Leaf, handwritten on both sides – Two authorizations, accepting members to the Chevrat Mishnayot in the city of Volozhin, signed by the members of the society, including the signatures of R. Chaim of Volozhin, author of Nefesh HaChaim and of his eldest brother, R. Simcha of Volozhin. Volozhin, 1764.
This document was issued by the society of Torah study in Volozhin, in which R. Chaim of Volozhin participated. He signed this document at the age of 15, a decade before he was appointed Rabbi of Volozhin and many years before he established his famous yeshiva in the city.
On one side of the leaf is an authorization written on the 8th of Iyar 1764, accepting R. Shmuel son of R. Shimon to the Chevrat Mishnayot.
The last signature appearing on the leaf is "Chaim son of R. Yitzchak" – The signature of R. Chaim of Volozhin [next to his signature, the word "of Volozhin" was written in another handwriting].
The other signatures: "Mordechai son of Meir", "Aryeh Leib son of R. Yitzchak", "Simcha son of R. Yitzchak", "Moshe son of R. Yaakov", "Yeshaya son of Chaim Zecharya", "Avraham son of R. Aharon", "Shimshon son of R. Moshe".
On the other side of the leaf is an authorization for accepting R. Avraham Duber son of R. Yehuda Yidel and his son-in-law R. Avril and R. Yaakov his brother, dated Tuesday, the 11th of MarCheshvan 1764.
The last signature is: "Chaim son of R. Yitzchak" – Signature of R. Chaim of Volozhin.
The other signatures: "Zvi Hirsh son of R. H…", "Simcha son of R. Yitzchak", "Moshe son of R. Yitzchak", "Avraham son of R. Aharon".
Apparently the signature "Simcha son of R. Yitzchak" belongs to R. Simcha of Volozhin, eldest brother of R. Chaim.
R. Chaim of Volozhin (1749-1821), author of Nefesh HaChaim, Torah luminary who stood at the helm of Lithuanian Jewry and was active in advancing Torah study. Born in Volozhin, son of R. Yitzchak, a community leader, close disciple of the Vilna Gaon and founder or the Volozhin yeshiva, forerunner of Lithuanian yeshivot. In his youth, he was a disciple of R. Refael HaCohen of Hamburg, author of Torah Yekutiel at the time the latter officiated as rabbi in Minsk and continued his studies at the yeshiva of the Shaagat Aryeh during his second tenure in the Volozhin rabbinate. He then basked in the luminance of the Vilna Gaon, becoming his most prominent disciple and clinging to his venerable teacher for many years until the Gaon's passing. His companion and friend R. Yisrael of Shklow lavishly praised R. Chaim in the introduction to his work Taklin Chadtin, using superlative titles describing his Torah greatness and pure character.
In 1774, at about the age of 25, R. Chaim was appointed Rabbi of Volozhin and held this position until 1789. He then relocated to serve as Rabbi of Ukmergė (Vilkmergė), however due to opposition by a number of members of that community, he returned to Volozhin after only one year, officiating as rabbi until his passing. He was an active leader, wrote halachic responsa to great Torah scholars in his times and was the decisive opinion on current issues in his days. His yeshiva thrived under his management and drew disciples from all over Lithuania, becoming a prototype of other yeshivot founded throughout Lithuania. In contrast to his teacher, the Vilna Gaon, who severely opposed the Chassidic movement, R. Chaim believed that their intent was praiseworthy and their claims should be addressed. This led to his famous work "Nefesh HaChaim", outlining pure conduct and service of G-d according to exoteric and esoteric Torah teachings, following the teachings of the Vilna Gaon and his disciples.
R. Simcha of Volozhin and Nyasvizh, eldest brother of R. Chaim of Volozhin was an exceptional Torah scholar and diligently studied together with his younger brother day and night, both were disciples of the Shaagat Aryeh. If the oil lamp burned out, they would study Torah by moonlight as recounted by R. Itzele of Volozhin in his introduction to Nefesh HaChaim, telling the history of his father: "From his youth, he studied Torah with amazing diligence and at the age of 14, studied together with his elder brother, R. Simcha and they would study day and night…". R. Simcha guided his younger brother in the manner of toiling in Torah study. R. Yosef Zundel of Salant recounts that his teacher R. Chaim of Volozhin told him that he is grateful to his brother R. Simcha "for etching faith in his heart for 48 years with all that a man must know" (HaTzaddik Rabbi Yosef Zundel M'Salant V'Rabbotav, Jerusalem 1926, p. 113). Reputedly, he officiated in the rabbinate of a Lithuanian city (perhaps in Nyasvizh, his home for many years). At the age of 24, he wrote the book Kitzur Piskei Dinim similar to the format of Simlah Chadasha authored by the author of Tevu'ot Shor.
[1] leaf, [2] written pages. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, dark stains and ink smears. Wear and tiny tears to margins. Folding marks.