A letter of ordination handwritten and signed by Rabbi Bezalel HaCohen of Vilna, to Rabbi Shraga Meir Leizerovitz. Written on a journey to Vilnius, 1874.
The letter was written at the inn at the train station to Vilnius: "While passing today on the iron rails which go to our community, we chanced in one inn". He writes of Rabbi Shraga Meir: He has great capability to judge and rule the laws of "Yoreh Deah" and "Choshen Mishpat" and "Apparently, he has spent much time studying the words of the earlier and later 'poskim' to know… and to respond according to 'halacha'… well-versed in the words of the later 'poskim' and their sources in the Talmud and 'Rishonim'… Undoubtedly, he will be one of the generation's Torah leaders".
Rabbi Bezalel HaCohen of Vilna (1820-1878), an outstanding rabbi in his generation, known from his childhood as an exceptional genius. At his bar-mitzvah meal which was also his marriage feast, he made a "siyum" on the whole Talmud and gave a homily that astonished all of Vilnius's great Torah scholars. At the age of 18, the author of "Mishkenot Ya'akov" already sent him his book to look over. At 23, he was appointed rabbi of his city, Vilnius (at a time when it was full of exceptional outstanding Torah geniuses), and for decades he was the chief posek and spiritual leader of the Vilnius community. Some of his renowned disciples: his younger brother Rabbi Shlomo HaCohen of Vilna, author of "Cheshek Shlomo" and Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen, author of the "Chafetz Chaim". He wrote the "Reshit Bikurim" responsa, his glosses "Mareh Cohen" printed in the Vilna Talmud and in the Vilna "Shulchan Aruch"; the "Minchat Bikurim" glosses on the "Tosefta", etc.
32 cm. Fair condition, much wear to paper folds, pasted on paper for preservation.
A copy of the "semicha" writ is enclosed, in the handwriting of Mr. Eliyahu Eliezer Sakolsky from Vilnius and London (died 1951).

Lengthy and interesting letter in handwriting and signature of the Ga’on Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Vilnius, Isru-Chag Pesach 1903.
Letter sent to the Ga’on Rabbi Shmuel Salant, rabbi of Jerusalem, concerning monetary matters of the “Kollelim” in Jerusalem. In the letter he harshly opposes sending money in a manner which directly passes through the hands of a specific individual, and he notes: “Regarding the funds sent to a specific individual, I am requesting that in the future they avoid doing so and we will refuse to accept them, because eventually it will be unclear who the money belongs to”. He forewarns of rumors spread by other sects opposing the collection of funds for Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess, which negatively affects fundraising. “This obstacle arises from those searching for a pretext who wish to use the fund of Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess for other matters, or by those who have futile dreams and make use of the fund of Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess, and therefore fabricate tales about the emissaries and claim that they will send them directly…”.
2 pages, 20.5 cm. More than 25 lines in his handwriting and signature. Fair condition, scorching on leaf margins without damage to text.

* Letter of recommendation to young man Binyamin Trachtman who studied in Sha’arei Torah Yeshiva in Kremenchuk (Ukraine) for two years. Letter in handwriting and signature of the Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo Hyman among teachers of Yeshiva. Elul 1920.
The well-known Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo Hyman (c. 1890-1945), disciple of Radin Yeshiva and disciple of Rabbi Baruch Ber
Leibowitz in Halosk Yeshiva. Served as teacher in Yeshiva of Rabbi Baruch Ber during World War I when the Yeshiva exiled from Slabodka to Kremenchuk. He was later on summoned by his rabbi and mentor, the Chofetz Chaim, to the Yeshiva in Smilavichy which was started by Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman. After the Chofetz Chaim returned to Lithuania together with his Yeshivot, Rabbi Shlomo resumed teaching Torah in Kremenchuk [in Yeshiva of his brother-in-law, Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Berman]. This document is a rare and significant item from that mysterious period of his life. Upon returning to Lithuania was appointed in 1923 as teacher in Yeshiva of Rabbi Elchanan Wassermann in Baranovich. Afterwards he moved to Vilnius and served as Rosh Yeshiva of “Ramailes” Yeshiva. In 1935 began serving as Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vo’Da’at in the USA. His Chidushim were printed by the Ga’on Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz [who was his disciple from period of Ramailes] in two volumes of “Chidushei Rabbi Shlomo”.
* Letter of recommendation for young man “submitting this letter”, sent to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Levinson son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim, by his “disciple”. Kremenchuk, [Elul 1920].
Letter unsigned [apparently out of concern of “evil eye” of authorities]. Written in handwriting upon stationery (printed in Russian) of the righteous Rabbi “Chaim Ber Gringras of Kremenchuk” [among respected personalities of community of Rabbi Baruch Ber in Kremenchuk. Father-in-law of Rabbi Shlomo Harkavi, Rabbi Avraham Ya’akov Gordon, Rabbi Baruch Ya’akov Zmodzak and Rabbi David Rapoport author of Mikdash David, who married his youngest daughter in 1931, after the demise of her father in 1928]. In the letter it is mentioned that the young man studied in the Yeshiva of the Ga’on Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Berman in Kremenchuk.
At conclusion of letter the writer sends regards to family of his rabbi and mentor “I send regards to rebbe, rabbi of the Diaspora, the honorable Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen”.
Presumably, the writer is the righteous genius Rabbi Shlomo Harkavi (c. 1890-perished in Holocaust), prominent disciple of Radin Yeshiva, who married eldest daughter of Rabbi Chaim Ber Gringras in Kremenchuk where he taught Torah. For approximately twenty years served as spiritual director of Sha’ar HaTorah Yeshiva in Grodno headed by Rabbi Shimon Shkop, and was considered leading personality of ethics in Yeshivot of Lithuania.
Two letters, 21 cm. Good-fair condition, wear damage on folds and margins.

* Letter with a halachic query, if a "Torah aliya" is permitted to be given to someone who is in the Synagogue but does not put on "tefillin". Lithographic printing of a letter written by Rabbi "Seckel ben Rabbi Simcha Bamberger", [this letter was apparently sent to several rabbis]. Bad-Kissingen, 1905.
2 leaves, 33 cm. Fair condition, wear to margins and folds.
* Letter with a halachic query, regarding "chatzitza" in "tevila", to Rabbi David Zvi Hoffman author of "Melamed L'Ho'il". Handwritten and signed by his son Rabbi Simcha Bamberger who wrote the query "as commanded by his father Rabbi Seckel".
3 pages, 22.5 cm. Good condition.
Rabbi Seckel Yitzchak HaLevi Bamberger Rabbi of Bad-Kissingen and its region (died 1934, "Otzar HaRabbanim" 11312). Son of Rabbi Simcha Bamberger Rabbi of Aschaffenburg and grandson of Rabbi Yitzchak Dov (Rabbi Seligman Ber) Bamberger Rabbi of Würzburg, in his youth published the novellae of Rabbi Avraham Bing, "Zichron Avraham" and added enlightening comments. He also published his father's book "Zecher Simcha". After the death of his father-in-law and uncle Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Leib Bamberger Rabbi of Bad-Kissingen (son-in-law of the "Aruch LaNer"), he succeeded him as Rabbi of Bad-Kissingen where he served until his death in 1934.