Postcard with a letter signed by R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop, dean of the Grodno yeshiva. Hrodna (Grodno), [1924?].
Addressed to R. Yehuda Leib Chasman Rabbi of Stutchin (the name of the recipient was mistakenly spelled in the letter as "R. Aryeh[!] Leib Chashman"). Written by a scribe, with the handwritten signature of R. "Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop". The letter informs of the impending visit in their city of the yeshiva's emissary, R. Aharon Zurawski, on a fundraising mission to save the yeshiva, which was "in terrible danger, due to prices increasing by the minute" (in reference to the hyperinflation which raged in Europe in 1923-1925 as a consequence of WWI). R. Shimon Shkop requests of the rabbi of the city, "to please bolster his spirit (of the emissary) and support him in every way he can, and may the blessing of 'he who upholds' be applied to him…".
R. Shimon Yehuda Shkop (1860-1939) was as disciple of R. Chaim Soloveitchik in the Volozhin yeshiva, who instructed him on intricate and profound methodology of Torah study. At the age of 24, he was appointed dean of the Telshe yeshiva (founded by his uncle R. Eliezer Gordon), where he gave over to the many students his innovative method of logical study - approach adopted by the entire Torah world until this day. One of his foremost disciples from that period was R. Elchanan Wasserman. In 1920, he was called to head the Shaar HaTorah yeshiva in Grodno. His works include: Shaarei Yosher, Maarechet HaKinyanim and Chiddushei R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen.
Postcard. 9X14 cm. Good condition. Stains. Stamps partially removed. Damage to postmarks.