Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
Long Letters of Torah Writings - Correspondence of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rabbi Gershon Lapidot - Jerusalem, 1939
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Collection of handwritten letters - a long letter handwritten and signed by R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, a long letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Gershon Lapidot and other letters of R. Gershon Lapidot handwritten by the copier. Jerusalem, ca. 1939.
Interesting correspondence of Torah teachings between the prominent Jerusalem Torah scholar R. Gershon Lapidot and the young Torah prodigy R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Torah novellae on various halachic topics (laws of terumot and maasrot, Sukkah, Festivals, etc.).
The collection includes:
· Long letter (8 large pages), handwritten and signed by R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Jerusalem, Kislev 1939.
· Long letter (4 large pages) handwritten and signed by R. Gerson Lapidot, containing New Year wishes and responses to inquiries by R. S. Z. Auerbach regarding R. Gershon's writings. Jerusalem, 28th of Elul [1939].
· Three copies (in the handwriting of a copier) of letters of Torah novellae of R. Gershon Lapidot sent to R. S. Z. Auerbach (with the former's request that R. Auerbach return his letter or their copies: "…Since writing is difficult for me and I do not own another copy of my writings, I request that you do me a favor and return my writings or a copy of them").
These letters clearly portray the great modesty and passion for Torah of the elder Jerusalem Torah scholar R. Gershon Lapidot, who begged to receive responses to his letters and eagerly awaited the novellae and observations of the young Torah student R. Shlomo Zalman. In one letter, R. Gershon writes: "…I thank you kindly for corresponding with me because my skills have worn and you surely will honor me with your response if you find any errors… and if you could also please send me a copy of that which I have sent you…".
R. Gershon Lapidot (1878-1956) was a leading Jerusalem Torah scholar, born in Romania to a Chassidic family whose children were connected to the Shtefanesht-Ruzhin Rebbes. At the age of 3, he immigrated with his parents to Jerusalem and with time became known for his diligence and scholarly genius. A prominent student at the Torat Chaim Yeshiva, he was close to the Lelov Rebbes who held him in high esteem. Every year, he completed the study of both the Babylonian and the Yerushalmi Talmud. He would go to sleep with the open volume of the Talmud in his hands and would continue studying until he fell asleep. He was accustomed to saying that "his only wish for the World to Come is to be in Gan Eden with a volume of the Talmud and a lectern…". He served as a Rosh Metivta in the Chayei Olam Yeshiva and as a posek in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood. Some of his novellae were printed in the book Mishnat Rabbi Gershon (Jerusalem, 1991) and his biography was printed in the book HaMatmid HaYerushalmi (Jerusalem, 2010).
The world-renowned R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995) was head of the Kol Torah Yeshiva and a leading posek. Born in Jerusalem to R. Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach, head of the Shaar Hashamayim Yeshiva for kabbalists, he was a close disciple of R. Isser Zalman Meltzer who highly respected him and quoted him in his book Even HaEzel. In 1935, at the age of 24, he published his first book, Me'orei Esh about the use of electricity on Shabbat. This book earned the approbations of leading Torah scholars of his times, including approbations by R. Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, by his teacher R. Isser Zalman Meltzer and another approbation by Rabbi Kook.
In his youth, R. Shlomo Zalman was close to R. Zelig Reuven Bengis who served as Chief Rabbi of the Eda Charedit of Jerusalem. Although Rabbi Bengis was a senior Lithuanian Torah scholar, he greatly revered the young R. Auerbach. In the former's home, R. Auerbach became acquainted with R. Y. S. Elyashiv who also cherished R. Bengis and with other Jerusalem elderly rabbis as well, such as R. Gershon Lapidot and the Teplik Rabbi.
Eventually, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman became one of the leading poskim and the top authority in a number of halachic areas such as matters related to medicine and halacha. His pleasant traits and gentle sensitivity won him reverence in all circles of Orthodox Jewry, as was apparent at his funeral which was attended by 300,000 people.
