Bidspirit auction | Rare Letter by the Gaon

Rare Letter by the Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zeev Kirzner Av Beit Din of Stamford Hill - London, 1935 - Lengthy and important letter of 2 pages handwritten and signed by the famed Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zeev Kirzner, the Rav of the  Stamford Hill community in London - one of the central and important Jewish comminities of England and the largest Chareidi community in Europe.  The letter was written in London in Shvat, 1935 and is addressed to Rabbi Yisrael Zissel Dvortz, the editor of the famed religious journal Tevunah.  The content of the letter is fascinating, dealing with the world of religious bibliography and the efforst to preserve and distribute manuscripts by the Rishonim. Rabbi Eliezer Zeev Kirzner refers to Rabbi Dvortz' large-scale enterprise of compiling and publishing rare manuscripts (as part of the activity of the Chevrah Utvunah organization). Expressing his deep appreciation of the enterprise, Rabbi Kirzner offers his personal help, drawing upon his widespread network of connections with leading institutions across the globe headed by the British Museum of LOndon and the Bodleian Library of the Oxford University - invaluable primary sources of Hebrew manuscripts.  Enclosed with the letter is a typewritten letter of response (not signed) by Rabbi Dvortz in which he praises Rabbi Kirzner's contribution and states that he is the founder of the British branch of the Chevrah Utvunah organization. Rabbi Dvortz also expresses his sorrow for the importance of printing manuscripts not being acknowledged, writing that he wished this great thing was understood in all countries.  This letter reflects an unfamiliar aspect of the rabbinic figure of Rabbi Eliezer Zeev Kirzner - his active involvement in the field of Jewish books and religious research and his recognition of the value of manuscripts as an essential source for understanding the words of Rishonim and enriching the Torah world. The letter also indicates the rare collaboration among Gedolei Torah and Anshei Sefer, who devoted themselves to preserve Jewish assets and make them accessible to following generations.  [1] leaf, 26 cm. written on both sides. Official stationery, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Kirzner.  Good condition. Fold lines and filing perforations.  Enclosed: the response letter of [2] leaves. Typewritten,   *** The Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zeev Kirzner (1896-1991) known as the Iluy of Aniksot - indicating his exceptional talent. Was born in Lithuania, where he served as Rosh Yeshiva of several yeshivas. Immigrated to England and succeeded his father-in-law, Rabbi Shemarya Yitzchak Bloch, as Rav of the Stamford Hill Community of London.  During WWII, he was forced to leave England and was appointed Rav of Capetown, South Africa. After the war, he served as Rav in the USA and Mexico.  In ca. 1951, he was appointed Rav of the Bnei Yehuda Synagogue of the Borough Park neighborhood of New York, a position he held for almost forty years.