Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Letter of Appointment of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv to the Dayanim Examination Committee – Jerusalem, 1955 and 1957
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Two official letters from the Chief Rabbinate, signed by Chief Rabbis R. Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Hertzog and R. Yitzchak Nissim, appointing R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv as member of the Dayanim Examination Committee. Jerusalem, Elul 1955 and Iyar 1957.
The first letter is addressed to the three members of the council: R. Yaakov Ades, head of the Beit Din of Jerusalem; R. Yitzchak Meir Ben Menachem, head of the Petach Tikva Beit Din; and R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, member of the Supreme Rabbinical Court. [Notably, although the original appointment to the Supreme Rabbinical Court was only made in Tevet Iyar 1956, after a decision made in Elul 1955 – see previous lot – the present letter reveals that R. Elyashiv had already previously served as member of the court].
The second letter of 1957 is addressed only to R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, mentioning that the other members of the committee are R. Yaakov Hadas [Ades], R. Eliezer Goldschmidt and R. Shlomo Shimshon Karelitz.
Both letters are typewritten and signed by both Chief Rabbis, and the first is also signed by head secretary R. Shmuel Aharon Shazuri.
R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012), only son of R. Avraham, a rabbi of Gomel (son-in-law of the Leshem) and son-in-law of the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin. From 1943 he served in his father's office as rabbi of Tiferet Bachurim in Jerusalem, and studied in the Ohel Torah kollel under R. Hertzog and his father-in-law R. Hillman. R. Hertzog made extensive use of his young friend in solving complex halachic problems when he was busy with his public responsibilities. R. Hertzog later had him appointed dayan in the Rabbinical Courts system, and later to the Supreme Rabbinical Court, and as a member of the council to appoint new dayanim (see two previous lots). The present letter of appointment indicates R. Yosef Shalom's respected and authoritative position, as he was appointed to the Supreme Rabbinical Court and Dayanim Examination Committee only a short time after entering the court system as a dayan.
R. Elyashiv was a leading posek for over seventy years. He was known for his exceptional diligence and his deep, fundamental understanding of all parts of the Torah, enabling him provide clear rulings on every issue. Over his last twenty years, he led the Torah world in Eretz Israel and beyond. His Torah novellae were published by his disciples in his Hearot on the Talmud, compiled from his lectures, and hundreds of his thousands of responsa were compiled in his six-part Kovetz Teshuvot.
[2] leaves. Official stationery. 32.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Wear and folding marks. Stains and tears.
Letters – Rabbis and Rebbes, Europe, USA and Eretz Israel
Letters – Rabbis and Rebbes, Europe, USA and Eretz Israel