Lengthy letter (2 pages), signed by R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Vilna, Sivan 1927.
Sent to Rabbi Aharon Reuven Charney, rabbi of Bayonne, NJ. An appeal for assistance on behalf of the longstanding yeshiva in Vilna - the Ramailes yeshiva - "The yeshiva has been standing for over a century… and has continuously emitted light - the light of Torah… even during the war and German occupation, the eternal light did not cease, and after the war, it gained strength and benches were added to the study hall, and leading Torah scholars deliver regular lectures…". R. Chaim Ozer writes that the support received from the United States Central Relief Committee is not sufficient to sustain the yeshiva, and additional donations are required.
R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) was a foremost rabbi of his generation and leader of the entire European Jewry. At the age of 11, he entered the Volozhin yeshiva and became a disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk. At the age of 24, he was appointed rabbi and posek of Vilna. He assumed the yoke of public leadership from a young age, and his opinion was conclusive on all communal matters which arose in the Diaspora for close to fifty years. Apart from his spiritual leadership and responding to halachic questions addressed to him from throughout the world, he worked ceaselessly and extensively to rehabilitate the yeshivot and improve the standing of the rabbis in Lithuania and the surroundings. His responsa were published in the four parts of his responsa series Achiezer.
The Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna was founded in 1815 by the rabbis of the city, and was named Ramailes after the plot which was donated for the purpose of building the yeshiva, which was known as "R. Maile's courtyard" (from the estate of R. Maile of Vilna). The yeshiva underwent many vicissitudes over the years, thought never did the sound of Torah cease. The yeshiva was led by R. Avraham Tzvi Grodzinski - brother of R. Chaim Ozer, between 1890 and 1938. R. Chaim Ozer himself was very dedicated to the yeshiva, especially after 1911 when he lost his only daughter (who passed away in her adolescence). He then initiated the construction of a new building for the yeshiva. After WWI, the yeshiva was directed by R. Shlomo Heiman, who had returned from exile in Belarus (where he had established the yeshiva in Smilavichy, together with R. Elchanan Wasserman). During that time, the standing of the yeshiva improved. A prominent student from that period was R. Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, who studied there until 1935, and later arranged and published his teacher's novellae in the book Chiddushei R. Shlomo.
[1] leaf (written on both sides), official stationery. 20 cm. Letter written by a scribe, with the handwritten signature of R. Chaim Ozer and his ornate stamp. Good condition. Light wear. Folding marks.
Enclosed is part of the envelope, with the name and address of the recipient of the letter.

Letter signed by R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop, dean of the Grodno yeshiva. Hrodna (Grodno), Tammuz 1925.
Addressed to the philanthropist R. Yerucham Fishel son of R. Avraham Yitzchak Munk. Written by a scribe, with the handwritten signature of R. "Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop". The letter acknowledges and confirms the receipt of money on behalf of the yeshiva - "For our holy yeshiva, which numbers close to two hundred students, who study G-d's Torah with exceptional diligence, and are destined to become the leaders of the Jewish people, replete with Torah and of noble character…". The letter concludes with R. Shimon Shkop's threefold blessing (the priestly blessing, comprising three verses).
R. Shimon Yehuda Shkop (1860-1939) was as disciple of R. Chaim Soloveitchik in the Volozhin yeshiva, who instructed him on intricate and profound methodology of Torah study. At the age of 24, he was appointed dean of the Telshe yeshiva (founded by his uncle R. Eliezer Gordon), where he gave over to the many students his innovative method of logical study - approach adopted by the entire Torah world until this day. One of his foremost disciples from that period was R. Elchanan Wasserman. In 1920, he was called to head the Shaar HaTorah yeshiva in Grodno. His works include: Shaarei Yosher, Maarechet HaKinyanim and Chiddushei R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen.
[1] leaf, official stationery. Approx. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and stains.

