Letter from Rabbi Eliezer Gordon of Telz to Baron Günzburg - Telz, 1901

Letter from Rabbi Eliezer Gordon of Telz to Baron Günzburg - Telz, 1901
Lengthy letter from R. Eliezer Gordon, addressed to Baron Naftali Herz (Horace) Günzburg. [Telz (Telšiai), 1901]. The head of the letter bears the stamp of R. Eliezer Gordon "yeshiva dean and rabbi of Telz". The letter was written by a scribe, with a concluding line handwritten and signed by R. Eliezer Gordon: "Who respects him for his great stature, Eliezer Gordon who resides here". In his letter, R. Eliezer Gordon describes to Baron Günzburg the evolution of the Telz yeshiva under his leadership: "… and with the help of G-d, it's excellent reputation has already spread… throughout our country. From the ends of the earth exceptional boys are flocking here… supremely talented… and whoever comes here has grown, succeeded and borne fruit in Torah, wisdom, fear of G-d and refined character…". R. Eliezer then turns to the Baron, soliciting his assistance in financially supporting the yeshiva with its increasingly burdensome expenses, since it has already fallen into heavy debt. R. Eliezer Gordon (1841-1910) was the founder and dean of the Telz yeshiva. He served as rabbi of Slabodka, Kelm and Telz. A close disciple of R. Yisrael of Salant, he lectured for a time in the latter's yeshiva in Kovno, and was later appointed rabbi of Slabodka. From 1874, he served as rabbi of Kelm, where he established a yeshiva, and in 1884, he went to officiate as rabbi of Telz, were he also stood at the helm of the Telz yeshiva. Under his influence, it developed into one of the largest yeshivot in the world, earning Telz the title of the largest Torah center in Lithuania for over fifty years. R. Eliezer was an outstanding and profound Torah scholar, who left his mark on the yeshiva by instituting the logical method as the basis of its Torah study. He selected R. Shimon Shkop, and later R. Chaim Rabinowitz, as lecturers in the yeshiva. His renowned disciples include R. Elchanan Wasserman and R. Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman - the Rav of Ponovezh. R. Eliezer was one of the eminent rabbis of the generation and a foremost leader of Orthodox Jewry. A leading rabbi in various rabbinical conventions, he was the driving force in forming the first public organization which resulted in the founding of the Agudat Yisrael movement. In 1910, the yeshiva encountered a financial crisis, which compelled R. Eliezer to travel to England for fund-raising. He passed away there suddenly in Adar 1910, and was buried in the London cemetery. The Baron Naftali Herz (Horace) Günzburg (1833-1909), banker and wealthy businessman, philanthropist and public activist. Bearer of a title of nobility, and general-consul in Russia. The bank he headed was one of the largest banks in the Russian empire. He utilized his connections and stature to assist his Jewish brethren in Tsarist Russia, defending them from decrees and improving their financial situation. [1] leaf, (2 pages). 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Minor marginal tear.