The First Steps of Agudath Israel

If there's a moment to be called a defining emotional moment, it's undoubtedly the moment this week when a short 4-minute and 15-second documentary film was revealed, showing for about ten seconds the revered Chofetz Chaim.

A religious historian told 'B'Kehilla': "I was moved by this encounter with the Chofetz Chaim. It's a sort of 'resurrection.' For years, we've imagined how it would be to meet the greatest figures from Rabbi Akiva Eiger to Moses, and suddenly there's this connection. Suddenly, the Chofetz Chaim is alive, walking with vigor for us, for future generations, and we reach out to touch him, and he's there in front of us, with his quiet smile, a luminous presence that is hard to describe, with humble grace and a halo of purity."

The Hat Convention

On Wednesday, the 3rd of Elul 1923, at 5:00 PM, the first great assembly of Agudath Israel opened at the State Theater Hall in Vienna at Circus-Gasse 45. Leading figures from all over Europe, and even from Israel and the United States, gathered at this historic assembly. Geniuses and saints, accompanied by 800 delegates, public representatives, and activists from all countries, surrounded by thousands of supporters who stayed outside to see the great figures of Israel in their glory.

Organizing such an assembly was not easy in those days. It was a remarkable unity reminiscent of the golden days of the 'Council of Four Lands.' Zionist groups, who were wary of this gathering led by the generation's giants, both Hasidic and Lithuanian, tried to diminish its importance by calling it the 'Hat Convention,' but little did they know that from this very convention, the Jewish people would receive great gifts in the form of the 'Beit Yaakov' movement and Rabbi Meir Shapiro's historic initiative for a unified 'Daf Yomi' Talmud study across all Jewish communities.

The presidential stage was graced by several leading figures: the Chofetz Chaim, the Imrei Emes of Ger, the Achiezer of Vilna, Rabbi Israel of Chortkiv, among other distinguished rabbis and leaders.

The Chofetz Chaim arrived with much effort to the great assembly. On that day, he even fasted for the success of the event, and after the opening words, he was honored to give a speech, which he accepted only after much persuasion.

"Thousands of eyes were fixed on the stage at this dramatic moment, when the elderly Chofetz Chaim, whose name was known from one end of the world to the other, humbly clasped his hands and pleaded not to be honored. Why should he bless first? Eventually, he accepted the role and approached the podium with the words 'and you shall not go up by stairs to My altar,' emphasizing that the Torah warns a Kohen, when ascending the podium, to remember it was not his talents or personal qualities that earned him this elevation, but a divine gift. So it is with me, Hashem granted me old age as a gift, and I was born a Kohen..."

This captivating description from that historic event, now imbued with greater significance against the backdrop of the newly uncovered film, is recorded in the historical book 'The Great Assembly.' The book details each stage of the assembly and the immense excitement already present among the audience at the arrival and blessings of the elder Chofetz Chaim, whose words were spoken softly and couldn't be broadcast due to the technological limitations of the time. For this reason, the young genius Rabbi Meir Shapiro was called upon to repeat the Chofetz Chaim's words for the eager audience.

Rare Jewish Documentation

Many wonder about the sudden exposure of this film this week, which should presumably have been known and widespread since it was captured at the great assembly. But even now, the unknowns outweigh the knowns, and there are many rumors about the film's origin and why it emerged now.

The film, as it turns out, was kept for decades in the archives of the University of South Carolina in the U.S., where it gathered dust. Recently, a professor working on the materials discovered the film and noticed the Jewish figures in it. According to rumors, he didn't realize its significance, but seeing the Jewish figures, he handed it to a colleague, who then passed it to a friend in Williamsburg with a knack for history.

The religious friend was surprised by the content and quickly realized that this was no ordinary film, but something set to shake the religious Jewish community, especially since for the first time, the Chofetz Chaim is seen walking as though in life.

From here on, the fate of the film is unclear. Some claim it is longer and contains parts of the event itself, while others argue that even the initial footage of the great figures of Israel entering has been edited and includes additional segments yet to be revealed, which may even depict the arrival of the revered Imrei Emes of Ger at the great assembly.

Since the documentary film came to light, historians have been trying to identify the rabbis seen, examining interesting nuances revealed within, such as the orderly entrance or even the fact that an admired rebbe like Rabbi Israel of Chortkiv, dubbed 'King of Israel' in his time, arrived at the great assembly carrying his own open umbrella, rather than having an attendant do it for him.

To Be Continued?

The story of the documentary film that was revealed this week rippled across all layers of the religious community. The sharp transition from the year 5775 to 5683 was rapid. Over the timeline, the world changed completely, but the thrill and emotion of standing before the radiant face of the Chofetz Chaim only grow stronger over the years, and the community studying his works and following his rulings received a special privilege this week to witness even ten seconds of that noble and sacred figure, to pause before his glowing presence, wrapped in the splendor of simplicity, to catch a breath and fulfill 'and your eyes shall behold your teacher.'

The exposure of the documentary film will now certainly lead experts to delve deeper to locate the full documentation of that great and significant assembly, and who knows what other moments of glory we might witness once the full footage is released.

List of figures captured in the film:

Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Perlmuter, head of the rabbinical court and Agudath Israel representative in the Sejm

The Rebbe Rabbi Israel Friedman of Chortkiv

The revered Chofetz Chaim, accompanied by his son and grandson Rabbi A. Kaplan

Rabbi Yaakov Meir Biederman, son-in-law of the Sfat Emet and one of the rabbis of Warsaw

The 'Ohev Yisrael', Rabbi Hanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin of Bendin

The Rebbe of Sokolov, Rabbi Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern

Rabbi Asher Michael Cohen, head of the rabbinical court in Basel

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Tzirleson, head of the rabbinical court in Kishinev

Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman

Rabbi Asher Mendelson, senior figure in Agudath Israel in Poland, representative in the Sejm

Rabbi Pinchas Kahan, head of the rabbinical court in Ansbach

Rabbi Tuvia Horowitz, head of the rabbinical court in Sanok

Our teacher Rabbi Yaakov Rosenheim, President of Agudath Israel

Rabbi Eliahu Jung, Rabbi of the Jewish Center in New York

Rabbi Meir Hildesheimer from Berlin

Rabbi Asher Lemiel Spitzer, head of the rabbinical court in Kirchdorf, Agudath Israel representative from Hungary

Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna, later head of the Hebron Yeshiva

Rabbi Moshe Bloy from Jerusalem

Rabbi Tuvia Levenstein, head of the rabbinical court in Zurich

Rare and Emotional Video: Is This the Chofetz Chaim?

Rare 1923 Film: Chofetz Chaim Comes to Agudath Israel Convention

The article was first published in B'Kehila magazine. For a special subscription offer for Hidabroot readers,click here.