5 items, 14 leaves (27 written pages). 28-33 cm. Condition varies. Wear and minor tears. Stains. Dampstains and stains to copies of letters.
Interesting correspondence of Torah teachings between the prominent Jerusalem Torah scholar R. Gershon Lapidot and the young Torah prodigy R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Torah novellae on various halachic topics (laws of terumot and maasrot, Sukkah, Festivals, etc.).
The collection includes:
· Long letter (8 large pages), handwritten and signed by R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Jerusalem, Kislev 1939.
· Long letter (4 large pages) handwritten and signed by R. Gerson Lapidot, containing New Year wishes and responses to inquiries by R. S. Z. Auerbach regarding R. Gershon's writings. Jerusalem, 28th of Elul [1939].
· Three copies (in the handwriting of a copier) of letters of Torah novellae of R. Gershon Lapidot sent to R. S. Z. Auerbach (with the former's request that R. Auerbach return his letter or their copies: "…Since writing is difficult for me and I do not own another copy of my writings, I request that you do me a favor and return my writings or a copy of them").
These letters clearly portray the great modesty and passion for Torah of the elder Jerusalem Torah scholar R. Gershon Lapidot, who begged to receive responses to his letters and eagerly awaited the novellae and observations of the young Torah student R. Shlomo Zalman. In one letter, R. Gershon writes: "…I thank you kindly for corresponding with me because my skills have worn and you surely will honor me with your response if you find any errors… and if you could also please send me a copy of that which I have sent you…".
R. Gershon Lapidot (1878-1956) was a leading Jerusalem Torah scholar, born in Romania to a Chassidic family whose children were connected to the Shtefanesht-Ruzhin Rebbes. At the age of 3, he immigrated with his parents to Jerusalem and with time became known for his diligence and scholarly genius. A prominent student at the Torat Chaim Yeshiva, he was close to the Lelov Rebbes who held him in high esteem. Every year, he completed the study of both the Babylonian and the Yerushalmi Talmud. He would go to sleep with the open volume of the Talmud in his hands and would continue studying until he fell asleep. He was accustomed to saying that "his only wish for the World to Come is to be in Gan Eden with a volume of the Talmud and a lectern…". He served as a Rosh Metivta in the Chayei Olam Yeshiva and as a posek in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood. Some of his novellae were printed in the book Mishnat Rabbi Gershon (Jerusalem, 1991) and his biography was printed in the book HaMatmid HaYerushalmi (Jerusalem, 2010).
The world-renowned R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995) was head of the Kol Torah Yeshiva and a leading posek. Born in Jerusalem to R. Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach, head of the Shaar Hashamayim Yeshiva for kabbalists, he was a close disciple of R. Isser Zalman Meltzer who highly respected him and quoted him in his book Even HaEzel. In 1935, at the age of 24, he published his first book, Me'orei Esh about the use of electricity on Shabbat. This book earned the approbations of leading Torah scholars of his times, including approbations by R. Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, by his teacher R. Isser Zalman Meltzer and another approbation by Rabbi Kook.
In his youth, R. Shlomo Zalman was close to R. Zelig Reuven Bengis who served as Chief Rabbi of the Eda Charedit of Jerusalem. Although Rabbi Bengis was a senior Lithuanian Torah scholar, he greatly revered the young R. Auerbach. In the former's home, R. Auerbach became acquainted with R. Y. S. Elyashiv who also cherished R. Bengis and with other Jerusalem elderly rabbis as well, such as R. Gershon Lapidot and the Teplik Rabbi.
Eventually, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman became one of the leading poskim and the top authority in a number of halachic areas such as matters related to medicine and halacha. His pleasant traits and gentle sensitivity won him reverence in all circles of Orthodox Jewry, as was apparent at his funeral which was attended by 300,000 people.
5 items, 14 leaves (27 written pages). 28-33 cm. Condition varies. Wear and minor tears. Stains. Dampstains and stains to copies of letters.