Auction 88 - Part I - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
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Report card of the student Chaim son of R. Shmuel Greineman. Tiferet Tzion yeshiva, Bnei Brak, Elul 1936.
In the report card, the student received the marks "excellent" in understanding, and "very good" in knowledge, diligence and conduct. The report card is signed by the members of the testing committee and the yeshiva administration: R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler, who was also the uncle of R. Chaim Greineman), R. Avraham Yitzchak Gershonowitz and R. Yaakov Schneidman.
R. Chaim Shaul Greineman (1926-2015), nephew of the Chazon Ish, was ten and a half years old at the time the report card was written, and already then his brilliant mind and profound understanding were recognized.
[1] leaf. 25 cm. Printed leaf, completed by hand, with the stamp of the yeshiva. Good-fair condition. Wear and stains, minor damage to folds.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Handwritten Tena'im, recording the betrothal of R. Chaim Kanievsky to Rebbetzin Batsheva, daughter of R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Jerusalem, Iyar 1951.
Presumably, the Tena'im were written by the bride's grandfather the Jerusalem tzaddik R. Aryeh Levin. Signed by the witnesses: "Aharon son of R. Reuven Katz" (R. Aharon Katz, son of R. Reuven Katz Rabbi and dean of the Petach Tikva yeshiva, where the groom was studying); "Yitzchak son of R. Pinchas Baruchson" (R. Yitzchak Baruchson, mashgiach of the Lomza yeshiva in Petach Tikva, previously a dean of the Or Yisrael yeshiva in Slabodka-Kovno). The guarantor on behalf of the groom was his uncle R. Meir Karelitz, while the guarantor on behalf of the bride was her uncle R. Shmuel Aharon Yudelevitz.
The match between R. Chaim Kanievsky (1928-2022) and Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky (1932-2012), eldest daughter of R. Elyashiv, was concluded upon the advice of the groom's uncle – the Chazon Ish, who attested that as a daughter of a veritable Torah scholar, she was truly suited for him.
R. Elyashiv later retold that when he consulted the Chazon Ish about the match, the latter praised the prospective groom profusely, even predicting that R. Chaim would one day be an outstanding Torah scholar renowned for his breadth of knowledge, just like the Rogatchover. When R. Elyashiv related this decades later, he added that at the time, it seemed to him that the Chazon Ish was overstating, as is customary for matchmaking, but in truth the prediction of the Chazon Ish was realized in full. The Steipler, father of R. Chaim Kanievsky, held his mechutan R. Elyashiv in high regard, and would refer to him halachic questions and names to be mentioned in prayer and for blessings. He even sent people to be blessed by his daughter-in-law Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, as a woman of holy lineage. Over the years, her great abilities were publicized, and many experienced salvations as a result of her prayers and blessings. Thousands of women flocked to Rebbetzin Batsheva, seeking her heartfelt encouragement and wise counsel.
[1] leaf. 32.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Document handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky – the Steipler, with the details of the agreement signed with a philanthropist from Argentina. Tishrei 1957.
In this contract, the donor, Mrs. Masha Esther Ginzburg, pledges ten thousand Israeli pounds towards an apartment building in Shikun Chazon Ish, which would house members of Kollel Chazon Ish, in memory of her late husband. The Kollel management commits to place a memorial plaque in a prominent location; the tenant is responsible of the upkeep of the plaque.
The contract is signed by the heads of the Kollel (brothers-in-law of the Chazon Ish): R. Nachum Meir Karelitz and R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the entire document is handwritten by the Steipler, including the copying of the signature of R. Karelitz).
One of the apartments built from the donation made by this philanthropist was the famous apartment of R. Chaim Kanievsky on 23 Rashbam St.; indeed the plaque mentioned in the present contract can be seen on the wall facing the entrance to his home (see enclosed pictures).
[1] leaf. 26 cm. Approx. 22 autograph lines. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and folding marks.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Moshe Leib Schneider, dean of the Torat Emet yeshiva. London, [ca. 1950s].
