An early letter written in the Migdal settlement by handwriting and signature of the "young Shlomo Gutman" addressing his rabbi Lempan Levin describing his travels to the Gravesites of Tzadikim in the north of the country - a description of the celebration at Meron, his meeting with Rabbi Kook and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, his visit to Rachel's Tomb, his ascent to Jerusalem and its surroundings "with another two hundred Jews among wich were Rabbis, Maggids and cantors", and his visit to dozens of gravesites of Tzadikim throughout the land. c. 1910.
The writer describes in detail the journey through Eretz Israel from the grave of one Tzadik to another. First he visited Cave of Elijah on Mount Carmel to pray, describing what he saw there: "and darkness would fall as if mourning over Zion, I understood its ancient holiness". From there he continued to Tiberias to the graves of the Tannaim and Amoraim, visiting the graves of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes and his Pupils, Symmachus, Rabbi Kahana, Rabbi Yirmeyahu, the grave of Rambam and the holy Shelah, the cave of Rabbi Akiva and other Tannaim and Amoraim. For Passover he stayed in Tiberias and its surroundings, and on Lag BaOmer he ascended to Meron to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and this is how he describes the celebration at Meron: "What can I tell you my rabbi and teacher, thousands and myriads of Jews come, I have not experienced anything like this, the city was ablaze. The entire city of Sefad came out and people of deeds with Torah scrolls in silver cases with silver handles and myrtle branches, and along the entire way praise and joy impossible to estimate, and there I felt great celebration and a great bonfire and joy and celebration the letter is too short to describe, and there was a big synagogue. On one side prayers and outcries, and on the other side praise and joy...". He moreover visited the tomb of Rabbi Isaac Nappaha , and the cave of Johanan HaSandlar , and the cave of Hillel HaZaken and his students. On Shavuot he traveled to Jerusalem - "many thousands and myriads of Jewish pilgrims from distant lands..." and describes the terrible weeping that overcame him when he reached the Temple Mount: "What can I say to you my teacher and rabbi, I had not even reached the four cubits and my eyes filled with many tears like an unceasing stream and until today I am amazed at myself from where did I get this?...". From Jerusalem he traveled to Hebron and on the way also visited Rachel's tomb and describes his feelings when he entered: "My dear teacher, what can I say to you... I am amazed at myself because until now my eyes had not wept tears except on the day of the death of my father and mother of blessed memory (may their memory be for a blessing) and now twice as much...". From there he continued and visited the Slabodka Yeshiva, and returned to Jerusalem for Shavuot and went to greet Rabbi Kook and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, and visited the Torat Chayim Yeshiva and the Diskin Orphanage, and from there to the cave of Shimon HaTzaddik, and to the tomb of Kalba Savua, and visited several other cities, orchards and places, and finally settled in Migdal, buying there several orchards to have a portion of the Holy Land, establishing there a yeshiva and Talmud Torah near the Kinneret.
[2] Laves. Official stationery pages of "Migdal Farm". 28x21 cm. Very good condition.
