Interesting letter, handwritten and signed by R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop, dean of the Grodno yeshiva. London, summer 1936.
Addressed to his disciple, "my acquaintance from my young years", R. Yisrael Baruch Zinober, a rabbi in Manchester. R. Shimon writes to him with humility and joy at the prospect of meeting one of his veteran disciples, also mentioning his delight upon seeing R. Zilberstam, whom he met in Liverpool.
This letter was written during the course of R. Shimon Shkop's trip to England in his later years, with the purpose of saving the Grodno yeshiva from financial collapse. The letter contains a description of the difficulty involved in this trip, and about his stay in London, which would extend over two weeks before his departure for Manchester. He concludes the letter "Seeking his wellbeing, blessing him with success in all his endeavors – Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop".
R. Shimon Yehuda Shkop (1860-1939, Otzar HaRabbanim 19962), 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. 28 cm. 15 lines in his handwriting and with his signature. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and minor tears. Repairs to the verso of the leaf.