Letter from Rabbi Rafael Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin with Regard to the Disputes Within the Yeshiva. Volozhin ...

Letter from Rabbi Rafael Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin with Regard to the Disputes Within the Yeshiva. Volozhin, Second Half of the 19th Century

Letter from Rabbi Rafael Shapiro to Sender Diskin, updating him about his grandson who was studying in the yeshiva and regarding the disputes in the yeshiva. Volozhin, 19th century. 

Specifications: [1] leaf, official letterhead. 13x21 cm. The letter is signed with the signature of the Volozhin rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Rafael Shapiro. 

Content of the Letter: "I hereby notify you that your grandson conducts himself in the path of Torah and its commandments, but there were disputes and lack of order and bittul Torah in the yeshiva which have now ended." 

It seems that the "lack of order" to which Rabbi Shapira hints is rebellion of the students affiliated with the Enlightenment which disrupted the regular learning in the yeshiva. 

Rabbi Rafael Shapira [1837-1921] was born to Rabbi Aryeh Leib Shapira, rabbi of Kovno, who was known as Rabbi Leibel Kovner. In 1852 he married the daughter of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin [the Netzi"v], and in 1880 was called to serve as deputy head of the Volozhin Yeshiva and as rabbi of the town. In 1881 he resigned in favor of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, and was appointed as rabbi of Zarasai in Lithuania and later of Babruysk. 

Sender Diskin was a great philanthropist and communal leader in Lodz. His grandson, Yitzchak Rivkind studied in the Volozhin yeshiva and later in the Ponovezh yeshiva. 

Condition: Fine condition, fold marks, aging stains.