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Just to clarify: Only the last quote that Telz was the fortress of kanaus was from Rav Moshe Blau.
RabbiofBerlin:
- In any such case of seemingly contradictory opinions, whether in Halacha or Hashkafa it is a last resort to suggest a change of his views without any substantial proof.
- The passion with which he expresses himself in the earlier letter makes it even more unlikely that there was a change.
- Taking into account the place of importance, de’os and hashofos took in the Telsher school of thought, it’s unlikely he changed his well thought out and passionately held hashkafa, especially regarding the zionist state which he writes is the litmus test of all other important hashkofos.
(Both letters were written to private people, neither is a public letter.)
I suspect the cause for this confusion is the misconception that regarding the state of Israel there are only two views – pro and con, while in fact there are several from different gedolei yisroel.
I would like to provide a background of Rav Elya Meir’s hashkafa on this issue. As he mentions himself regarding this issue. “The way of life that my father, my master and teacher taught me.” “The blood of our father that flows in our viens that was shed like water against the zionist idol”. Harav Yosef Yehuda Leib Bloch, Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe, was from the most outspoken and extreme(please understand the difference between extreme and radical)opponents of zionism and Mizrachi of the Lithuanium rabbanim and roshei yeshiva, he actually dedicated a shmuess in his yeshiva to the topic, something unheard of in those circles, those days – 5677. He announced a hesped in the main shul in Telshe, upon Herzel’s demise only to quote the Rambam’s words about rejoicing in the demise of reshoim, (which earned him stones through his homes windowes). He is the only Lithuanian gadol that I am aware of that penned a public letter against Rabbi Kook and his writings. He opposed from within the Agudah the excession of a very prominent rav to a greater leadership position, because of the latter’s Mizrachi leanings. In Telshe, a kinnus was held to commemorate Dr. Dahan’s death and to protest the dispicable zionist murderers who were responsible for it. In short Telshe was the fortress of kanaus in that part of Europe. (so wrote Rav Moshe Blau in his memoirs.)
Being that the above mentioned was “the way of life” Rav Elya Meir was referring to that “I will not give up on” it is highly unlikely that he changed his way of thinking.
Besides for that I know of other instances where Rav Elya Meir expressed and acted as he writes in the earlier letter, as at his Yeshiva dinner he noticed everyone rising for the singing of the “Hatikva” and he quickly sat down (he was standing at the moment) which cost him much – in the way of support for his Yeshiva, and in the face of much criticism stood his gun.
Back to the letters, in truth there is no contradition, but a very unconventional way of thinking. Rather atypical, for which Telshe is know for. (Rav YYL Bloch’s fierce opposition to Haskalah and all its byproducts and still being the first to introduce secular studies in his Yeshiva High School thereby saving many youths. – just one of many examples.) I believe if we would take the time to study Rav Elya Meir’s words in both letters we can reconcile both and get a fuller understanding of his view on the issue.
YosHChayal:
The reason why Rabbi Epstein did not reprint this letter in his second edition was not because of threats (there are many more leftist leaning views brought down in this sefer that would’ve been a greater casue for threats) but because Rabbi Epstein honestly acknowledged that printing just this letter gives a very skewed picture of Rav Elya Meir’s views on this matter. Being that Rav Elya Meir was a deep and very fine thinker with colorful detailed view, they were too complex to comprehend from just one letter.
Having said that I will translate to you a letter that Rav Elya Meir has written. It is a long and personal letter, therefore I will not translate all of it. But the part that`s relevant , I will translate it directly – not as a free translation.
The letter is dated fifteenth of Shevat 5703.
“…The blood of our father that flows in our veins the blood that was shed all his life in the course of his war against the idol of zionism… the basic hashkafah and final and clear halacha that we are forbidden to give a hand in support to zionism to agree to idol worship. As long as Hashem will grant me life, one with Mizrahi views, will not join the hanhalah of the yeshiva and we will work to ensure that it so continues after our time. For this is the litmus test of the right Hashafah and right views in the basic Emunah of Hashem and in his Hashgacha, Emunas Chachamin and in basic right and honestly straight way of life. And as of yet there has not been a single Yeshiva that has produced students that were truly Yirei Hashem when their Hanhalah was not sharp and staunch opponents to acknowledging/agreeing of Reshaim and the evil of the zionists. B”H of all the members of the hanhalos of the yeshivos in Poland and Lithuania, there has not been even one that supported the Mizrachi movement… Also this we must remember that the Yeshiva, wherever it may be is the spiritual creation of our father, the light of our eyes zatzal and if in this place there will be an individual who has influence, who disagrees with his psak din that “zionism is a mispachas, all who follow it will not escape doom” this is a slight and a disgrace to his great honor. and in this place that the great tzadik has been moser nefesh in his war against zionism, we will not let that a stranger to his ideas and a cholek on his views should get near the holiness….there are enough pashranim and vatranim, I am not one of them or from their group. Even if America distorts so much that zionism has already become a holy thing, still its real essence and value has not changed. Not to conform to America are we building the future but for Klal Yisroel.
Yehoshou bin nun in his last will warned klal yisroel from such pashranus, because the biggest danger is joining (the wrong groups). Even if the purpose is to attract the youth to Emunah. If they do not wish to server Hashem in truth and wholesomeness Yehoshua has preached to them, they should rather choose one of the false gods “vanoichi u’veisi naavod es Hashem”….
But even in the great termoil and I am in Exile, I will not give up on the way of life that my father, my master and my teacher taught me. Mi LaHashem Eilai. If chas vesholom there are only two, and even if its only one, it is worth more to me than thousands of pashranim and vatranim…. (Signed)
Eliyahu Meir