Letter signed by R. Yerucham Yehuda Leib Rabbi of Minsk and R. Eliyahu Chaim Meisel Rabbi of Łódź. Av 1894.
At the foot of the letter, an additional letter (3 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Meir Simcha HaKohen Rabbi of Dvinsk. Dvinsk (Daugavpils), Elul 1894.
Letter appealing to philanthropists to support and assist the reestablishment of the Volozhin yeshiva, under the "license of the exalted government". This letter, written several months following the government's authorization to reopen the Beit Midrash doors (under the pretense of a house of prayer), calls for assistance in reestablishing the "holy yeshiva": "And it was with the exalted government's benevolence to open the prestigious house where Torah is fostered, and they shall see fit to reinstate this establishment to its former holiness, so that Torah and prayer may reside there as is fitting for this holy house". The rabbis' signatures are preceded with the following: "…on the explicit condition that it conforms with the government license according to the laws of the Emperor".
The Or Same'ach in his letter also stresses that everything must be done according to the governmental license. "If the matter the rabbis aroused to receives governmental license, it is superfluous to enthuse the hearts of the Jewish people and the leaders of the community to this sublime matter, to implant Torah in the place whose cornerstone was laid by the mighty shepherd (R. Chaim of Volozhin), and blessed be those who support the Tree of Life… Motzaei Shabbat Kodesh, 22nd Elul 1894. Dvinsk. Meir Simcha Kohen".
The Volozhin yeshiva was shut down by the Russian authorities in 1892, in the lifetime of the yeshiva dean, the Netziv of Volozhin. The government edict included an order to expel all Torah learners from the city, apart from ten Torah scholars studying in Kollel Brodsky, who received special permission to remain in Volozhin to study. After several years of intensive lobbying (by the yeshiva trustees in Vilna and Minsk), and with the authorities turning a blind eye, they succeeded in reopening the doors of the Beit Midrash which had been closed with the seals of the Russian government, and to allow the Torah scholars of Kollel Brodsky to study there. The breaking of the wax-seals and opening of the doors took place in Nissan 1894. This was an significant step in the gradual withdrawal of the prohibition of establishing a yeshiva in the city, as is insinuated in the opening lines of this letter, regarding the scheme to slowly and gradually dissolve the prohibition, while creating a veil around this change: "So the redemption of the Jewish people occurs, bit by bit, and not only the redemption of the Jewish people, likewise any significant and holy matter… will increasingly shine, and return to illuminate with the light of Torah and Mitzvot". The yeshiva was eventually reopened in 1899, under the leadership of R. Refael Shapiro, and operated until the Holocaust, led by his son R. Yaakov Shapiro.
This letter was publicized in the American press in those days (in part, without the additional letter of the Or Same'ach), under the title "Good News", announcing the reopening of the yeshiva (see enclosed photocopies of the HaIvri newspaper, New York, November 1894-January 1895. The letter of R. Yerucham of Minsk and R. Eliyahu Chaim Meisel is printed there together with the letter of the emissary R. Yitzchak Persky of Volozhin. See: M. Tzinowitz, Etz Chaim – History of the Volozhin Yeshiva, pp. 353-355).
R. Yerucham Yehuda Leib Perelman (1835-1896), known as "the Gadol of Minsk". Disciple of the renowned Torah scholar, R. Yaakov Meir Padwa. He served as rabbi of Seltz (Sialiec) and Pruzhany, and from 1893 as rabbi of Minsk, until his passing. His comments and novellae on Mishnayot were published in the Vilna 1905 edition of Mishnayot under the title Or Gadol. His responsa were also published under this name in Vilna 1924. He was the only one in his generation who earnt the title of "HaGadol", as noted on his tombstone.
