Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Halachic Responsum Handwritten and Signed by the Steipler - With a Blessing for a Complete Recovery - 1958
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Lengthy letter (55 lines) discussing the laws of blessings, handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler). Bnei Brak, [1958].
The letter is addressed to R. Gavriel Krausz, head of the Manchester Beit Din. Most of the letter was printed in Mekor HaBracha - R. Gavriel’s book on the laws of blessings (1995 edition, pp. 142-145), apart from the final five lines.
At the beginning of the letter, the Steipler writes in his typical humility: "It is very difficult for me to respond on a Torah topic which I am not currently engaged in, since he probably assumes that I just need to read it and respond, but unfortunately, it is not so, I possess neither erudition nor astuteness, and if I were to respond properly, I would have to interrupt all my regular study programs for a few days".
The letter discusses whether frozen and solidified fruit juice should be regarded as food - in which case an olive-size portion would have to be consumed to require an after-blessing, or like drink, in which case a Reviit is required. The Steipler determines that it is viewed as food, yet at the end of the letter, he characteristically and modestly draws back, writing: "Even though I am inclined… that it is considered as food, I am not issuing on this a practical ruling, since I am unfortunately not qualified to rule, all the more so since I did not study the topic properly, only superficially".
At the end of the letter, the Steipler writes several lines regarding the distribution of his books Kehillot Yaakov abroad. He adds the following blessing: "And may G-d send his blessing to him and to his entire family, and a complete recovery to all those who require healing, among the other sick people of Israel".
R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985), an extraordinary Torah leader of the past generation. He was known as the Steipler, an appellation derived from his hometown Hornostaipil, Ukraine. A foremost student of the Novardok yeshivot in Ukraine and Poland, he was reputed as one of the most diligent and scholarly students in the yeshiva world. Following his marriage to the sister of the Chazon Ish, he was appointed dean of the Novardok yeshiva in Pinsk, and in 1934, he immigrated to Eretz Israel to serve as dean of the Beit Yosef Novardok yeshiva in Bnei Brak. For many years, he lived in Bnei Brak in the same house as his brother-in-law, the Chazon Ish. After the yeshiva shut down, he continued his studies in Kollel Chazon Ish and in his home, and authored the Kehillot Yaakov series on most Talmudic topics and tractates. He was known as a wonder-worker benefiting from Divine Inspiration, and many sought his blessings and counsel.
Aerogram (2 pages). 28 cm. Good condition. Stains. Ink stains. Strip of acidic adhesive tape to margin, affecting a few words. Folding marks.
The letter is addressed to R. Gavriel Krausz, head of the Manchester Beit Din. Most of the letter was printed in Mekor HaBracha - R. Gavriel’s book on the laws of blessings (1995 edition, pp. 142-145), apart from the final five lines.
At the beginning of the letter, the Steipler writes in his typical humility: "It is very difficult for me to respond on a Torah topic which I am not currently engaged in, since he probably assumes that I just need to read it and respond, but unfortunately, it is not so, I possess neither erudition nor astuteness, and if I were to respond properly, I would have to interrupt all my regular study programs for a few days".
The letter discusses whether frozen and solidified fruit juice should be regarded as food - in which case an olive-size portion would have to be consumed to require an after-blessing, or like drink, in which case a Reviit is required. The Steipler determines that it is viewed as food, yet at the end of the letter, he characteristically and modestly draws back, writing: "Even though I am inclined… that it is considered as food, I am not issuing on this a practical ruling, since I am unfortunately not qualified to rule, all the more so since I did not study the topic properly, only superficially".
At the end of the letter, the Steipler writes several lines regarding the distribution of his books Kehillot Yaakov abroad. He adds the following blessing: "And may G-d send his blessing to him and to his entire family, and a complete recovery to all those who require healing, among the other sick people of Israel".
R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985), an extraordinary Torah leader of the past generation. He was known as the Steipler, an appellation derived from his hometown Hornostaipil, Ukraine. A foremost student of the Novardok yeshivot in Ukraine and Poland, he was reputed as one of the most diligent and scholarly students in the yeshiva world. Following his marriage to the sister of the Chazon Ish, he was appointed dean of the Novardok yeshiva in Pinsk, and in 1934, he immigrated to Eretz Israel to serve as dean of the Beit Yosef Novardok yeshiva in Bnei Brak. For many years, he lived in Bnei Brak in the same house as his brother-in-law, the Chazon Ish. After the yeshiva shut down, he continued his studies in Kollel Chazon Ish and in his home, and authored the Kehillot Yaakov series on most Talmudic topics and tractates. He was known as a wonder-worker benefiting from Divine Inspiration, and many sought his blessings and counsel.
Aerogram (2 pages). 28 cm. Good condition. Stains. Ink stains. Strip of acidic adhesive tape to margin, affecting a few words. Folding marks.
Letters - Rabbis and Communities
Letters - Rabbis and Communities