Bidspirit auction | ”Semicha” by the Gaon of

”Semicha” by the Gaon of America, Rabbi Avraham Aharon Yudelovitz, Chief Rabbi of New York and author of 'Av BeChochma' - Semicha document for rabbinic ordination [16 lines], handwritten by the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Aharon Yudelovitz, Av Beit Din of Kapulia and prominent cities in Europe, and later the Chief Rabbi of the United Communities of New York. Author of *Binyan Av* and other works. Minsk, 12th Kislev 5657 [1897] . Renowned for his extraordinary sermons, it was said of him that ”whoever has not heard his sermons has never truly heard a sermon.” His polemical rulings were widely discussed in the Torah world, and he maintained correspondence with the Torah luminaries of his time, including the Chafetz Chaim, the Aderet, the Devar Avraham, and engaged in sharp disputes with the Rogatchover. His work *Av BeChochma* is well-known among users of Otzar HaChochma, as it was the first book listed in the catalog. At the beginning of Part I of his book *Beit Av* (Warsaw, 1896), there is a rare approbation from ”The Great One of Minsk” [who customarily refrained from giving approbations], testifying about the author: “His holy way is the straight path, and he hits the mark... I went beyond my usual bounds to fulfill his request.” [The semicha document before us was also written in Minsk, exactly one year later, on 12th Kislev 5657.] [1] Folded paper leaf, 12.5X21 cm. Entirely handwritten and signed by him. Condition: Good to very good. Folding marks. Time stains. The Gaon Rabbi Avraham Aharon Yudelovitz [circa 1850–1930], one of Lithuania's great rabbis. He emigrated to America and became renowned as one of its greatest rabbis. Nephew and disciple of Rabbi Meir Maarim, author of *Nir* on the Jerusalem Talmud. In his youth, he studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva. He was ordained by Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller (the author of *Ohr Yom Tov*). He served as a rabbi in several cities in Russia [Selib, Kuznitza, Konstantin, Turov, Kapulia] and later immigrated to the United States, where he served as the Av Beit Din of Boston, the Chief Rabbi of the United Communities of New York, and the President of the ”Union of Rabbis Preachers of America and Canada, ” as well as the head of Yeshiva Rabbi Isaac Elchanan. He was a leading figure in the rabbinical world in America. Author of *Aliyos LeMivchan* (1871), responsa *Beit Av*, sermons *Tappuchei Zahav* (1896), *Derash Av* (1925), *Av BeChochma* (1927), and others.