Lengthy letter (15 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop, dean of the Grodno yeshiva. Rosh Chodesh Shevat 1934.

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, who served at the time as Rabbi of the Machazikei HaDat community in London, thanking him for a check transferring donations R. Abramsky had gathered in England for the yeshiva, which was in a dire financial situation. R. Shimon writes to R. Abramsky that the Federation had sent the Grodno yeshiva about half the amount it had sent to other yeshivas, and asks for him to exert his influence to have the Federation members increase their support for the yeshiva.

R. Shimon Shkop goes on to mention his health situation is weakening, and expresses his hope "to be of benefit to the public, as all my friends and acquaintances wish". He concludes with "a kohen's blessing", signing "Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop".

R. Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop (1860-1939) a leading Torah scholar and transmitter of the Torah in Lithuanian yeshivas, was a disciple of R. Chaim Soloveitchik in the Volozhin yeshiva, who instructed him in his intricate and profound methodology of Torah study. At the age of 24, he was appointed dean of the Telshe yeshiva (founded by his uncle R. Eliezer Gordon), where he transmitted his innovative method of logical study – an approach dominating the entire Torah world to this day. One of his foremost disciples from that period was R. Elchanan Wasserman. In 1920, he was called to head the Shaar HaTorah yeshiva in Grodno and served as the Rabbi of the Vorstadt suburb of Grodno. His works include: Shaarei Yosher, Maarechet HaKinyanim and Chiddushei R. Shimon Yehudah HaKohen.

1 leaf. Official stationery. 28 cm. Good condition. Stains and folding marks.