Bidspirit auction | Important letter from the Gaon

Important letter from the Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky regarding his book Chazon Yechezkel - A significant letter, entirely in the holy handwriting and with the signature of the renowned Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky, one of the great Torah sages of his generation. Concerning the printing of the monumental series Chazon Yechezkel on the Tosefta. London, 1950. The letter is addressed to Rabbi Abramsky’s relative, the Dayan Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg, author of Tzitz Eliezer, who was appointed by Rabbi Abramsky to assist in the proofreading and preparation of the sefer for print. Regarding the importance of the sefer, Rabbi Abramsky writes: “I am entreating the Giver of the Torah that the printing of the sefer be completed before Pesach — many important matters depend upon its appearance, which I will divulge to my friend…” Regarding the significance of accurate proofreading, he writes: “May my dear friend be meticulous with me in its proofreading — for each printing error detracts greatly from the light of the sefer.” In the letter, Rabbi Abramsky sends warm regards to “his son, more precious than gold and fine gold, ” referring to Rabbi Simcha Bunim Waldenberg, who would later become the rabbi of the Satmar community in Jerusalem. Though “everything depends on mazal — even a Torah scroll in the Ark, ” upon reading this letter — which details Rabbi Abramsky’s immense toil in the preparation of Chazon Yechezkel, his attention to every detail, and his demand for precision — one can also grasp the natural reason this work became one of the most famous Torah books printed in recent generations. [1] Airmail letter, 24x20 cm. Entirely in Rabbi Abramsky’s handwriting and signature. Very good condition. Fold marks and some tearing. The Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky [1886–1976], author of Chazon Yechezkel, was a leading figure in Orthodox Jewry and among the Torah giants of the generation. He served in the rabbinate in several cities in Lithuania, including Slutsk, and later as head of the London Beth Din. He was a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, president of the Vaad HaYeshivot, and one of the leaders of the Slabodka Yeshiva. His monumental Torah project — the commentary on the Tosefta, Chazon Yechezkel (10 volumes) — was the product of his life’s work. The first volume was published in Vilna in 1925, and the tenth volume was released some forty years later in Jerusalem, 1966.