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מכתב סמיכה מרבי בצלאל הכהן מווילנא (רבו של ה"חפץ חיים")
מכתב סמיכה מרבי בצלאל הכהן מווילנא (רבו של ה"חפץ חיים")
Letter of ordination in the handwriting and signed by the Gaon Rabbi Betzalel ha-Kohen of Vilna, to Rabbi Serge Meyer Leizerovitz. Written on the way to Vilna, 5634 (1874).
The letter was written at an inn at the Vilna railway station: "Indeed, in our day we travel by rail, which goes to our community, we happened upon an inn". He writes about Rabbi Serge Meyer: that his hands sufficed for him to judge and to rule in the laws of Yoreh Deah and Chosen Mishpat "and it appears that he engaged much with the words of the early and later authorities of blessed memory to know... and to answer according to the law... expert in the words of the later authorities of blessed memory, from their source in the Talmud and the early authorities... and without doubt that he will be, God willing, one of the great ones of the generation, may he be preserved.".
Rabbi Betzalel ha-Kohen of Vilna (5580-5638), among the great rabbis of his generation, was known from childhood as an outstanding genius. At the celebratory meal of his bar mitzvah, which was also his wedding feast, he made a "conclusion" on the entire Talmud and delivered a "Hadran" discourse that amazed all the great ones of Vilna. When he was 18 years old, the author of the "Mishkenot Yaakov" already sent him his book to review. At age 23 he was appointed rabbi of his city Vilna (at a time when there were there awesome and outstanding geniuses), and for decades he was the chief rabbi and spiritual leader of his community of Vilna. Among his famous students: his younger brother Rabbi Shlomo ha-Kohen of Vilna, author of "Chesek Shlomo", and Rabbi Yisrael Meir ha-Kohen, author of the "Chafetz Chaim". Author of responsa Reshit Bikurim. The glosses "Mara Kohen" printed in the Vilna Talmud and in the Vilna Shulchan Aruch, glosses "Menachat Bikurim" on the Tosefta, and other books.
32 cm. Medium condition, significant wear on paper folds, adhered to paper for preservation.
Appended is a copy of the letter of ordination, in the handwriting of the bibliographer of Vilna and London Mr. Elias Eliezer Skolsky (died 5671).
