Two letters handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Kreiswirth. [Antwerp, ca. 1960s]. Yiddish.
The letters are addressed to R. "Tzvi Ari Rapaport" (presumably a mistake, should be R. Yehuda Aryeh Leib Rapaport). They discuss the purchase of early books and manuscripts which were sent to R. Chaim from a bookseller in London.
In the first letter, R. Chaim writes that he received the package of books from England, and found it to contain rare and important books, most of which are difficult to obtain. He also mentions important manuscripts included in the parcel, such as two kabbalistic manuscripts; a manuscript of the book Keren Orah on Tractate Nazir (which according to R. Chaim was handwritten by the author himself. The manuscript appears in the present catalog, item 123 – see there about the identity of the writer); an important manuscript which he claims was written by a disciple of the Gaon of Vilna, with an approbation by R. Aryeh Leib Katzenellenbogen Rabbi of Brisk – who declared the ban on Chassidim (referring to the manuscript of Tzefirat Tifarah, appearing in the present catalog, item 122 – see there); a manuscript of the discourses of the Tzemach Tzedek, with discourses by R. Aharon of Strashelye, leading disciple of the Baal HaTanya (the manuscript appears in the present catalog, item 125).
R. Chaim assesses the total value of all the books and manuscripts, and asks R. Rapaport to send the money. He concludes the first letter by writing that he is distressed about the anguish caused by the misunderstanding with a previous purchase of 30 books. Enclosed with the letter is a detailed list of some 120 other books, some of which are marked "rare".
The second letter also discusses the purchase of books and manuscripts, and methods of payment and shipping. R. Chaim adds that his son R. Dov Tzvi is studying in Baltimore, and asks R. Rapaport to invite him once for a Shabbat.
R. Chaim Kreiswirth (1918-2002) was a tremendous Torah scholar and gifted genius. Born in Galicia, he studied in Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin. During the Holocaust, he was miraculously saved from the Nazis and fled to Vilna, where he became acquainted with R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski and drew close to the world of the Lithuanian Torah leaders. He married the daughter of R. Avraham Grodzinski, mashgiach of the Slabodka yeshiva. In 1941, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he was known as "the Ilui from Krakow". He served as rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish community in Antwerp (Kehillat Machzikei Hadas) from 1954, and became known worldwide as one of the foremost Torah leaders of the previous generation. His tremendous Torah scholarship was equaled by his kindness and generosity, supporting orphans and widows and financing marriages for the poor.
[5] leaves (including: two letters and three leaves with lists of books and manuscripts). Official stationery of R. Kreiswirth. Approx. 28 cm (bottom of second letter cut off after end of letter). Good condition. Minor stains. Creases and folding marks.