Appeal letter for financial aid for the widow of the Alter of Novardok, handwritten and signed by her sons-in-law R. Avraham Yoffen and R. Yisrael Yaakov Lubchansky. Baranovich (Baranavichy), Iyar 1934.
Written on the official stationery of R. "Yisrael Yaakov Lubchansky, dean of the Ohel Torah yeshiva in Baranovich, son-in-law of R. Y. Horowitz".
The letter is addressed to R. Aharon Burack (who was responsible for transferring aid funds to the various yeshivot, from one of the aid organizations in the United States). R. Avraham Yoffen writes that while travelling through Baranovich, he found his pious mother-in-law to be very weak, and in need of financial assistance due to her medical state. He asks that a regular sum of money be sent on set dates to his brother-in-law R. Yisrael Yaakov Lubchansky, "since this is a matter of life and death". The letter lists the addresses via which the funds should be sent. At the end of the letter, R. Yisrael Yaakov adds a few words in his handwriting, with his full signature: "I agree to all the above, so says Yisrael Yaakov son of the late rabbi of this city".
This letter discloses that Rebbetzin Chaya Horowitz, widow of the Alter of Novardok - R. Yosef Yozel Horowitz (d. 1919), lived to an old age and in 1934, was living in Baranovich in the home of her daughter Rebbetzin Lubchansky.
R. Avraham Yoffen (1886-1970), son-in-law and close disciple of the Alter of Novardok. He headed the Beit Yosef-Novardok network of yeshivot for fifty years, and was one of leading Torah disseminators in his times. During WWI, R. Avraham wandered together with his father-in-law the Alter of Novardok further into Russia, where they continued establishing more and more yeshivot, all the while impassioning and drawing the youth to Torah and worship of G-d. When his father-in-law the Alter of Novardok passed away (Kislev 1919), R. Avraham was appointed dean of the yeshiva in Kiev (which comprised five branches), and from there he directed the entire network of yeshivot. In the early 1920s, when the Yevsektsiya began forbidding Torah study, R. Avraham sent a directive to all the branches, instructing them to risk their lives to continue disseminating Torah, in this time of religious persecution: "Not to obey, nor surrender". In summer 1921, he was imprisoned, tortured and interrogated, on charges of Torah dissemination. In 1922-1923, he directed a daring and dangerous operation, through which most of the Novardok students crossed the Russian border illegally into Poland. R. Avraham raised thousands of rubles for the success of the operation. In Poland, he established the Beit Yosef-Novardok network of yeshivot, numbering until 1939 seventy branches, which were attended in total by four thousand students. In the interwar years, he lived in Białystok, and headed the yeshiva he founded there. His most prominent disciple from the Białystok years was the Steipler. When WWII broke out, he transferred the yeshiva to Vilna. In 1941, he reached the United States, where he lived for some twenty years, establishing a yeshiva there as well. In 1964, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, spending his final years in Jerusalem. He authored Derech Eitan (on the Talmud) and HaMusar VehaDaat.
R. Yisrael Yaakov Lubchansky was a leading musar figure in his times. Born in Baranovich to his father, who served as rabbi of the town. He was one of the initial students in the yeshiva of R. Yozel Horowitz, the Alter of Novardok, and later became his son-in-law. Following his father’s passing, he served for a time as rabbi of Baranovich, a position he later handed over to his brother-in-law, R. David Weitzel. He headed the Tsaritsyn (Volgograd) and Kharkiv branches of the Novardok yeshiva. When he crossed the border to Poland, R. Elchanan Wasserman appointed him mashgiach of the Ohel Torah yeshiva in Baranovich. He was also the mainstay of the Beit Yosef-Novardok chain of yeshivot, founded by his father-in-law, the Alter of Novardok, and the profound, inspirational lectures which he delivered at alumni gatherings would be received with great love and respect. He would preach about striving to reach perfection, and absolute devotion to a life of Torah and refining one’s character traits. A most preeminent Torah figure of the generation, outstanding in Torah and noble traits, who combined piety with action. His worship of G-d was passionate. Exceptionally humble, he would conceal his holy practices in every way possible, though his righteousness and modesty became well known. During his tenure as rabbi of Baranovich, he would arise early to assist the beadle, and he was beloved and revered by every member of the community. When he would go on Erev Shabbat to remind the storekeepers to close their shops, they would all hurry to comply, so as not to cause him anguish even for a short moment. With the outbreak of WWII, he fled to Vilna with part of the Baranovich yeshiva. He was murdered by the Nazis in the Kaunas fortress in Tammuz 1941.
[1] leaf. Official stationery. 14X21.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Filing holes. Folding mark.

Two letters handwritten and signed by R. Isser Zalman Meltzer, addressed to R. Meir Berlin (Bar-Ilan). Jerusalem, 1927 and 1940.
In the first letter, dated 1927, R. Isser Zalman describes at length the correct methods rabbis should use to influence the youth and act on religious matters. Most of the letter discusses ways of bolstering the tithing of produce in the agricultural settlements in Eretz Israel, by appointing a person specifically responsible for the tithing, who would travel from one settlement to the other, and exercise his influence "on the youth to take this into account, since it affects the public, and something which the public requires must be done, even if it goes against their views".
In the second letter, dated Cheshvan 1940, he discusses the salary of R. Yeshaya Kieselstein, rabbi of Binyamina.
R. Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1954), author of Even HaEzel, disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk in the Volozhin yeshiva. He served as rabbi and dean of Slutzk. He immigrated to Jerusalem in 1924 and was appointed head lecturer in the Etz Chaim yeshiva. He was one of the leaders of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. His son-in-law was R. Aharon Kotler, dean of the Kletzk and Lakewood yeshivot.
The recipient of the letter, R. Meir Berlin - Bar-Ilan (1880-1949), youngest son of the Netziv of Volozhin and a leader of the Mizrachi movement. He was very active in rabbinical matters and in strengthening religious observance. He helped reestablish the Lithuanian yeshivot in Eretz Israel, and rescue the Mir yeshiva during the Holocaust. He was the initiator and founder of the Encyclopedia Talmudit project.
2 letters, on official stationery. Approx. 28 cm. Good-fair condition. Filing holes and minor marginal tears. Folding marks. Tears to date of first letter (repaired with tape).

