Bidspirit auction | Letter of Rabbi Shlomo Elyashov,

Letter of Rabbi Shlomo Elyashov, the Leshem – Šiauliai, 1910 – Reporting the Birth of His Grandson ”Yosef Shalom son of Rabbi Avraham”, Blessing Him to ”Grow to be a Luminary to the World” - Letter on postcard, handwritten and signed by the kabbalist R. Shlomo Elyashov, author of Leshem Shevo VeAchlamah, known as the Leshem. Šiauliai, 9th Ni[san 1910]. Addressed to his friend and relative in Jerusalem, R. Aharon Shlomo Maharil, author of Toameha Chaim Zachu, who had immigrated to Jerusalem in 1909. In this famous historical letter, the Leshem reports the birth of his grandson, R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (his parents' only son, born after many years of marriage), and prays that the boy ”grow to be a luminary to the world”. The Leshem goes on to inquire after the progress of printing the Etz Chaim edition in Jerusalem [with his glosses, signed with his initials – SheVaCh, concluding with a slew of blessings for health and welfare. The year is torn from the date on the postcard [probably out of concern for the evil eye], but the card is postmarked next to the address, Šiauliai, 5 April 1910, with other postmarks from 1910. The top of the stamp includes handwritten Hebrew inscriptions: ”It is a letter from R. SheVaCh, author of Leshem Shevo VeAchlamah of Hakdamot UShearim [the first part of Leshem Shevo VeAchlamah, first printed 1909], and another handwritten inscription: ”Which he sent to R. Sh[lomo] M[aharil], good tidings… day of birth”. R. Shlomo Elyashov (Elyashiv; 1841-1926), a leading kabbalist in Lithuania, was born in Žagarė (northern Lithuania), married the daughter of R. David Fein of Šiauliai and moved there. He studied in the yeshivas of Telshe, Kelm and the region, where he became close to the senior kabbalists of the tradition of the Vilna Gaon and R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver, who deemed him fit to be instructed in kabbalistic secrets. R. Shlomo became renowned at a young age for his proficiency in kabbalah, and he arranged for printing most of the kabbalistic writings of the Vilna Gaon. His glosses on Etz Chaim were printed in the Warsaw 1891 edition under the name ”SheVaCh” (Shlomo ben Chaikel). His series of books on kabbalah, Leshem Shevo VeAchlamah, were published in 1909-1948, and are considered fundamental works on the study of kabbalah. His books and writings were composed amidst much holiness and purity (he reputedly also employed the ”adjuration of the pen”). He entertained a close relationship with the Chafetz Chaim, who visited him in his home in Šiauliai and Gomel several times (the Chafetz Chaim once spent a Shabbat with him in Šiauliai, and on that occasion, the women of the family ate the meals in a different room; see letter of R. Tzvi Ferber, Yeshurun, V, p. 663, no. 6). The Chafetz Chaim urged his disciple R. Eliyahu Dushnitzer to go visit the Leshem, saying that in this world one may still merit to see him, while in the World to Come, his place will be in the highest spheres, and we will be far from him. During World War I, the Leshem fled from Šiauliai to Gomel (Ukraine; present-day Belarus), along with his daughter and son-in-law R. Avraham Levinson-Elyashiv who served as rabbi and posek in Gomel (1878-1943; in his visa to Eretz Israel he changed his name to match that of his father-in-law), and their only son, Yosef Shalom (1910-2012, who later became famous as a leading posek of our times). In 1924 they immigrated to Jerusalem together. Upon their arrival, he was greeted by the leading Sephardi and Ashkenazi kabbalists, notably R. Shaul Dweck (dean of the Rechovot HaNahar yeshiva), who had corresponded with him over the years, the disciples of the Ben Ish Chai who had heard of R. Shlomo's greatness from their master, and Chief Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook (who was his disciple in kabbalah while still in Šiauliai). The recipient of the letter, R. Aharon Shlomo Maharil (1849-1938), was a kabbalist, born in Žagarė, Lithuania, and a disciple and peer of the Leshem (also born in Žagarė). He immigrated to Jerusalem in 1909 and became renowned as a leading kabbalist and dean of the Shaar HaShamayim yeshiva. Author of Toameha Chaim Zacu in three parts (commentary on Etz Chaim by R. Chaim Vital) and many other books. The topic of this letter is the birth of R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012), only son of R. Avraham of Gomel and his wife Rebbetzin Chayah Musha (daughter of the Leshem), and son-in-law of R. Aryeh Levin, the Tzaddik of Jerusalem (disciple of his grandfather, the Leshem). R. Elyashiv did indeed grow to be a ”luminary to the world”, as his grandfather blesses him in the present letter, and he was one of the world's greatest halachic authorities for over 70 years. Postcard. 14 cm. Fair condition. Wear and many creases. Open tears to top of postcard, affecting text. Postcard mounted on paper.