(“The Chazon Ish.”). Autograph Letter Signed with the acronym "ISH," in Hebrew. Concerning distribution of his books and greetings for a holiday of contentment and enjoyment

KARELITZ, ABRAHAM ISAIAH

(Bnei Braq)

n.d

The brilliant Halachist R. Abraham Isaiah Karelitz (b. Kosova 1878 - d. Bnei-Braq 1953) was noted for his modest, unassuming lifestyle - hence his use of “stationery:” simple lined-paper without personal letterhead. He was wont to sign correspondence “Ish’” (literally, “a man”), the initials of his personal names, Abraham Isaiah - similarly, his numerous halachic works carried the pseudonym, “Chazon Ish.” He held no formal rabbinic position and yet rose to become universally recognized as the spiritual leader of Orthodox Jewry. See EJ, Vol. X, cols. 787-8. In this note written to an unnamed individual "Yakiri" (my dear one), the Chazon Ish conveys that the three copies of his work on Tractates Demai and Ma’asroth are to be distributed as follows: “One to R. Benjamin Joshua Zilber, one to R. Abraham Shapira, and one for you. - Tell R. Benjamin Joshua that he does not have to send money, I am happy that he will accept (the book) as a gift." R. Benjamin Joshua Zilber, (d. 2010) was a prolific author of both halachic and musar works. It is interesting to note that although he took issue with the stance of the Chazon Ish on aspects of musar, nonetheless the Chazon Ish refers to him as "R. Benyamin HaTzadik."