“… aside from my not being at all fitting to direct, I may certainly not instruct; I have also not properly investigated …” (from the words of the leading posek of our generation – referring to himself)
Especially lengthy letter (over 500 words!) entirely handwritten and signed by the Sar HaTorah Rabbeinu Chaim Kanievsky, son of the Steipler and nephew of the Chazon Ish. [Bnei Brak, c. 1970s.] This letter in this form has never been published.
The letter includes dozens of important and fundamental halachic comments on the book Sukkah K’Hilchatah that deals with the halachahs of Sukkah, with much of what he heard from his uncle, the Chazon Ish. “… I already told [your honor] that this is incorrect, on the contrary, [the Chazon Ish] was not happy with this, and his sukkah was covered with tree branches … it is known that he was not strict in accordance with Rabbi Chaim Na’eh’s opinion at all …”
At the end of the letter, Rabbi Chaim self-deprecates with respect to his father-in-law, the gaon Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, and writes that “If [you] would like to correct it, it would be fitting to consult the comments by my father-in-law, shlit”a, and do as he says.” After this, he adds several more astonishing lines, that, as we read them today, are hard to believe they were written with full sincerity – “… aside from my not being at all fitting to direct, I may certainly not instruct; I have also not properly investigated, and I write only …”
Just think – the greatest posek of our generation, whose single word has the power to fell deals worth billions, attests about himself that he is “unfit to instruct”!!
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky .
[2] pages written to their full extent, on notebook paper. 13×20.5 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains.