Three interesting letters from deans of Lithuanian yeshivot, during the 1930s.
• Lengthy letter (4 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Eizik Sher, dean of the Slabodka yeshiva. Written during his trip to England in the 1930s, addressed to his colleague R. Yisrael Zissel Dvortz of Jerusalem. He mentions events which occurred in Eretz Israel, and the debts of the yeshiva which are cast upon "our friend R. A.G." (R. Avraham Grodzinski),
• Letter signed by R. Avraham Tzvi Grodzinski, dean of the Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna, addressed to R. Reuven Katz - rabbi of Petach Tikva. Recommendation for a student of the Ramailes yeshiva wishing to continue his Torah studies in Eretz Israel. Vilna, Nisan 1937.
• Lengthy letter from R. Yosef Shub (director of the Vaad HaYeshivot in Vilna and confidant of R. Chaim Ozer), addressed to Mr. Ze'ev Fisher-Shein, regarding the activities of the delegation of the Poalei Agudath Israel movement from Eretz Israel (the delegation visited Vilna to encourage the settlement of groups of workers in Eretz Israel, and in preparation for shemittah 1937-1938). Vilna, Nisan 1937.
R. Yitzchak Eizik Sher (1875-1952), outstanding Torah scholar, leading figure of the musar movement. A student of the Halusk, Volozhin, Slutsk and Slabodka yeshivot. Following his marriage to the daughter of R. Natan Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka, he went to study in the Kelm yeshiva for several years. He served as head of the Kovno Kollel, and lecturer in Knesset Yisrael yeshiva in Slabodka. Following the immigration of some of the students to Eretz Israel to establish the yeshiva in Hebron, R. Eizik was appointed dean of the Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania. With the outbreak of WWII, he was residing in Switzerland, and from there he immigrated to Eretz Israel and founded the Slabodka yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
R. Avraham Tzvi Hirsh Grodzinski (ca. 1857-1938), eldest son of R. David Shlomo Rabbi of Iwye, and eldest brother of R. Chaim Ozer. He served for close to fifty years as dean and director of the Ramailes yeshiva in Vilna. In his book Achiezer (part III, section 83), R. Chaim Ozer mentions "my brother R. Avraham Tzvi Hirsh who was the dean of the Ramailes yeshiva in our community from 1890 onwards, and passed away on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1938.
R. Yosef Shub (1897-perished in the Holocaust 1941), director of the central office of the Vaad HaYeshivot in Vilna. A confidant of R. Chaim Ozer, and his trusted attendant in managing the matters of the World Agudath Israel and other communal matters. An editor of the Orthodox newspaper Vort, published in Vilna (see: Eleh Ezkerah, I, pp. 247-254). In this interesting letter as well, it is apparent that he is writing on behalf of R. Chaim Ozer and in accordance with his views. R. Yosef writes of the cautious approach in encouraging the settlement movement of Poalei Agudath Israel, while arousing to strengthen Torah observance within the camp.
Three letters, two of them on official stationery. Size and condition vary.