Bidspirit auction | Letter Following the Shanghai Exile,

Letter Following the Shanghai Exile, from Rabbi Chaim Wisoker, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis HaTalmud Canada, 1946 * A long and fascinating handwritten and autographed letter by the brilliant iluy Rabbi Chaim Wisoker of Kobrin (“Reb Chaim Kobriner”), one of the outstanding students of the mashgiach Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz of Mir, and founder of Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud. The letter was written toward the end of 1946, shortly after Rabbi Chaim had left Shanghai, and it deals with efforts to obtain visas for America. A most captivating letter, vividly displaying Rabbi Chaim’s famed sharpness and wit. At the end of the letter, he sends regards from his dear friend Rabbi Leib Malin. It is told that their mashgiach, Rabbi Yerucham, once remarked about his two illustrious students: “R’ Leib Malin – Torah; R’ Chaim Wisoker – wisdom.” Not long after this letter was written, Rabbi Chaim went on to found the famed Beis HaTalmud Yeshiva together with Rabbi Leib Malin. Beis HaTalmud was the direct continuation of the Mir Yeshiva, preserving all the customs and study arrangements of the original Mir of old. Rabbi Chaim Wisoker (1896–1985) was among the leading Roshei Yeshiva in America, and one of the foremost Torah giants who followed the original path of the Mir Yeshiva. Portions of his talks were later published in the sefer Imros Chaim. Rabbi Chaim belonged to a distinguished circle of iluyim of the Mir whose names became legendary: Rabbi Yonah Minsk­er (Karpilov), Rabbi Leib Bialistoker (Malin), the recipient of this letter Rabbi Zeidel Tiktiner (Smiatitzky), Rabbi Michel Starbiner (Rabbi Michel Feinstein), and others. Aside from his greatness in Torah, he was known for his sharp intellect and humor. A well-known anecdote illustrates his unique personality: he would wear the rabbinical frock coat on weekdays, as was customary for prominent Roshei Yeshiva, but on Shabbos he would remove it and wear a short regular jacket. When asked for the reason, he replied with a smile: “Because I don’t work on Shabbos…” Canada, 1946. Air-mail letter with folding marks. Maximum Size: 26.5 × 21 cm. Condition: Good; filing holes affecting two words.