“I manage the Grodno yeshivah”
Lengthy and rare historic letter [over 100 words], entirely handwritten and signed by the founder of the yeshivish study method, and leading rosh yeshivah, the gaon Rabbi Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop, author of Sha’arei Yosher and rosh yeshivah of Sha’ar HaTorah in Grodno. The letter was sent during his trip to the United States on behalf of the Grodno yeshivah. New York, Adar I, 1929.
This rare letter was entirely handwritten by the leading rosh yeshivah of Lithuania and progenitor of the study method that captivated the yeshivah world. Leading rashei yeshivah of Lithuania were counted among his disciples, including Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, author of Kovetz Shiurim ; the rosh yeshivah of Mir, the gaon Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, and the rosh yeshivah of Ponovezh, the gaon Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky, who spread and bequeathed this study method to their own disciples and their disciples’ disciples. His renowned work Sha’arei Yosher is considered the fundamental sefer on the yeshivish study method, since it was first published, it revolutionized the yeshivah study method, and to this day, about a hundred years after it was printed, there is almost no shiur klali that does not mention “Reb Shimin.”
Background to the letter: In pre-Holocaust 1929, the gaon Rabbi Shimon Shkop went to the United States to save his yeshivah’s financial situation. He arrived to a royal reception in the United States and even gave regular shiurim at Yeshivat R’ Yitzchak Elchanan. During his stay in the United States, he was offered the position of rosh yeshivah at the R’ Yitzchak Elchanan yeshivah in New York. He would be able to sit in peace and spread Torah in the United States, but the gedolim in Europe requested his return to Grodno. The gaon Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky as well as the Chafetz Chaim pleaded with him, and after about a year he returned to his post.
This letter was written during Rabbi Shimon Shkop’s same historic trip across the United States on behalf of the Grodno yeshivah. Reb Shimon was in New York when he wrote this letter, and according to the plan, Chicago was next on the itinerary. As such, he requests from the addressee to arrange a group of rabbis for him who will raise support for the yeshivah: “I would ask that [you] see to it that the rabbis arrange matters, so that we will be able to bring urgent and material assistance to uphold Grodno so that is doesn’t collapse, and save my soul from grief …” Rabbi Shimon signs this letter: “With regards, hoping to see you soon, b’ezrat Hashem , from one with the utmost respect for you, Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the gaon Rabbi Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop and the addressee, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Perlstein .
The letter was printed in the sefer Derashot HaSaba (Jerusalem, 2018; Family version that was not released to the public).
[1] leaf paper, written on one side. 28×21.5 cm. Official stationery blank. Entirely handwritten and signed by the gaon Rabbi Shimon Shkop.
Moderate-fine condition. Fold marks, with a tiny tear and perforations (without lack in the text). Minimal stains.