Bidspirit auction | Letter from HaGaon Rabbi Baruch

Letter from HaGaon Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz, filled with blessings for the marriage of his disciple Rabbi Aharon Katz. Kaminetz, 1939. “And with Heavenly assistance may this match enable him to acquire Torah through it forever, an inheritance without interruption, an inheritance without bounds, and a generation of the upright.” A heartfelt letter of blessing in His Holy Handwriting and signature of HaGaon Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz to HaGaon Rabbi Reuven Katz, Av Beis Din of Petach Tikvah, on the occasion of the marriage of his son Rabbi Aharon Katz, a student of the Kaminetz Yeshiva, with the daughter of Rabbi Meir Shmuel Witkind [brother of HaGaon Rabbi Hillel Witkind]. Kaminetz, 1939. [1 leaf, official stationery.] The upper section of the letter is addressed to the groom and typed on a typewriter. Thereafter, HaGaon Rabbi Baruch Ber wrote heartfelt wishes to the groom’s father, HaGaon Rabbi Reuven Katz, Rosh Mesivta and Av Beis Din of Petach Tikvah, in his handwriting, with his signature and stamp. HaGaon Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz (ca. 1870–1939) — among the greatest Roshei Yeshiva and foremost disseminators of Torah in his generation. He was considered the greatest disciple of Rabbi Chaim HaLevi of Brisk. He served as Rosh Yeshiva of the “Knesses Beis Yitzchak” Yeshiva in Slabodka, which later moved to Vilna and afterward to Kaminetz. He was renowned for his holiness and righteousness alongside his tremendous genius. His Shiurim were legendary throughout Lithuania and Poland, and from all corners of the world, the finest Lomdim came to hear his lectures, which were delivered with fervor, depth of analysis, and in the method of conceptual distinction of his foremost Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik. He authored the series of Sefarim “Birchas Shmuel, ” among the foundational works of Yeshiva learning until today. The renowned HaGaon Rabbi Reuven Katz (1880–1963) — the revered Rav of Petach Tikvah and among the greatest Poskim of the previous generation. In his youth he studied in the Yeshivos of Mir, Radin, and Slabodka (where he was known as “the Illui of Olshan”). He also studied in the Slutsk Yeshiva under HaGaon Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer and would travel to receive Yiras Shamayim from Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer. He was likewise close to many Gedolei Yisrael. Later, he emigrated to America and served in the rabbinate there for several years, after which he ascended to Eretz HaKodesh and accepted upon himself the crown of the rabbinate of Petach Tikvah. He left behind a legacy in writing in the responsa “Degel Reuven” and “Duda’ei Reuven” on the Torah. Rabbi Aharon Katz (1908–1997) — son of Rabbi Reuven Katz. Successor to his father as head of the Petach Tikvah Yeshiva and as a Dayan in the Rabbinical Court. Father-in-law of Rabbi Shilah Raphael. Fold marks, stains. Fair–good condition.