Lengthy letter (4 pages), from R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav. Brisk, 14th Tevet [January] 1939.

Scribal writing (by his son R. Berel Soloveitchik), with four lines handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik.

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky in London. Response to a Torah letter, on topics in Kodashim.

The Brisker Rav apologizes for his late reply, since he was sick and unable to study R. Yechezkel Abramsky's book on Tosefta Tractate Chullin he had sent him.

After his signature, the Brisker Rav apologizes for having the letter written by a scribe, which was due to his sickness. He adds another two lines in his handwriting with thanks for R. Abramsky's assistance for his medical expenses, through R. Chaim Ozer of Vilna.

The present letter discusses R. Abramsky's novellae on Kodashim, later printed in Chazon Yechezkel on Zevachim in 1942. The present letter was first printed by R. Abramsky's disciple R. Moshe Mordechai Shulsinger in Peninei Rabbeinu HaGriz (Bnei Brak, 1992, pp. 151-153) and Mishmar HaLevi on Zevachim, Mahadura Tinyana (Bnei Brak, 2003, pp. 58-59).

R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav (1886-1959), son of R. Chaim HaLevi of Brisk, and grandson of the Beit HaLevi. Already at a young age, still in his father's lifetime, he was considered one of the prominent Torah leaders of the generation. In 1919 (about the age of 32), he succeeded his forefathers as Rabbi of Brisk, and with his Torah authority, he governed all religious matters in his city and the entire region. He managed to escape the Holocaust together with some of his children who fled from Brisk to Vilna, from which they immigrated to Jerusalem in 1941. His authority was recognized by the entire Torah world in Eretz Israel and abroad. His books: Chidushei Maran Riz HaLevi on the Rambam and the Torah. His oral teachings were published as Chidushei HaGriz. His teachings serve to this day as a cornerstone of in-depth yeshiva learning and form the basis for the thought of large portions of Orthodox Jewry. He was famous for his searing fear of heaven and zeal for pure truth.

The recipient,
R. Yechezkel Abramsky (1886-1976), close disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk and close friend of his son R. Yitzchak Ze'ev. Shortly after his marriage, he traveled to Brisk to study under R. Chaim ca. 1910 (at the advice of his father-in-law R. Yisrael Yehonatan Yerushalimsky, a disciple of R. Chaim during his Volozhin period), where he stayed for some four months, after which point he became devoted to his Torah teachings for the rest of his life. While serving as Rabbi of Smilavichy, he visited his teacher R. Chaim, then staying in Minsk, for long periods, during which time he would clarify Torah topics with him. R. Yechezkel would say of his teacher R. Chaim's method of learning: "R. Chaim goes at once to the heart of the issue". R. Chaim greatly appreciated his disciple's wisdom, and in one letter he calls him a friend (Melech BeYofyo, p. 95). During those periods R. Abramsky became a close friend of his teacher's son, R. Yitzchak Ze'ev (R. Velvele), which led to some fifty years of friendship and a close correspondence. Some of their Torah discussions and correspondence are printed in Chidushei Maran Riz HaLevi. When the Brisker Rav fell sick with asthma, R. Abramsky followed R. Chaim Ozer's directive to raise funds for his medical expenses, as mentioned at the end of one of the present letters (see further: Lots 449 and 450). When R. Abramsky was living in Jerusalem (after he immigrated to Israel in 1951), they met often and dealt with Torah issues and public affairs together.

[1] double leaf (including 4 written pages). 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks. Tears, affecting text.