Lengthy letter (2 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Alexander Moshe Lapidot, Rabbi of Grodno. "Grodno in Achorei Nahar" (Vorstadt), Av 1863.

Torah letter addressed to R. Yehoshua Heshel HaLevi Levin of Volozhin, author of Aliyot Eliyahu. At the beginning of the letter, R. Alexander Moshe encourages R. Yehoshua to continue the publication of the Peleitat Sofrim periodical (a Torah periodical R. Yehoshua had initiated in 1847, but managed to publish the first issue only in 1863, and for various reasons it was also the last issue). R. Alexander Moshe expresses surprise at the delay in publication, and encourages him to continue to publish, praising his efforts.

R. Alexander Moshe writes Torah novellae (apparently to be printed in the next issue), commenting on an idea of the Gaon of Kutno.

He goes on to comment on an idea of R. Shmuel Salant published in HaLevanon regarding the laws of eating matzah (this discussion was printed during R. Alexander Moshe's lifetime in Kevod HaLevanon, in a correspondence with R. Shmuel Salant). After his signature, R. Alexander Moshe comments further on the HaTevunah periodical of R. Yisrael Salanter, regarding testimony by document.

R. Alexander Moshe Lapidot (1819-1906), an outstanding Torah scholar in his times and one of the leaders of Orthodox Jewry in Lithuania, R. Yisrael Salanter's right-hand man and a founder of the Musar movement. Disciple of R. Hirsh Broide in the Salant yeshiva and R. Avraham Abele Poswoler Rabbi of Vilna. At the age of 17, he was appointed Rabbi of Jonava; later served as Rabbi of the Vorstadt suburb of Grodno; and in 1866, became Rabbi of Raseiniai, a position he held for 40 years until his death. An exceptional Torah genius and one of the greatest authors of responsa in his time, he joined current leaders in dealing with the problems confronting Russian Jewry and the continuous struggle to maintain the Jewish way of life. He was one of those who attempted to arbitrate the dispute in the Volozhin yeshiva. In his youth, he became close to R. Yisrael Salanter, who exerted a large influence on him and gained him as one of his great supporters. He defended the Musar movement from opposition and was a significant contributor to its spread in the Lithuanian yeshivas. He was a close assistant in R. Yisrael Salanter's great endeavors; and became one of the founders of the Perushim kollel in Kovno. He joined R. Yisrael Salanter, the Chafetz Chaim and R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, in publishing Etz Pri (Vilna, 1881) as part of his efforts to improve attitudes towards those who study Torah.

The present letter is a remnant of the Torah teachings of one of the greatest poskim of his times. Most of the present letter has been printed (apparently from the present manuscript) in Sefer HaZikaron LeMaran Baal HaPachad Yitzchak (Jerusalem, 1984, pp. 623-625, sections 3-4) and Torat Rabbeinu Alexander Moshe Lapidot (Lakewood, 2006).

[1] double leaf. 20 cm. Two written pages. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear, creases and tears. Second leaf repaired with tape.