R. Eliyahu Chaim Meisel (1821-1912), was celebrated from his youth for his brilliance, and at the age of eight, he joined the Volozhin yeshiva to study under R. Yitzchak of Volozhin. At the age of 19, he was appointed rabbi of Horodok (Gródek), his native city, and in 1851, of Derechin (Dereczyn). He later served as rabbi of Pruzhany and Łomża, and from 1873, of Łódź, a position he held for 40 years. He was renowned as one of the most prominent Torah leaders of his times in Lithuania and Poland, and was famous for his exceptional acts of kindness in redeeming captives and saving needy families from starvation. His gravesite in Łódź was popular as a prayer-site for requesting salvations for the Jewish people and for individuals, and was perpetually covered with kvittlach.
R. Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk (1843-1926), a leading Lithuanian Torah scholar and exceptionally righteous man. He was amongst the foremost rabbis of his times and a leader of Eastern-European Jewry prior to the Holocaust. He served as rabbi of Dvinsk (Dinaburg, present day Daugavpils, Latvia) for forty years, alongside R. Yosef Rosen – the Rogatchover (who served as rabbi of the Chassidic community in the city). He authored Or Same'ach on the Rambam and Meshech Chochma on the Torah. Already in his times, his books were received in the study halls and yeshivot as essential, basic books in scholarly Torah study and in-depth understanding of Biblical commentary, and were since reprinted in many editions.
[1] leaf. 37 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks. Minor tears and wear to upper margin.

Letter (15 lines) handwritten by the Chafetz Chaim and with his full signature: "Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, author of Chafetz Chaim". [Radin (Raduń)], Elul 1888.
Letter of recommendation for a diligent yeshiva student of the Eishishok yeshiva, whom the Chafetz Chaim was acquainted with: "Behold, I have long known the young man Yosef, who is outstanding in Torah and fear of G-d and is exceptionally proficient. He has been learning diligently in nearby Eishishok (Eišiškės) for several years, and I attest to his great value, he toiled and delved in Torah study with his entire being, and he is renowned in this milieu for his tremendous diligence and erudition…".
The Chafetz Chaim recommends to draw him close, support him and provide him with adequate sustenance, so that he may continue delving in his Torah studies. The letter ends with the Chafetz Chaim's blessings for those who support this student.
Eishishok was home to a famous and prestigious Kibbutz yeshiva. It attracted the finest, most talented students, who later became the leading Torah scholars of the generation. The townspeople undertook to provide for all the students' needs, refusing to share this merit with other towns. The Chafetz Chaim, who lived in Radin, adjacent to Eishishok, would spend varying lengths of time there, learning alongside the foremost Torah scholars in the yeshiva. The identity of this diligent student R. Yosef is uncertain, yet it appears to be R. Yosef Shimshelevich of Karelitz (Karelichy; 1864-1934), a Torah scholar renowned for his diligence and erudition, who studied for close to ten years in Eishishok, until ca. 1888. He later studied in Radin, where he was closely associated with the Chafetz Chaim, and after a short period, he went to study under the Saba of Kelm and in the Kollel HaPrushim of R. Yitzchal Elchanan in Kovno. He immigrated to Jerusalem in the lifetime of R. Shmuel Salant, and served as examiner in the Etz Chaim yeshiva (see article in his memory: HaShakdan HaOlami by R. Meir Stolevitz, serialized in the HaYesod weekly, Tel Aviv, 22nd Tammuz/Av 1934. This article was recently published in Tevunot, II, Nissan 2018, pp. 801-804). R. Meir Stolevitz relates in his article that R. Yosef came to Eishishok at the young age of 15, yet amazed the entire yeshiva with his diligence, as he delved in his studies for no less than 18 hours a day. R. Yosef would review his learning hundreds of times; he knew the entire Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud by heart, was proficient in the Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch and their commentaries, and was one of the only students who could quote verbatim any passage of the Talmud and halachic literature.
R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin (1837-1933), leader of the Jewish people, was renowned by the name of his first book – Chafetz Chaim. He founded the Radin yeshiva and authored numerous halachic and ethical works: Mishna Berura, Shemirat HaLashon, Ahavat Chesed, and dozens more. This letter is from his early years, when he shied away from publicity and did not issue open letters (he originally published his book Chafetz Chaim anonymously, and only later revealed the name of the author), yet in honor of this diligent scholar, the Chafetz Chaim departed from his standard practice and wrote him a letter of recommendation with his full signature: "Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, author of Chafetz Chaim".
