Rare letter of approbation handwritten and signed by the great gaon Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, leading rabbi of Lithuania and of his generation, whose influence crossed borders and generations. Otvosk, 1914.
This recommendation was given to Rabbi Eliyahu Mordechai HaLevi Vilkovsky during the period he served as rabbi in Salok, Lithuania, for his important work, Mearechet HaTalmud V’HaPsukim . Rabbi Chaim writes that he was unable to look deeply into the sefer , but the little that he did see made a good impression.
As far as we know, this is one of the last letters written by the leader of the generation. In the book Chiddushei HaGra”ch HaShalem (Jerusalem, 2004), about 170 letters and recommendations were printed, of which less than five[!] were definitely written after this letter was written.
The date 3 Tammuz 1914 is written in the books Mearechet HaTalmud and Sefer Chiddushei HaGra”ch mentioned above. This date is impossible, because 3 Tammuz 1914 was Shabbat! In this letter of recommendation, the original date is revealed: Tuesday, 20 Tammuz, 1914 [ “[יום] ג’, ך’ תמוז התרע”ד”].
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik .
[1] leaf, 14.5×13.5 cm. [7] lines all in Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik’s hand and with his signature.
Fine condition. Artistic restoration in the margins of the letter without damage to the text. New leather binding.