10 INTERESTING LETTERS BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY, AUTHOR OF KEHILLOS YAAKOV, INCLUDING ONE ON THE ...

10 INTERESTING LETTERS BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY, AUTHOR OF KEHILLOS YAAKOV, INCLUDING ONE ON THE CONTROVERSIAL ‘BROTHER AND SISTER CASE’.

A collection of ten letters, mostly written to Rabbi Aryeh Schechter, and covering an interesting range of subjects.

One of the most interesting is Rabbi Kanievsky’s response to the ruling of Chief Rabbi Goren in the ‘Brother and Sister case’, that aroused bitter anger against him in the Torah world. Rabbi Kanievsky writes: ‘It is clear that a person like that has no connection to rabbanus at all, his writings are like the writings of sorcerers and his rulings are like the reform ministers – may the name of the wicked be blotted out. He has excluded himself from the community of believers and placed himself together with Acher [Aharon Choriner] who lived in the times of the Chassam Sofer, and those like him. And his name like theirs, shall be disgraced for ever’

Content of other letters includes the following:

Thanks for sending 670 liras ‘but as I do not have the strength to engage in this properly, I have handed the money to Rabbi Yosef Greineman to distribute it as he sees fit’.

1969. Letter of recommendation to raise funds for the gaon Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Landau, ‘All those who contribute and support this cause will certainly be blessed many times over from Above, with great yeshuos in spiritual and material matters, with the principal reward remaining for them in the World to Come.’

Reply to Rabbi Aryeh Schechter regarding the observance of the Second Day of Yomtov while living aboard with the intention of returning to Eretz Yisrael. He also answers a question regarding the recital of Vesein Tal Umatar in those circumstances – with a ruling of the Chazon Ish on the matter.

1965. Raising funds for a son of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Landau; ‘as it is known, even providing for the most basic arrangements, one needs several thousand, in current circumstances.’

Regarding an emergency Rabbinical assembly: ‘When you invite the rabbis, tell them that Rabbi Kanievsky has asked them to attend. Do not say that he ‘calls them’ or ‘invites them’, as it is a matter of Hatzala – urgent relief.’

1959. A pruzbul document signed by Rabbi Kanievsky.

1960. Supporting one of Rabbi Schechter’s charitable projects: ‘All who support this mitzvah will certainly be blessed with everything good, in spiritual and material matters, happiness and wealth, with the principal reward remaining for them in the World to Come.’

1967. Supporting one of Rabbi Schechter’s charitable projects: ‘Both of them are outstanding in Torah study and very honourable people, and they do not have the means to conclude [the shidduch?] and it is a great mitzvah. It is not every day that one is faced with such a favoured and honourable opportunity as this is’.

1961. Asks Rabbi Aryeh Schechter to obtain surplus paper that his brother-in-law Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch has.

Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985), an outstanding student of the Novardok Yeshivos and a son-in-law of Rabbi Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz. Rosh Yeshiva at the Beis Yosef – Novaradok Yeshiva in Pinsk (1927-1934). Settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1934 and headed the Beis Yosef Novardok Yeshiva there, whilst becoming a close disciple of his brother-in-law the Chazon Ish, and gradually becoming renowned as one of the greatest Torah authorities of his time. Generally known as ‘the Steipler’, after his hometown Hornosteipel in Ukraine. Author of Kehilos Yaakov on many tractates of the Talmud.

10 letters. Size and condition varies.