Letter signed by R. Elchanan Bunem Wasserman dean of the Baranovich yeshiva, with the stamp of the yeshiva. [Baranovich, 1930s].
This leaf contains the second half of a typewritten letter (leaf 2 only), with the handwritten signature of R. Elchanan. The letter consists of an appeal on behalf of the yeshiva, addressed to the rabbi of a community. R. Elchanan requests that he generate support for the yeshiva "amongst the members of his community, and especially amongst the members of the prominent Ezrat Torah organization in his town, so that they should come to the aid of our holy yeshiva in its time of great need…". The letter concludes with blessings for those who support Torah: "It is a tree of life… and those who support it are fortunate", closing off with blessings: "His friend, who reveres and respects him, who blesses him with life, peace, and only good forever…".
R. Elchanan Wasserman (1875-1941) was a disciple of R. Shimon Shkop in the Telshe yeshiva and prominent disciple of the Chafetz Chaim. He served as lecturer and dean in the Brisk (Brest) yeshiva and in other places. During WWI, at the behest of the Chafetz Chaim, he established a yeshiva in Smilavichy (Minsk province, today Belarus), and after the war, R. Elchanan founded the Ohel Torah yeshiva in Baranovich. A renowned Torah scholar and a foremost yeshiva dean in Lithuania, he represented the Chafetz Chaim and R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski in the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Yisrael. He composed many essays on Jewish ideology which were later published in his book Ikveta DeMeshicha, in which he expressed the Torah stance of his teacher the Chafetz Chaim on Zionist nationalism and the spiritual state of the Jewish people. During the Holocaust, he was deported to the Kovno (Kaunas) ghetto, and was later murdered in the Seventh Fort, while studying the laws of Kiddush HaShem. His teachings and lectures were published in the following books: Kovetz Shiurim, Kovetz He'arot, Kovetz Inyanim, Kovetz Igrot HaGaon R. Elchanan Wasserman and others. His approach in learning and his books serve until this day as the basis of intensive yeshiva study in the Torah world.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 28 cm. Good-fair condition. Wear and minor damage to folds.

Three interesting letters from deans of Lithuanian yeshivot, during the 1930s.
• Lengthy letter (4 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Eizik Sher, dean of the Slabodka yeshiva. Written during his trip to England in the 1930s, addressed to his colleague R. Yisrael Zissel Dvortz of Jerusalem. He mentions events which occurred in Eretz Israel, and the debts of the yeshiva which are cast upon "our friend R. A.G." (R. Avraham Grodzinski),
• Letter signed by R. Avraham Tzvi Grodzinski, dean of the Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna, addressed to R. Reuven Katz - rabbi of Petach Tikva. Recommendation for a student of the Ramailes yeshiva wishing to continue his Torah studies in Eretz Israel. Vilna, Nisan 1937.
• Lengthy letter from R. Yosef Shub (director of the Vaad HaYeshivot in Vilna and confidant of R. Chaim Ozer), addressed to Mr. Ze'ev Fisher-Shein, regarding the activities of the delegation of the Poalei Agudath Israel movement from Eretz Israel (the delegation visited Vilna to encourage the settlement of groups of workers in Eretz Israel, and in preparation for shemittah 1937-1938). Vilna, Nisan 1937.
R. Yitzchak Eizik Sher (1875-1952), outstanding Torah scholar, leading figure of the musar movement. A student of the Halusk, Volozhin, Slutsk and Slabodka yeshivot. Following his marriage to the daughter of R. Natan Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka, he went to study in the Kelm yeshiva for several years. He served as head of the Kovno Kollel, and lecturer in Knesset Yisrael yeshiva in Slabodka. Following the immigration of some of the students to Eretz Israel to establish the yeshiva in Hebron, R. Eizik was appointed dean of the Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania. With the outbreak of WWII, he was residing in Switzerland, and from there he immigrated to Eretz Israel and founded the Slabodka yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
R. Avraham Tzvi Hirsh Grodzinski (ca. 1857-1938), eldest son of R. David Shlomo Rabbi of Iwye, and eldest brother of R. Chaim Ozer. He served for close to fifty years as dean and director of the Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna. In his book Achiezer (part III, section 83), R. Chaim Ozer mentions "my brother R. Avraham Tzvi Hirsh who was the dean of the Ramailes yeshiva in our community from 1890 onwards, and passed away on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1938.
R. Yosef Shub (1897-perished in the Holocaust 1941), director of the central office of the Vaad HaYeshivot in Vilna. A confidant of R. Chaim Ozer, and his trusted attendant in managing the matters of the World Agudath Israel and other communal matters. An editor of the Orthodox newspaper Vort, published in Vilna (see: Eleh Ezkerah, I, pp. 247-254). In this interesting letter as well, it is apparent that he is writing on behalf of R. Chaim Ozer and in accordance with his views. R. Yosef writes of the cautious approach in encouraging the settlement movement of Poalei Agudath Israel, while arousing to strengthen Torah observance within the camp.
Three letters, two of them on official stationery. Size and condition vary.