from the yeshivah's administration. [The yeshivah probably invested in the book's printing.] The second part of the letter is the response of the 'Minchat Elazar' himself, in his hand and with his signature, that he is happy to send him his work. [We have found that the book Bein HaShemashot sent by Rabbi Yechiel Michel to Munkacs has been found among his descendants.] The original envelope from Munkacs is included.
The 'Minchat Elazar' blesses at the end of the letter, in his hand: "Kol tuv, selah, and may our eyes witness the return of the Divine presence to Tziyon and Jerusalem when Torah will proliferate from there with its great light in His mercy and lovingkindness, signed with feelings of honor for the Torah, Chaim Elazar Shapira"
The Admo"r Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira [1872-1737] was a son of the Admo"r, the author of Darkei Teshuvah and a descendant of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissachar. He was a rabbinic leader of Hungary before the Holocaust, a Kabbalist and one of the geonim in Torah, halachah and Chassidut of his generation. He led the fight against Zionism and was the spiritual father of Satmar Chassidim. The ''Minchat Elazar' visited the Land of Israel in order to meet his friend, the 'Saba Kaddisha, Rash"a Alfandri' and to ask him his questions in Kabbalah. At the same time, he took the opportunity to found the Batei Munkacs neighborhood in Jerusalem. The author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz said of him that a person like him comes to the world only once every few generations. His books include: Shu"t Minchat Elazar - five parts, Darkei Teshuvah al Hilchot Niddah, Darkei Chaim V'Shalom, Sha'ar Yissacher, Nimukei Orach Chaim and many others.
[1] leaf paper, 30 cm. Ink on official stationery, with the addition of approximately 50 words in the Minchat Elazar's hand and with his signature. Very fine condition. Fold marks. Tiny tear in the fold.
With a halachic letter [two typewritten leaves]. Letter full of content, comments by Rabbi Yechiel Michel to Shu"t Minchat Elazar, with rare information about Rabbi Shmuel Salant. There is also a letter from the Munkacs yeshivah that came with the book that was sent.
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