Three Letters – The Ga’on Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, The Ga’on Rabbi Itzeleh Ponovizher and The Ga’on Rabbi ...

Three Letters – The Ga’on Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, The Ga’on Rabbi Itzeleh Ponovizher and The Ga’on Rabbi Yosef Yehudah Leib Bloch
Three letters, handwritten, signed and stamped, by three genius Rosh Yeshivot of Lithuania; Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik Av Beit Din of Brisk, Rabbi Yitzchak Ya’akov Rabinowitz Av Beit Din of Ponevezh and Rabbi Yosef Yehudah Leib Bloch Rosh Yeshiva of Telz. [Brisk, Ponevezh and Shadova], [1908-1909].
The letters were sent to Rabbi Yehudah Leib Landau, Av Beit Din of Johannesburg, South Africa, and concern a request for assistance for a lonesome and destitute woman from the congregation of Shadova (where Rabbi Yosef Yehudah Leib Bloch served at the time as rabbi), whose husband is in Johannesburg for many years and is financially prevented from returning to Lithuania. In their letter the giants of the generation request that the Johannesburg residents gather assistance for the unfortunate woman and enable the father to return to his family. At the end of the letter Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik concludes: “and in such a grave matter there is no need to add on unnecessary words… and those who have mercy G-D will have mercy upon them and bless them”. [It is interesting to observe how Torah giants invest of their energy to promote a private appeal which exhibits sincere concern for the entire Jewish people].
The Ga’on Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik (1853-1918, Otzar HaRabbanim 6090) was born in Volozhin to this father the Ga’on Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin and author of Beit HaLevi. Married the daughter of Rabbi Refael Shapiro Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin and granddaughter of the Natziv. In the following years he was appointed as Rosh Yeshiva in Volozhin. Upon the closing of the Yeshiva he served as rabbi in Brisk as successor to his father, where prominent disciples gathered to study Torah from him. Bequeathed a new method of study of Torah for generations and was among the leaders of his generation. Son of the Ga’on Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'ev HaLevi Soloveitchik “The Rabbi of Brisk”.
The Ga’on Rabbi Yitzchak Ya’akov Rabinowitz [Rabbi Itzeleh Ponovizher] (1853-1919, Otzar HaRabbanim 11378) was among the disciples of the Beit HaLevi and studied with his son, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, as a learning companion for approximately two years. In 1889 was summoned by the Saba of Slabodka to head the Slabodka Yeshiva. In 1894 left Slabodka and served in the rabbinate of Grozed and later on in Ponevezh. In all places where he was he spread Torah and established a new method of study. Was known as a wellspring, and his reasoning and method of thought are famous in the Yeshiva world until this very day. Passed away in the typhus epidemic after great involvement in visiting ill residents of his town who were inflicted by the epidemic. Remnants of his Chiddushei Torah were printed in his book Zecher Yitzchak.
The Ga’on Rabbi Yosef Yehudah Bloch (1859-1930, Otzar HaRabbanim 8896), among the disciples of Volozhin and Kelm and among the greatest leaders of the Musar movement and its noblemen. Married the daughter of Rabbi Eliezer Gordon of Telz and was appointed as Rosh Meitivta and Mashgiach in his yeshiva. After the first Musar Polemic, left the Yeshiva and served as Rabbi in Varna and Shadova. Upon the demise of his father-in-law in 1910 he returned to Telz and served as his successor as Av Beit Din of the city as well as Rosh Yeshiva. Founder of the Telz method of study and Musar. His Torah was printed in the books Shiurei Halachah and Shiurei Da’at.
[3] pages. The three letters were written on two attached leaves; each letter on a separate page. 21 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and stains.