Addressed to R. Yitzchak Eizik Herzog, chief rabbi of Eretz Israel. Strongly worded letter written during the battle over compulsory military service for girls in Eretz Israel. R. Moshe Schneider sharply reproaches R. Herzog for his lack of action in face of this shameful law, and for other occasions when he cooperated with the secular government instead of voicing his opposition.
R. Moshe Schneider (1885-1955), close disciple of the Chafetz Chaim. He founded a yeshiva in Frankfurt, fleeing to London with his students on the eve of WWII. There, he founded the Torat Emet yeshiva, known as "Schneider's yeshiva", which produced some of today's Torah leaders, such as R. Moshe Sternbuch and R. Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.
[1] leaf, official stationery (written on both sides; approx. 45 lines). Approx. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Creases and folding marks. Filing holes, slightly affecting text.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Nachum Partzovitz, dean of the Mir yeshiva in Eretz Israel. Jerusalem, 7th Av 1956.
The letter was sent to a student of the Mir yeshiva in Brooklyn, U.S., in response to his request for information for shidduch purposes about the student Noach Weinberg from the U.S., who had studied for a while in the Mir yeshiva in Jerusalem.
R. Nachum responds in his letter: "I know Mr. Noach Weinberg well from his period in our yeshiva, and he is exceptional and wonderful in all respects, whether in breadth of knowledge, or in his penetrating and profound understanding… following the correct understanding of the Torah, and truly diligent… he is also G-d-fearing, and endowed with qualities, virtues and pleasant manners…". R. Nachum adds that he asked his father-in-law R. Chaim Shmulevitz about him as well, and the latter concurred with his judgement. R. Nachum also clarifies that R. Noach seems to be seeking a truly G-d-fearing wife, which is difficult to find.
R. Nachum Partzovitz (1923-1986), disciple of R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz and R. Elchanan Wasserman, later a student of the Mir yeshiva in Mir and Shanghai. Son-in-law and successor of R. Chaim Shmulevitz, dean of the Mir yeshiva. A leading Torah disseminator in his times.
R. Noach Weinberg (1930-2009), founder and dean of Aish HaTorah; leading outreach activist and disseminator of Judaism in the United States and worldwide.
Aerogram. Approx. 30X17.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Seven rabbinic letters sent to R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of Libau (Liepāja) and Bnei Brak, 1929-1946
• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Menachem Mendel Zak Rabbi of Riga. Riga, Tishrei 1933.
• Interesting letter handwritten and signed by R. Zelig Reuven Bengis, head of the Edah HaCharedit. Jerusalem, Tevet 1939.
• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yehuda Idel Bengis Rabbi and posek in Libau (Liepāja) – congratulations on the occasion of R. Landau's wedding. Libau, 1929.
• Letter of good year wishes, signed by R. Benzion Meir Chai Uziel, Rishon LeTzion in Eretz Israel. Jerusalem, Tishrei 1939.
• Three letters handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Herzog chief rabbi of Eretz Israel. [Jerusalem], 1940, 1942 and 1946.
7 letters, on official stationery. Size and condition vary.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Collection of letters and telegrams, sent to R. Yaakov Landau Rabbi of Bnei Brak, ca. 1935-1958.
Some of the present letters were written in honor of joyous occasions in the home of R. Landau – the birth of his eldest son R. Moshe Yehuda Leib Landau, the latter's Bar Mitzvah and later wedding.
Letters from: R. Eliyahu Aharon Milikowsky, Tel Aviv, Av 1935; R. Nachman Shmuel Yaakov Mioduser, Bnei Brak, 1936; R. Shlomo Yehuda Leib Eliezerov, Jerusalem, Av 1935; R. Dov Ber Eliezerov (2 letters); R. Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Herzog (5 letters); R. Baruch Shimon Schneersohn, Shevat 1958; R. Yehoshua Zelig Diskin, Pardes Chana, Adar 1958; R. Elchanan Halpern, London, 1958; three telegrams of wedding wishes: from R. Herzog, R. Yaakov Neiman and R. Yosef Rozovsky (deans of the Or Yisrael yeshiva, where R. Moshe Yehuda Leib studied in his youth).
