“My heart and flesh yearn to step upon its soil, yet I fear for the holy Yeshivah, which teaches Torah to many and takes precedence over the mitzvah of settling in Eretz Yisrael…”
Long, Expressive Letters by the Netziv of Volozhin and his family to Rabbi Shmuel Salant. Volozhin, 1869
1. Long letter by Harav Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin of Volozhin with another 3 letters featuring 4 complete autographs
In this letter, the Netziv begins with his gratitude to Harav Shmuel Salant, legendary Rav of Yerushalayim, for settling all the financial issues following the passing of the Netziv’s father Harav Yaakov Berlin who had passed away in Yerushalayim in 1868. He then opens an halachic discussion regarding a woman who had demanded a deposit that she’d given to the Netziv’s late father, noting that he will resolve the issue to her satisfaction on the condition that she does not sue his father’s widow. He ends with a request to Rabbi Shmuel Salant to pray for his daughter Draizel and daughter-in-law Rivka (wife of Harav Chaim Berlin) so they will be blessed with children.
2. Letter from Hagaon Harav Refael Shapiro of Volozhin
In this letter, the Netziv’s son-in-law Hagaon Harav Refael Shapiro suggests a solution to a talmudic question posed by Harav Shmuel Salant and published in the Torah journal Hatevunah. The question was actually published seven year earlier, yet Harav Refael remembered the question and offers an answer in this letter.
3. Letter by the Netziv’s wife Rebbetzin Reyna Basya to Rabbi Shmuel Salant’s wife Rebbetzin Malka Salant
In this Yiddish letter, Rebbetzin Reyna appeals to her dear friend to pray at the burial site of ‘My righteous father-in-law’ [the Netziv’s father] and at other kivrei tzaddikim on behalf of her children and grandchildren. She specifically mentions her granddaughter Lifscha who would later wed Harav Chaim Soloveitchik. She also requests that Rebbetzin Salant send her sand from Eretz Yisrael as “it would be for me “a token of love”.
Rebbetzin Reyna Basya, daughter of Harav Itzele of Volozhin and granddaughter of Harav Chaim of Volozhin was a brilliant, educated woman. For forty years she lived beside her holy husband the Netziv and served him faithfully until her passing circa 1873.
4. Letter by the Netziv’s brother Harav Chaim Berlin of Vilna
Volozhin, 1869. Large folded paper, written on all 4 flaps. Page size: 27×21 cm.
First two letters were published in Toras Rabbeinu Shmuel Salant p. 59-61, 132.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Any inquiries about this lot?
