A Remarkable Handwritten Letter from R. Reuven Grozovsky, Kaminetz 1936

A Remarkable Handwritten Letter from R. Reuven Grozovsky, Kaminetz 1936

A remarkable heartfelt letter, entirely handwritten and signed by R. Reuven Grozovsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Kaminetz and son-in-law of R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz, author of ‘Birkas Shmuel’. 

In this poignant letter, R. Reuven details the dire financial situation in which the Yeshiva finds itself, and the lack of enthusiastic supporters of Torah. R. Reuven further emphasizes that the Yeshiva is the most prestigious Yeshiva between all the Yeshivos, and the largest too – aside from Yeshivas Mir. But without the much-needed funds, the Yeshiva has no choice but to turn away many of the Bachurim who wish to learn there, and they end up “falling through the cracks” because of this. 

In addition, R. Reuven details the situation of the new Yeshiva building, which had begun to take shape a few years prior. He writes: “About four years ago, we started building our new building, thanks to a donation from a benefactor in America. We’ve already managed to complete the structure - the walls, the roof – it’s a beautiful building! Nonetheless, we still don’t have enough funds to cover the costs of the floor or the windows… if we find a benefactor who can give 100 pound sterling, or even 50 pound sterling, we would already have the building completed”. Ultimately, the new Yeshiva building was completed, and a Chanukas Habayis was held later that year in 1937. Please refer to the Hebrew description for an exact quote of the text.  

Dated 6 Elul 5696 (August 8, 1936), while R. Baruch Ber was still on vacation, as he writes towards the end of the letter. He then concludes with a warm blessing for wealth, success and abundant happiness – highly uncharacteristic of R. Reuven. 

This letter is not only remarkable in terms of its unique content, but also in terms of its historical context, as mentioned above. Handwritten letters from R. Reuven, especially with content such as this, are very rare.  

R. Refael Reuven Grozovsky (1886-1958), one of leading Roshei Yeshiva in America during the postwar period, who together with R. Aharon Kotler, R. Avraham Kalmanowitz, R. Shlomo Heiman and R. Mendel Zaks, transplanted the true Mesorah of pre war Yeshiva study to American shores. In his youth, he studied in the Slabodka Yeshiva under the Alter of Slabodka and R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein, together with R. Aharon Kotler and R. Yaakov Kaminetsky. In 1919, he married the daughter of R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz, and eventually became dean of the Yeshiva. Aside from giving Shiurim in the Yeshiva, R. Reuven was instrumental in raising funds for the Yeshiva, and would often travel abroad with his father-in-law for that cause. After his death in 1958, his family published his Chidushim, what are known today as Chidushei R. Reuven. They quickly went on to become one of the most sought-after Seforim in the Yeshiva world, and remain as such until today. 

[2] leaves, written on the official stationery of Yeshivas Kaminetz. In good condition, with fold marks.