RARE SEMICHA DOCUMENT HANDWRITTEN AND SIGNED BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY – THE ‘STEIPLER’, GRANTED TO ...

RARE SEMICHA DOCUMENT HANDWRITTEN AND SIGNED BY RABBI YAAKOV YISRAEL KANIEVSKY – THE ‘STEIPLER’, GRANTED TO RABBI ARYEH SCHECHTER OF BNEI BRAK. 1962.

One of only very few Semicha documents ever issued (as far as it is known) by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky. ‘I have known the honourable Rabbi Aryeh Schechter for some years; during this time he has studied Torah diligently, day and night, at the Yeshivos of Slabodka and Mir, and was close to our masters, the Chazon Ish and the Rabbi of Brisk ... Yoreh Yoreh Yadin Yadin [the traditional formula granting rabbinical ordination]’.

Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (1899-1985), an outstanding student of the Novardok Yeshivos and a son-in-law of Rabbi Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz. Rosh Yeshiva at the Beis Yosef – Novardok Yeshiva in Pinsk (1927-1934). Settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1934 and headed the Beis Yosef Novardok Yeshiva there, whilst becoming a close disciple of his brother-in-law the Chazon Ish, and gradually becoming renowned as one of the greatest Torah authorities of his time. Generally known as ‘the Steipler’, after his hometown Hornosteipel in Ukraine. Author of Kehilos Yaakov on many tractates of the Talmud.

Rabbi Aryeh Schechter (1937-2020), studied at the Slabodka Yeshiva and was close to the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloweitchik of Brisk and Rav Chaim Greineman, as well as to Rabbi Shaul Kosovsky. During the 1950s he was active in promoting religious life among immigrants in new Israeli settlements and towns, and in later years became involved in the Arachim movement and other organisations that have brought many secular Israelis back to religious observance. For a time, he studied regularly together with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. Some of his lectures have been published under the title Aryeh Sha’ag.

1 side. 14.5 x 23 cm. Very good condition. Filling holes.