Responsum Letter from the Chazon Ish

Responsum Letter from the Chazon Ish
Letter (16 lines) handwritten and signed by the Chazon Ish, regarding laws of Shabbat. [Bnei Brak, ca. Kislev 1945]. In this letter, addressed to his beloved disciple R. Binyamin Zilber, the Chazon Ish relates to a halachic article pertaining to the laws of pureeing fruit on Shabbat, which R. Binyamin published in the Tevuna monthly journal, printed in Jerusalem (Tevuna, vol. 6, issue 3 [61], Kislev 1945, pp. 29-32). The Chazon Ish comments on his essay with affection and esteem, yet vehemently contradicts his halachic ruling: "My dear… whenever I see your words, I greatly rejoice that you have merited to acquire Torah knowledge… and I have just seen your words in Tevuna… but I must tell you that I do not agree with you in practice, and one who mashes a banana with a fork ispossibly required to offer a Chatat, and one must mash with the handle of a fork or of a knife or spoon…". The Chazon Ish concludes the letter in a friendly tone: "And I will sign with peace, one who seeks his wellbeing, with love, Ish". This letter was published in Responsa Az Nidberu, part II, Bnei Brak, 1970, section 1. In a footnote, R. Zilber writes that he discussed the matter at length with the Chazon Ish, and they reached the conclusion that in practice, one is not allowed to mash bananas in the normal manner with a fork. This conclusion was publicized in Tevuna (Shevat 1946, issue 5 [63], pp. 53-54), and so he ruled for practical application in his book Brit Olam on the laws of Shabbat. R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1879-1953), author of the Chazon Ish, a foremost scholar in Halacha and Jewish philosophy in our generations. A preeminent Torah scholar and hidden righteous man, his first book Chazon Ish was published in 1911 anonymously, and he thereafter became known under that title. In his great modesty, he would sign his name with his acronym only: Ish. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1933, where he became recognized as the leading Torah authority, and stood at the helm of the resurrection of the Torah world in our generation. Recipient of the letter: R. Binyamin Yehoshua Zilber (1916-2008), a foremost Torah scholar and halachic authority in our generation, a proponent of the Novardok branch of the mussar movement. He studied in the Novardok yeshivot in Europe and in Bnei Brak, where he drew close to the Chazon Ish who affectionately dubbed him "R. Binyamin the Tzaddik". After his marriage, he studied in the Ohel Torah Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, and after several years, returned to Bnei Brak. He authored and published dozens of books on Halacha and ethics, including: Mekor Halacha and Brit Olam on the laws of Shabbat, Responsa Az Nidberu - 14 parts; Mekor Baruch on Chayei Adam; books on the commandments pertaining to the land and more. In his later years, he lived in Beitar Illit and was a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Yisrael. [1] leaf. Approx. 8X19 cm. Handwritten on both sides (16 long lines) by the Chazon Ish, with his signature. Good-fair condition. Creases and stains.