Bidspirit auction | The Printing of the Chelkat

The Printing of the Chelkat Yaakov - Important Bibliographic Letter by the Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Breish Av Beit Din of Zurich - Switzerland, 1948 - Bibliographically significant letter by the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Breish Av Beit Din of Zurich, dealing with the printing of the series of Shut books Chelkat Yaakov on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch - one of the famed Halachic works printed in recent generations. Zurich, 1948.  The letter was sent from Switzerland during the War of Independence, shortly after the declaration of the State, and is addressed to the head of the Machzikei Hadat Publishing House, who was appointed by Rabbi Breish to print his large Halachic work.  In the midst of the war in the Land of Israel, and even after the head of the publishing house was forced to flee to America due to the terror of the battles, Rabbi Breish did not cease to worry about the printing of his work. His son-in-law was sent to New York carrying this letter, which contains detailed instructions for the ongoing publication of the book. In the letter, Rabbi Breish announces that he has already prepared payment in besieged Jerusalem for the printing of twenty sheets, and has even sent manuscripts for an additional fifteen sheets. Furthermore, he appoints contact men in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak to handle the transfer of payments and the continued management of the printing process, despite the harsh wartime conditions.  Rabbi Breish further requests the head of Machzikei Hadat to urge the printers in Jerusalem, from his location in America, not to slacken in their work, explicitly promising that the matter of funding will not pose an obstacle: ”And if more manuscript or funds are needed, I will certainly send [them] immediately...”.  Chazal said: ”הכל תלוי במזל, אפילו ספר תורה שבהיכל” [everything depends on Mazal, even a Torah scroll in the Ark ]. This letter points at the natural reason for this - the great efforts and devotion that made the Chelkat Yaakov one of the most famed Shut books of the recent century.  [1] leaf. 8X20 cm, Official stationery. Typewritten with Rabbi Breish' handwritten signature.  Good overall condition.  *** The Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Breish (1896- 1977) a leading Chassidic Posek, author of Shut Chelkat Yaakov and Rav and Av Beit Din of Zurich, where he led the community for about forty years.