Bidspirit auction | Historic Handwritten Letter from the

Historic Handwritten Letter from the Steipler to Chicago Regarding Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth of Antwerp Bnei Brak, 1956 * A complete handwritten and autographed letter by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler, brother-in-law of the Chazon Ish and father of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, of blessed memory. The Jewish community of Chicago had consulted with the Steipler regarding efforts to bring back Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth, the Gaavad of Antwerp, to serve once again as Rav in their community. (Rabbi Kreiswirth had taught at Beis Medrash LeTorah in Skokie, Chicago not long before the writing of this letter.) In response, the Steipler conveys his opinion - Daas Torah - and from it, one perceives his immense admiration for Rabbi Kreiswirth, who was then only about 35 years old (!): “You are certainly permitted to pursue this effort with all your strength, since it is for your benefit, for strengthening Torah in Chicago. However, in truth, the aforementioned Gaon is critically needed in Antwerp, and if he leaves, it will God forbid bring ruin upon the chareidi community there. In my opinion, he is not permitted to leave the city until a worthy and truly fitting replacement is found - someone comparable to him!!” Later in the letter, the Steipler refers to a check he received, which he refuses to cash due to his scrupulous caution in matters of ribbis (interest). Since, in the event the check is canceled, he would be obligated to return the amount with interest, he is waiting until the bank redeems the check first before receiving the funds, yet the bank is delaying in doing so. The letter concludes with the Steipler’s heartfelt blessing: “May it be His will that everything be in proper order and as is fitting, and that you merit offspring who endure - sons and grandsons engaged in Torah and mitzvos. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky” Bnei Brak, 1956. The entire letter is in the Steipler’s handwriting and with his signature, including an additional signature of his in the “Sender’s Name” section on the reverse. The conclusion of the letter was written in a different pen, a common practice where the main body of the letter was initially written and the ending added a day or two later. Airmail letter, Page size: 18.5×28 cm. Condition: Good; minor filing holes and small tears on the folding tab. ___________________ A Lifelong Bond Between Two Torah Giants There was a profound bond of affection spanning decades between two giants of the last generation - Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler, and his beloved friend Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth, more than 20 years his junior. Countless letters passed between the two from Bnei Brak to Antwerp. The Steipler once wrote to Rabbi Kreiswirth that he responds to his halachic inquiries even though he feels unworthy to do so, “but Chazal have said that one may not refuse a gadol, and his request is upon me as an obligation” (Igros u’Reshimos Kehillos Yaakov, I:22). Many volumes of Kehillos Yaakov were published thanks to Rabbi Kreiswirth’s assistance in acquiring paper and funding. In his eulogy for the Steipler, Rabbi Kreiswirth declared: “A sefer such as Kehillos Yaakov could not have been written without hashra’as haShechinah (Divine inspiration).” (Likutei Drashos, III, p. 78) Decades later, in 1984, when Rabbi Kreiswirth resigned from his position in Antwerp, the Steipler immediately urged him to retract his resignation, explaining that the entire character of Yiddishkeit in the city rested on his shoulders (Igros u’Reshimos Kehillos Yaakov, VI:39).