FASCINATING RARE COLLECTION OF 14 INTERESTING LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE GAON RABBI CHAIM KANIEVSKY TO RABBI ...

FASCINATING RARE COLLECTION OF 14 INTERESTING LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE GAON RABBI CHAIM KANIEVSKY TO RABBI ARYEH SCHECHTER 1963 – 1977.

A unique and rare collection of long letters written by the gaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky of Bnei Brak to Rabbi Aryeh Schechter, who was then residing in America. Rabbi Schechter had been very close to Rabbi Kanievsky and this correspondence includes exchanges covering all areas of Torah, comments on fundraising and charity distribution, advice and rebuke, humorous comments, family matters, and added letters by the late esteemed Rebbetzen Batsheva Kanievsky and other members of the family.

A small selection of the content of this rare collection:

1963. Encourages a firm commitment to study Massechta Sota every day. Each person should have a commitment to a particular section of Torah study. Refers to his own Torah publications and asks for prayers on his behalf that he should not err in Torah.

1966. Again refers to Massechta Sotah. ‘The main thing is to study diligently. What can be learnt in an hour of diligent study takes days of lethargic study.’

1966. ‘Most of your Torah notes are good and correct.’ More on Massechta Sotah, and reply to a question sent by Rabbi Schechter’s daughter.

1966. ‘It seems that after learning Massechta Sotah for an entire week, you became very tired, and you need to rest. May Hashem Yisbarach give you back your strength and give you the diligence and desire to learn our Holy Torah as one should’. Comments on charity distribution.

1966. ‘I see no reason why you stopped learning Massechta Sotah. I did not ask you to learn only Massechta Sotah all day.’

1967. ‘Regarding the manuscripts, I do not approve of this; the important thing is to toil in Torah study.’

1968. ‘I am amazed that I have not had a letter from you. I know the reason, but it is not sufficient.’ Comments on charity and Rabbi Kanievsky’s sefarim.

1969. Letter regarding sending Rabbi Kanievsky’s sefarim to America [for distribution there?]

1969. Regarding funds required for publication of sefarim, and charity distribution. Asks Rabbi Schechter to obtain the American reprint of Sefer Tosfos Shabbos.

1977. Regarding a shidduch suggestion.

[No date] I copied out again the questions [I sent you] that you lost – apparently a punishment for your not answering immediately as I requested of you. 16 long Talmudic questions related to the first page of Tractate Sotah.

[No date] ‘I wanted to inform you although I had asked you to obtain the sefarim [published by] Rabbi Blau, I have already received the sefarim from R. Meir Stefansky, so it is not necessary’.

[No date] ‘ I wanted to inform you that I am now short of money for the tzedaka that you left with me.’

1992. ‘After hearing from R. Aryeh Schechter’s opinion in the matter, it seems that the youth can be accepted on a trial basis ... as Reb Aryeh says that he takes responsibility ... and you will have much nachas from him, as he descends from great ones.’

First collection of its kind to be offered at any public auction - unique in its content.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (b. 1928), son of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky – who was known as ‘the Steipler’ [being a native of Hornosteipel in Ukraine] and son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1934, studied with his father and at Yeshivas Tifferes Tzion and Yeshivas Beis Yosef in Bnei Brak and the Lomzhe Yeshiva in Petach Tikva. During this period, he also studied with his uncle Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz – the Chazon Ish, and completed the study of the entire Talmud Bavli at the age of 17. After his marriage he continued his Torah studies at Kollel Chazon Ish, of which he took over leadership after the passing of his father. Rabbi Kanievsky is renowned for his outstanding diligence in Torah studies and for his vast knowledge of all Torah literature. He is consulted from all over the world on Torah questions, as well as for his advice and blessings and has authored numerous Torah works.

Rabbi Aryeh Schechter (1937-2020), studied at the Slabodka Yeshiva and was close to the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloweitchik of Brisk and Rav Chaim Greineman, as well as to Rabbi Shaul Kosovsky. During the 1950s he was active in promoting religious life among immigrants in new Israeli settlements and towns, and in later years he became involved in the Arachim movement and other organisations that have brought many secular Israelis back to religious observance. For a time, he studied regularly together with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. Some of his lectures have been published under the title Aryeh Sha’ag.

14 letters. Size and condition varies.