Letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael Kanievsky – the Steipler, to Rabbi Binyamin Mendelson Ga'avad of Komemiyut. Bnei Brak, 1962.
In the letter, the Steipler mentions the question regarding Moshav Komemiyut brought to him by Rabbi Shlomo Lorentz. He writes, "From my lowly state, I have not found any heter to permit this, neither from legal authorities nor from fear of stealing. Nevertheless, I also cannot prohibit this, and someone greater shall rule, and I will eliminate myself from resolving this question". On the margin of the letter he adds: "At the time Rabbi Shlomo Lorentz came to me, I saw certain sides of the matter, but after studying the subject, it seems that they do not have a real halachic basis".
The Rabbi of Komemiyut – Rabbi Binyamin Mendelson (1904-1979), used to consult the Chazon Ish and Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'ev of Brisk and the Tshebin Rav on halachic topics which concerned public issues. This letter was written in 1962. Evidently after the death of the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Mendelson sent this question to the Steipler, Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985) but he refused to rule and referred the question to "someone greater" [apparently referring to the Tshebin Rav whom the Steipler highly esteemed].
Official stationery, 23 cm. Approximately 14 written lines. Good condition.