(“The Chazon Ish.”). Sepher Chazon Ish, Hilchoth Avodah Zarah, Yayin Nesech, Pesach, etc.

KARELITZ, ABRAHAM ISAIAH.

Diskin Orphanage

Jerusalem

1951

Autograph presentation copy. Opening blank inscribed by the author and signed with his acronym “ISH”. “As a remembrance of a Mazal Tov blessing to to our dear Rabbi Y. Edelstein upon the day of his wedding and being crowned Rabbi of Ramath HaSharon…Mazal Tov and everlasting success. Signed with a blessing.” With stamp on title of Rabbi Yaakov Edelstein, Ramath HaSharon.

Most uncommon for the Chazon Ish to write such a relatively lengthy and warm inscription. The recipient of this volume, Rabbi Yaakov Edelstein, is regarded in the Torah world as one of the greatest living scholars in both Halacha and Kabbalah. He was extremely close to the Chazon Ish who in 1944, chose Rav Yaakov to be amongst the first group of six young men who inaugurated the new Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnai Brak. Later, upon the passing of R. Tzvi Yehudah Edelstein in 1950, it was the Chazon Ish who crowned R. Yaakov Edelstein to succeed his father as Rabbi of Ramat HaSharon as indicated by the personal inscription in this volume. Renowned for his spectacular memory, R. Yaakov has served as the senior Dayan on the Beth Din of his close friend R. Nissim Karelitz for many decades. Indeed, in a telling testament to R. Yaakov’s proficiency, the Brisker Rav would send his son, the Brisker Rosh Yeshiva Rav Berel, to travel to Ramat HaSharon to consult with Rav Yaakov in regard to halachic questions. R. Edelstein is known to be the last remaining disciple of the celebrated kabbalist the “Sandler,” R. Moshe Yaakov Rabikoff, the reclusive Tel Aviv shoemaker with whom the Chazon Ish visited frequently. To this day, people travel from across the globe to receive Rabbi Edelstein’s clear halachic decisions, blessings and practical advice.