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.