Auction 58 - Rare and Important Items
Polemic Letter Regarding the Measures of Mitzvot - By Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael Kanievsky - The Steipler
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $5,000
Including buyer's premium
Autograph letter signed by R. Ya'akov Yisrael Kanievsky. Bnei Brak, 1949.
Sent to the Darmstadt Gaon, R. Yonah Merzbach, who extensively studied the topic of measures (shi'urin) and corresponded with the Steipler on this matter. The Steipler began his letter to R. Merzbach encouraging him to arrange his conclusions on this subject for print: "…Your words are enlightening and joyful, dear and straightforward… It is very worthwhile for you to take the time to arrange the teachings and print them, because very few people deal in this matter which is so essential in fulfilling many mitzvoth". Further in the letter, he sharply criticizes the books of R. Chaim Na'eh on this polemic: "If the book by R. Chaim Na'eh would have been published two generations ago, Torah leaders would have clamored in fierce opposition against the audaciousness of a sage to fix a new Shulchan Aruch contrary to the opinion of Torah leaders… But in our generation… each does what he wishes, and very few know anything about this topic and many think that his words are halachic rulings…".
[1] leaf, official stationery. 21 lines. Good condition. Few stains and creases.
This letter was partially printed in the book Karyana D'Igarta (censored), Part 1, letter no. 156, and in its new edition, Part 2, letter no. 394). The entire letter was printed In the book Ale Yonah (Jerusalem-Bnei Brak edition, 1989, p. 133).
Sent to the Darmstadt Gaon, R. Yonah Merzbach, who extensively studied the topic of measures (shi'urin) and corresponded with the Steipler on this matter. The Steipler began his letter to R. Merzbach encouraging him to arrange his conclusions on this subject for print: "…Your words are enlightening and joyful, dear and straightforward… It is very worthwhile for you to take the time to arrange the teachings and print them, because very few people deal in this matter which is so essential in fulfilling many mitzvoth". Further in the letter, he sharply criticizes the books of R. Chaim Na'eh on this polemic: "If the book by R. Chaim Na'eh would have been published two generations ago, Torah leaders would have clamored in fierce opposition against the audaciousness of a sage to fix a new Shulchan Aruch contrary to the opinion of Torah leaders… But in our generation… each does what he wishes, and very few know anything about this topic and many think that his words are halachic rulings…".
[1] leaf, official stationery. 21 lines. Good condition. Few stains and creases.
This letter was partially printed in the book Karyana D'Igarta (censored), Part 1, letter no. 156, and in its new edition, Part 2, letter no. 394). The entire letter was printed In the book Ale Yonah (Jerusalem-Bnei Brak edition, 1989, p. 133).