[1] double leaf. 17.5 cm. Fair condition. Wear and tears (repaired with paper, affecting text in several places). Stains.
This letter was not published in Michtavei HaChafetz Chaim.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Vilna, eve of Sukkot, Tishrei 1930.
Addressed to the heads of the Helsingfors community (Helsinki, capital of Finland), regarding the appointment of a rabbi for their city. R. Chaim Ozer writes that he heard that the post of rabbi is vacant in their city, and asks them to inform him what the situation is "and what their requirements are for the spiritual director of their city… to direct them along the correct path and regarding proper actions, to lead their community with wisdom and understanding, in peace and equity". R. Chaim Ozer concludes his letter with blessings: "And may G-d spread over them and the entire Jewish people, a canopy of peace… One who revers and respects them, Chaim Ozer Grodzenski".
R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) was a foremost rabbi of his generation and leader of the entire European Jewry. He was the son of R. David Shlomo Grodzinski Rabbi of Iwye. He was renowned from his childhood for his exceptional brilliance. He entered the Volozhin yeshiva at the young age of 11, and became a disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk. At the age of 24, he was appointed rabbi and posek of Vilna, in place of his father-in-law R. Eliyahu Eliezer Grodnansky posek in Vilna, son-in-law of R. Yisrael Salanter. He assumed the yoke of public leadership from a young age, and his opinion was conclusive on all public issues which arose in the Diaspora for close to fifty years. He was involved in communal matters locally and in other countries, and this letter discloses that even the heads of the Finland community were awaiting his utterance to appoint a rabbi for their community.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 26.5 cm. Approx. 7 autograph lines and signature. Good-fair condition. Wear and folding marks.

Two letters from R. Elchanan Wasserman and his son R. Naftali Wasserman in Baranovich (Baranavichy), addressed to R. David Potash in Tel Aviv. Cheshvan 1936.
In the first letter dated "Tuesday evening, Parashat Lech Lecha, 5th Cheshvan 1936", R. Naftali replies on behalf of his father to a letter from R. David dated 25th Tishrei: "…and behold, my father has not yet returned from his journey, he will return please G-d in two weeks". The letter is signed: "Naftali son of R. E.".
The second letter is handwritten and signed by R. Elchanan, and was written in Baranovich on "Thursday evening, Erev Shabbat Chayei Sara" (presumably also in Cheshvan 1936, approximately two weeks after the first letter). R. Elchanan writes: "Yesterday I returned from my trip abroad – in Lithuania – after remaining there for close to three months, and I was able to collect a sum of money for the yeshiva, but of what value is it compared to our heavy debts". Further in the letter, R. Elchanan relates to the distribution of his book Kovetz He'arot on Yevamot (Piotrkow, 1936): "Regarding the books, I wrote to R. Eliyahu Weiner in Jerusalem… and I requested that he make every effort to sell them to Torah scholars, at least to those capable of understanding the Aggadah section of the book".
R. Elchanan concludes the letter by blessing R. David: "His friend, who reveres and honors him for his elevated stature, and blesses him and all those who accompany him, with a life of happiness, blessing and ultimate good… Elchanan Bunem Wasserman".
R. Elchanan Wasserman (1875-1941) was a disciple of R. Shimon Shkop in the Telshe yeshiva and prominent disciple of the Chafetz Chaim. He served as lecturer and dean in the Brisk (Brest) yeshiva and in other places. During WWI, at the behest of the Chafetz Chaim, he established a yeshiva in Smilavichy (Minsk province, today Belarus), and R. David Potash, then one of the wealthiest people in Russia, was a leading supporter of the yeshiva. After the war, R. Elchanan founded Yeshivat Ohel Torah in Baranovich.
