Jubilee book in honor of Rabbeinu Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop: On the occasion of fifty years of his fruitful work teaching Torah / presented by his students and associates; accompanied by a large compilation authored by the rabbi himself, called Ma’arechet HaKiyanim . Not found in the National Library.
The first part of the book opens with Rabbi Shimon Shkop’s biography – a rare matter in itself – to write a biography of a Torah leader during his lifetime. Articles of appreciation by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky, Rabbi Isser Yehudah Unterman (memories), and other important articles from rabbinic leaders. The second part includes halachic and scholarly articles by his students, the third part is a work by Reb Shimon himself, Ma’arechet HaKinyanim . The book was published by instruction of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky, which he wrote in the opening article to the book: ‘As I surely know and recognize this pure and gentle soul, and the modesty of his righteousness, he will feel uncomfortable and the praise before him will be a strain, as well as the issue of the jubilee which is not the custom of our elder rabbis – but Rabbi Shimon has strained me, the strain of the holy work of bearing the burden of the yeshivah, so he must forgive this and bear this burden as well due to its purpose, the issue of finding relief for the yeshivah, to relieve its heavy load and the onus of debt hanging over it, which will guide him to peace-of-mind …’ A jubilee fund was opened to fundraise for the yeshivah parallel to the publishing the book, and Rabbi Chaim Ozer viewed the book as an important means for the success of the fund – in the same introduction, he writes: ‘ Be strong and everyone should be strengthened according to his potential and ability to maintain the wonderful yeshivah … honored friends, please take hold of the ‘gates of Torah,’ so that they are not, Heaven forbid, locked. Wake up and rouse yourselves to do something concrete for the existence of the yeshivah, for the sake of the jubilee fund …’
188 pages. 27 cm. Impressive portrait of Rabbi Shimon at the beginning of the book; fine condition. Aging stains. Lacking binding.