Two lengthy letters and an additional handwritten leaf by R. Yisrael HaLevi Soloveitchik – disciple and nephew of R. Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik, Rabbi of Brisk. Johannesburg (South Africa), Elul 1949 / Av 1950.

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, head rabbi of the London Beit Din and a disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk. The letters primarily discuss Torah novellae by R. Chaim of Brisk in the possession of R. Yisrael Soloveitchik.

In the 1949 letter, R. Yisrael says that he heard that his uncle's writings were about to be printed, and he asks what had been discussed with R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rav), since he had sent all of R. Chaim's novellae to him. He also notes that he should contact R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik in Boston, who also possessed many Torah novellae, including autographs. He ends with his hope to see the writings in print, concluding with a Shanah Tovah blessing and his signature.

In the 1950 letter, he writes that he sent all the novellae he had to the Brisker Rav in Jerusalem, and reiterates his hope to see them in print, adding that he and the Brisker Rav's wonder why the printing is delayed.

Enclosed: Another leaf handwritten by R. Yisrael Soloveitchik, with notes for publication, including a catalog of the novellae that were to be included in the book.

R. Yisrael Soloveitchik, a rabbi of South Africa (d. 1951), son of R. Avraham Baruch Rabbi of Smolensk and cousin of R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav. After the Russian Revolution, R. Yisrael came to Vilna and was active in community work. In the 1930s he was sent to England and South Africa by the Chafetz Chaim and R. Chaim Ozer, to work on behalf of the rabbis in Russia under the Bolshevik regime (see Lot 186). In South Africa he served as rabbi and member of the Johannesburg Beit Din, and in 1951 he immigrated to the United States, where he passed away later that year.

R. Yisrael studied under his uncle R. Chaim in the Volozhin yeshiva, where he copied many novellae from R. Chaim's notebooks, which included much material that had not previously been printed in R. Chaim's novellae on the Rambam (Brisk, 1936). The present letters appear to indicate that his son R. Yitzchak Ze'ev didn't approve of their publication until they passed careful inspection by R. Abramsky. R. Soloveitchik of South Africa sent the writings to R. Abramsky to be printed, and later to his cousin R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik.

3 leaves, including two letters on bluish paper, written on both sides of leaf. Size and condition varies.