13 letters and 3 telegrams. Size and condition vary. Some letters in original envelopes.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Typewritten ruling signed by ten rabbis of Bnei Brak (R. Landau, R. Wosner, the Yeshuot Moshe of Vizhnitz and others), forbidding any cooperation with the religious council (in the event it would be established) and receiving from it any benefit or salary. Bnei Brak, 12th Elul 1969.
Typewritten ruling issued by the rabbis of Bnei Brak at the gathering in Elul 1969 to renew the decision reached in 1964, firmly opposing the establishment of a religious council.
Hand signed by: R. Yaakov Landau, rabbi of Bnei Brak; R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, rabbi of Zichron Meir; R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss, rabbi of Neveh Achiezer; R. Avraham Shlomo Katz of Riskeva, rabbi of the Yitav Lev community; R. Moshe Blau, rabbi of Pardes Katz; R. Yitzchak Shlomo Unger, dean of the Chug Chatam Sofer yeshiva; R. Yechiel Meir Weingort, rabbi of the Gerrer Chassidim; R. Natan Gestetner, rabbi of Shikun Agudath Yisrael; R. Moshe Yehoshua Hager, rabbi of Kiryat Vizhnitz, later the Yeshuot Moshe Rebbe of Vizhnitz; and R. David Shemesh, rabbi of the Sephardi community in Pardes Katz.
Additional copy of the typewritten ruling enclosed, without signatures.
[2] leaves. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and filing holes, partly torn.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Typewritten ruling signed by seven rabbis of Bnei Brak (R. Landau, R. Wosner, R. Gestetner, and others) – prohibiting any cooperation with the religious council (in the event it would be established), or receiving any benefit or salary from it. Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1969.
Typewritten; hand-signed by: R. Yaakov Landau, rabbi of Bnei Brak; R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, rabbi of Zichron Meir; R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss, rabbi of Neveh Achiezer; R. Moshe Blau, rabbi of Pardes Katz; R. Yitzchak Shlomo Unger, dean of the Chug Chatam Sofer yeshiva; R. Natan Gestetner, rabbi of Shikun Agudath Yisrael; and R. David Shemesh, rabbi of the Sephardi community in Pardes Katz.
[1] leaf. 28 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Filing holes.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Typewritten letter, signed by seven rabbis of Bnei Brak (R. Landau, R. Wosner, and others), to the Bnei Brak municipality, demanding to maintain their previous status of independent religious workers salaried by the municipality, without being subordinate to the religious council. 6th Tevet 1969.
Signed by seven rabbis (five of them with stamp as well): R. Yaakov Landau, rabbi of Bnei Brak; R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, rabbi of Zichron Meir; R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss, rabbi of Neveh Achiezer; R. Moshe Blau, rabbi of Pardes Katz; R. Natan Gestetner, rabbi of Shikun Agudath Yisrael; R. David Shemesh, rabbi of the Sephardi community in Pardes Katz; and R. Yechiel Meir Weingort, rabbi of the Gerrer Chassidim.
[1] leaf. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains. Filing holes.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Letter handwritten and signed by the noted cantor Yossele Rosenblatt. New York, [ca. 1920s].
The letter is written in Yiddish and addressed to his nephew in Boston. In his letter, Rosenblatt informs him that he will shortly be performing in Boston, adding that his wife Gittel may accompany him, and requesting that his nephew host them over Shabbat.
The renowned cantor Yossele Rosenblatt (1882-1933) was one of the greatest cantors of all time, contributing greatly to shaping the world of Jewish Chazanut. In 1906, he began serving as chief cantor (Oberkantor) in Hamburg, at which point his fame began to spread. He held this position until his immigration to the United States in 1912.
[1] leaf (official stationery). 27.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.