Printed invitation to the wedding of the groom R. Dov Schwartzman, with the bride Sara Pesha, R. Aharon Kotler’s only daughter. [New York, Kislev 1946].
Two letters were written on the back of the invitation, one handwritten and signed by R. Aharon Kotler, and the second handwritten and signed by his wife, Rebbetzin Chana Perel Kotler. The envelope, addressed to R. Shabtai Yagel and his family in Ramat Gan, is enclosed.
R. Aharon Kotler writes: "…please accept our great appreciation for your faithful blessings, which emanate from the depth of your pure heart, and whoever blesses shall be blessed by G-d with all good forever, may you reap much satisfaction from all your sons… may you merit to disseminate Torah in prosperity… One who loves him eternally, Aharon Kotler". Rebbetzin Chana Perel writes: "Please accept my thanks as well… may we merit to inform and be informed of only good news, and may you be blessed with all goodness and much satisfaction from your dear sons... One who esteems and honors you for your great stature, Chana Perel Kotler".
R. Aharon Kotler (1892-1962), disciple of the Alter of Slabodka, and a prominent, outstanding Torah scholar. (While he was still a young student, the Or Same’ach predicted that he would be the "R. Akiva Eger" of the next generation). He was the son-in-law of R. Isser Zalman Meltzer. He served as lecturer and dean of the Slutsk yeshiva, and during WWI, he fled with the yeshiva students to Poland, reestablishing the yeshiva in Kletsk. He was one of the yeshiva deans closely associated with R. Chaim Ozer and the Chafetz Chaim. A founder of Vaad HaYeshivot and member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Lithuania. During the Holocaust, he escaped to the United States, and established the famous Lakewood yeshiva in New Jersey (a yeshiva which changed the face of the yeshiva world in the United States, by inculcating its students with the passion and absolute devotion to Torah study, which was typical of Lithuanian yeshivot). He was one of the heads of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in the United States, and of Chinuch HaAtzma’i in Eretz Israel.
[1] double leaf. 15 cm. Heavy stock paper. Good condition. Light stains. Marginal filing holes.
Envelope enclosed. The stamps were removed.

Letter of Torah thoughts (16 lines) discussing the activity of transferring between domains on Shabbat, handwritten by R. Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz - the Chazon Ish. [Bnei Brak, 1950-1953].
Section (unsigned) of a letter from the Chazon Ish to his beloved disciple R. Binyamin Yehoshua Zilber. The letter was written in response to the book of R. Binyamin on the laws of Shabbat - Mekor Halacha, published in 1950, in which he innovated a conflict between Rashi and Tosafot on the topic of transferring between domains on Shabbat. The Chazon Ish did not agree with the idea suggested by R. Binyamin, and he therefore writes that in his opinion there is no disagreement between Rashi and Tosafot on this topic, and the words of the Tosafot are merely explaining those of Rashi. The Chazon Ish writes on the matter: "And although we are pained by our lack of understanding of Rashi’s commentary, one should not consequently innovate that Rashi held…".
R. Binyamin Zilber, recipient of the letter, stood his ground and wrote back to the Chazon Ish, refuting each of the latter’s objections. This exchange of letters between the Chazon Ish and his disciple was printed in later editions of Mekor Halacha (leaf 12). The letter of the Chazon Ish was reprinted in Teshuvot UKetavim MiMaran HaChazon Ish (p. 57).
R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1879-1953), author of the Chazon Ish, a foremost scholar in Halacha and Jewish philosophy in our generations. A preeminent Torah scholar and hidden righteous man, his first book Chazon Ish was published in 1911 anonymously, and he thereafter became known under that title. In his great modesty, he would sign his name with his acronym only: Ish. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1933, where he became recognized as the leading Torah authority, and stood at the helm of the resurrection of the Torah world in our generation.
Recipient of the letter: R. Binyamin Yehoshua Zilber (1916-2008), a leading Torah scholar and halachic authority in our generation, a proponent of the Novardok branch of the musar movement. He studied in the Novardok yeshivot in Europe and in Bnei Brak, where he drew close to the Chazon Ish who affectionately dubbed him "R. Binyamin the Tzaddik". After his marriage, he studied in the Ohel Torah Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, and after several years, returned to Bnei Brak. He authored and published dozens of books on Halacha and ethics, including: Mekor Halacha and Brit Olam on the laws of Shabbat, Responsa Az Nidberu - 14 parts; Mekor Baruch on Chayei Adam; books on the commandments pertaining to the land and more. In his later years, he lived in Beitar Illit and was a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Yisrael.
[1] leaf. 20.5 cm. (Top of letter cropped; it may have contained personal matters, "censored" by the recipient). Good-fair condition. Ink stains and dampstains. Wear. Minor marginal tears, not affecting text. Folding marks.