Bidspirit auction | Handwritten Letter of Chiddushei Torah

Handwritten Letter of Chiddushei Torah by Rabbi Yitzchak Meltzan, Author of the Gra Siddur * A three-and-a-half-page letter, entirely in the handwriting and bearing the signature of Rabbi Yitzchak Meltzan, one of the foremost disciples of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the moreh tzedek of Kelm. The letter addresses a certain question in Choshen Mishpat that arose in Kelm, and Rabbi Yitzchak turned to several of the Gedolei Hador for clarification, among them Rabbi Itzele of Ponevezh, as mentioned in the letter. Rabbi Yitzchak, renowned as one of the great expositors of the teachings of the Vilna Gaon, quotes the Gra on Choshen Mishpat: ”See… in the Gra, siman 2… and it is not currently in my possession.” On the final page, he cites a passage from a letter of Rabbi Itzele of Ponevezh, which was later published in Zecher Yitzchak HaShalem, siman 31, page 326. Rabbi Yitzchak Meltzan (1854 – 1916) was the son of the Maggid of Slutzk and author of Even Shlomo (collected teachings of the Gra), Siddur HaGra Ishei Yisrael, Shevisas HaShabbos and other works. A disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, he was one of the first ten members of the Kollel in Slabodka. He served for a time as a moreh hora’ah in Kelm and lived in Radin for two years, during which time he was responsible for testing students in the yeshiva there. A brilliant and proficient Torah scholar, his rebbi, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, once remarked, “Where Rabbi Yitzchak is present, there is no need for a Shas.” He became well-known for disseminating the writings of the Vilna Gaon and of the mussar movement, and most notably, for publishing the Siddur of the Gra – Ishei Yisrael, which includes his commentary Siach Yitzchak. Letters from Rabbi Yitzchak dealing with Choshen Mishpat are exceptionally rare (as are his letters in general). As he notes in this letter: ”For many years I have not dealt with Choshen Mishpat… Most of my time has been occupied with matters of Heaven or worldly affairs.” Kelm, between 1891–1906 (the years of Rabbi Yitzchak’s tenure in Kelm). Page count: Two leaves. Size: 13.5 x 21 cm each. Condition: Good. Minor tears and light wear.