About a man haling from Karlin named Chaim, who was tragically killed in Jaffa. He had ten gold liras deposited with Rabbi Zalman in Jerusalem. Rabbi David requests the esteemed Rabbi Shmuel to use his wisdom to ensure that the money is returned to the heirs of R. Chaim.
Karlin, 1897.
The body of the letter is written by his scribe, with the last three lines and signature in the holy hand & signature of Rabbi David Friedman.
The famous Gaon Rabbi David Ish Shalom-Friedman, Av Beit Din of Karlin (1828-1915), author of She’elat David responsa, and Piskei Halachot Yad David, served in the Karlin rabbinate for over 50 years, and was considered a foremost Halachic authority and Torah leader of his times. He was a disciple of the disciples of Rabbi Menashe Ilya and a disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Rivlin of Shklow. One of his famous qualities was his deep concentration in Torah study, a concentration so deep that he would not even notice a person standing before him [The famous photograph of Rabbi David of Karlin before an open book was the inspiration for an ex-libris designed by Ephraim Moshe Lilien].
In addition to his greatness in the Torah, he became known as a righteous and holy man and many came to receive his blessings, including Jewish soldiers who came to receive a blessing on the eve of their enlistment during the First World War.
In the letter of Rabbi Chaim of Brisk and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski that they sent to him in 1907, they address him as "The greatest of the generation" and "The elder of the teaching of the House of Israel and unique in our generation".
He participated in the Katowice Conference of Chovevei Zion in 1885 but following the discussion concerning education, he withdrew from the movement and published sharp letters against the heads of Zionism and their activities. He was involved in the conception of Agudat Israel. See Raboteinu Shebagola, Vol 1, pp. 155-158. Ma’asaf Yeshurn, Issue 9, Elul 2000, pp. 786-802].
20.8 x 13.1 cm.
Share this lot:
Lot #121