LETTER APPEALING FOR FUNDS FOR THE WEDDING OF A GER TZEDEK, WRITTEN BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY – THE ...

LETTER APPEALING FOR FUNDS FOR THE WEDDING OF A GER TZEDEK, WRITTEN BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY – THE ‘STEIPLER’, AND COUNTERSIGNED BY RABBI ELAZAR MENACHEM MAN SHACH, ROSH YESHIVAS PONEVEZ.

Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky writes: ‘The honourable rabbi and gaon Rabbi Aryeh Schechter, together with an outstanding talmid chacham and yerei Shamayim R. Tuvia Beilis, are engaged in a rare mitzva; to help a truly genuine Ger Tzedek (convert to Judaism) to get married.... The mitzva of Ve’ahavtem es hager is truly a very precious mitzva which one does not often have the opportunity to fulfil...’ Rabbi Shach adds a few lines: ‘It is unnecessary to add [to the words of such a great authority] but I wish to join the gaon, the Prince of Torah Rabbi Y Y Kanievsky in requesting the dear and honourable donors to be actively engaged in this rare mitzva...’

Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985), an outstanding student of the Novardok Yeshivos and a son-in-law of Rabbi Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz. Rosh Yeshiva at the Beis Yosef – Novardok Yeshiva in Pinsk (1927-1934). Settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1934 and headed the Beis Yosef Novardok Yeshiva there, whilst becoming a close disciple of his brother-in-law the Chazon Ish, and gradually becoming renowned as one of the greatest Torah authorities of his time. Generally known as ‘the Steipler’, after his hometown Hornosteipel in Ukraine. Author of Kehilos Yaakov on many tractates of the Talmud.

Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach (1898-2001), studied under Rabbi Yitzchak of Ponevez and at the Yeshivos of Slabodka and Slutzk. Appointed as lecturer at the Yeshiva of Slutzk in 1922 and later at the Yeshiva of Kletzk. Rosh Yeshiva of Luninitz from 1935 till WWII. Escaped to Eretz Yisrael in 1941 and served as Rosh Yeshiva of Novaradok –Beis Yosef (1942 – on the recommendation of the Chazon Ish), Lomza – Petach Tikva (1944-1947), Kletzk – Rechovot (1947-1949) and from 1952 Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevez. For some 30 years, Rabbi Shach served as the main rabbinical leader of the Lithuanian-style yeshivas in Eretz Yisrael and abroad and as a prominent leader of orthodox Jewry as a whole. Author of Avi Ezri.

1 side. 15 x 19.5 cm. Good condition.