“HaRav HaGaon HaGadol, the light of the Diaspora, Sar HaTorah, Posek Acharon, famous for the high level of his righteousness and humility, the rabbi of the entire Diaspora Rabbeinu Yonatan Shteif” (Shu”t Mahar”i Shteif)
Interesting, unique, and very important letter, entirely handwritten and signed by the sacred gaon Rabbi Yonatan Shteif, one of the gedolei haposkim . Sent to R’ Shmuel Ephraim Tiktin, a rabbi in the Bronx, NY, USA. Brooklyn, 1955.
The addressee was compiling an encyclopedia at that time for contemporary rabbis. He appealed to hundreds of rabbis and asked them to send their biographical details. It is fascinating to read how this sacred gaon, who was on the one hand one of the giants of the generation, and on the other hand known for his extreme humility, how he manages to describe the important stops in his life, his lofty rabbinic positions, yet maintain his graceful humility. For example, Rabbi Steif describes his rabbinic roles in many cities by saying “I served in a sacred role”… one-of-a-kind, rare letter.
Rabbi Yonatan describes his life from birth in this fascinating letter (to the age of 78!): “I was born on 3 Elul 1877. I studied in the Pressburg yeshivah from 1891 through 1902 under the sacred rabbi, the author of Shevet Sofer , and I received semichah in Yoreh Deah from the Pressburg beit din hagadol from the aforementioned rabbi and from the sacred gaon Rabbi David Neiman, known as R”d Lackenbach ztzuk”l, and from the gaon Rabbi Leib Friedman ztzuk”l, as well as from the gaon Rabbi Yeshayah Silverstein ztzuk”l, av beit din of Waitzen in Hungary, and from the gaon Rabbi Yosef Leib Sofer, ztzuk”l av beit din of Paks … I served in a sacred role in Guta, and in Ungvar, and I was a dayan and mo”tz in Budapest. In the twenty years since I came here, I have been serving the community called Adath Jere im … I have already published my sefer Chumash Limudei HaShem and the sefer Mitzvat Hashem …” Interestingly, Rabbi Yonatan does not send his picture, writing “I do not presently have a picture in my possession.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the sacred gaon Rabbi Yonatan Shteif .
[1] leaf paper, 28 cm. Official stationery, entirely handwritten.
Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Fold marks. Restored tears.