Lengthy letter (approx. 27 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Kanievsky, to his father-in-law R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and his family. Zichron Meir [Bnei Brak], Elul 1956.
"To my teacher and father-in-law, the illustrious Torah scholar and all the members of his household – as the new year approaches, may they be immediately inscribed and sealed for a good year and for life in the book of entirely righteous people, and may this year be a year of redemption and salvation for the entire Jewish people". The rest of the letter contains novellae relating to the topics of marriage contracts and the recitation accompanying the first fruits offering.
At the foot of the letter, R. Chaim adds a line informing his father-in-law of an Etrog he obtained for him for the impending festival of Sukkot: "I already purchased an Etrog and am waiting for an opportunity to send it".
R. Chaim Kanievsky, leading Torah authority in our times, was the first son-in-law of R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012). This letter was written some five years after his marriage in Kislev 1951. (The attributes "illustrious and renowned Torah scholar" with which R. Chaim addresses his father-in-law, were already terms commonly accorded to R. Elyashiv, though he was only 46 years old at that time).
[1] leaf. 22.5 cm. Approx. 27 lines in his handwriting and with his signature. Good condition. Light creases and folding marks.
This letter was published in Yeshurun, 28, Nissan 2013, p. 350.