Letter signed by R. "Yisrael Meir HaKohen", the Chafetz Chaim. Radin, Adar I 1932.
Written by a scribe and signed by the Chafetz Chaim in his old age (at the age of over 90 – as is evident in his tremulous signature): " Yisrael Meir HaKohen"; with his stamp: " Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin – author of Chafetz Chaim and Mishnah Berurah".
Addressed to R. Meir Berlin (Meir Bar-Ilan; a leader of the Mizrachi movement in Poland), with a request to sponsor the medical fees of R. Yaakov Shapira dean of the Volozhin yeshiva, nephew of R. Meir Bar-Ilan (son of his sister Dreizel, wife of R. Refael Shapira and daughter of the Netziv of Volozhin). R. Yaakov served at the time as rabbi of Volozhin and yeshiva dean. The Chafetz Chaim describes the need for an urgent surgery due to the deterioration in R. Yaakov's health; the heavy expenses it entails, and the difficult financial situation of R. Yaakov and his family. The Chafetz Chaim asks R. Meir Berlin to help, both with his own donation and by soliciting donations from friends and acquaintances.
The Chafetz Chaim concludes by insisting that R. Meir devote his full attention and efforts to this life-saving project, and blesses him with "life, peace and all goodness, and may he merit to see the salvation of the Jewish people and the raising of the Torah glory speedily…".
R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin (ca.1838-1933), leader of the Jewish people, was widely known by the name of his first book, the Chafetz Chaim. He founded the Radin yeshiva and authored many halachic and ethical works: Mishna Berura, Shemirat HaLashon, Ahavat Chessed and dozens more.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 27 cm. 19 lines written by a scribe, followed by the Chafetz Chaim's signature. Good condition. Filing holes. Minor tears. Marginal open tears close to filing holes, not affecting text. Folding marks. Inscriptions.