A renowned Torah scholar and a foremost yeshiva dean in Lithuania, he represented the Chafetz Chaim and R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski in the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Yisrael. He composed many essays on Jewish ideology which were later published in his book Ikveta DeMeshicha, in which he expressed the Torah stance of his teacher the Chafetz Chaim on Zionist nationalism and the spiritual state of the Jewish people. During the Holocaust, he was deported to the Kovno (Kaunas) ghetto, and was later murdered in the Seventh Fort, while studying the laws of Kiddush HaShem. His teachings and lectures were published in the following books: Kovetz Shiurim, Kovetz He'arot, Kovetz Inyanim, Kovetz Igrot HaGaon R. Elchanan Wasserman and others. His approach in learning and his books serve until this day as the basis of intensive yeshiva study in the Torah world.
Following the passing of his teacher, the Chafetz Chaim, R. Elchanan Wasserman would spend Elul and the High Holidays every year in the Beit HaTalmud of Kelm (Kelmė), Lithuania, and this is was presumably the three-month stay in Lithuania R. Elchanan referred to in the letter (in the interwar period, crossing the border from Baranovich, Poland, to Kelm, Lithuania, was complex, since Lithuania maintained hostile relations with Poland, which had conquered large parts of it).
His son, R. Naftali Beinush Wasserman (1914-perished in the Holocaust Cheshvan 1941), was amongst the most diligent students in Lithuanian yeshivot. He studied under his father, and under R. Shimon Shkop. He later attended the Mir yeshiva, where he was one of the leading students, with long lines of young Torah scholars queuing up to discuss their studies with him. When his father would absent himself from the yeshiva for long periods of time, he would call upon his son, the student R. Naftali Beinush, to substitute him in delivering lectures to the highest class of yeshiva students, and in managing the yeshiva. He got married in the summer of 1940, during the Holocaust, while the yeshiva was exiled in Lithuania. He was confined together with his father in the Kovno ghetto, where the latter taught him to recite the blessing of Kiddush HaShem according to the text recorded in book of the Shelah, as he had been taught by the Chafetz Chaim (Or Elchanan, II, p. 280). He perished in the Holocaust together with his young wife on 9th Cheshvan 1941. Remnants of his novellae were published in the book of his illustrious father, and in the books of his close friend, R. Shmuel Rosovsky.
Two postcards, with the official heading of the "Metivta Rabta 'Ohel Torah' Baranovich (Poland)". Approx. 10X14.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Creases. Postage stamps removed.

Postcard, letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz author of Chazon Ish, with an additional letter in Yiddish. Vilna (Vilnius), Iyar 1933.
The letter was sent to Baranovich (Baranavichy), to the nephew of the Chazon Ish "My nephew R. Sh." (R. Shemaryahu Greineman, who was studying at that time in the Baranovich yeshiva). The second letter in Yiddish is not signed, though it was presumably written by the sister of the Chazon Ish, Rebbetzin Tzivia Greineman – mother of R. Shemaryahu.
The Chazon Ish urges him to record Torah novellae, and requests that he send him thoughts "being discussed in the Beit Midrash". The Chazon Ish praises the previous letter he received from him and writes: "The treatise you wrote regarding the opinions of the Rishonim on Kefiat Binyan Kotel, was very well written, and write often in this format. One who seeks your wellbeing, Ish. Monday, 41st day of the Omer (26th Iyar) 1933".
In her letter, the mother tells her son about his two younger brothers Chaim and David, who will grow up and also attend the yeshiva. She reports that they are currently studying Gemara with an older student, and reviewing Mishnayot to be tested on them by heart (the letter relates to his brothers, the twins Chaim and David Greineman, who were at that time 6 years old, and were known for their exceptional capacities).
R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1879-1953), author of Chazon Ish, a foremost scholar in Halacha and Jewish philosophy in our generations. A preeminent Torah scholar and hidden righteous man, his first book Chazon Ish was published in 1911 anonymously, and he thereafter became known under that title. In his great modesty, he would sign with his acronym only: "Ish". Following WWI, he resided in Vilna for several years, leaving in Tammuz 1933 (two months after writing this letter) for Eretz Israel, where he became recognized as the leading Torah authority, and stood at the helm of the resurrection of the Torah world in our generation.
Postcard. Approx. 10X15 cm. Good condition. Address of sender: R. Shmuel Greineman, 3 Szopena St. [Vilna].