Lengthy Letter from Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook – Seven Leaves in His Handwriting and Signature

Lengthy Letter from Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook – Seven Leaves in His Handwriting and Signature

Lengthy letter (7 large leaves) handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Israel. Approbation and comments to the book HaMiddot ShehaTorah Nidreshet Bahen, by R. Moshe Ostrovsky [HaMeiri]. Jerusalem, Adar 1924.
Sent as approbation to the book of R. Moshe HaMeiri (Ostrovsky), HaMiddot ShehaTorah Nidreshet Bahen, which provides comprehensive definitions of the principles of Torah elucidation. R. Kook begins with enthusiastic words of praise on the book, explaining the importance of research conducted by G-d fearing Torah scholars, who are not tainted by foreign views. He then adds lengthy comments pertaining to the contents of the book.
The letter was printed in the aforementioned book, and in Igrot HaRaayah (IV, letter 1214, pp. 178-181).
Enclosed: copy of a different letter sent by R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook to R. Moshe HaMeiri (undated, between 1929-1935?), containing a warm recommendation (presumably for the position of dayan or rabbi in the Chief Rabbinate), for R. Yitzchak Meir Ben Menachem Pachiner, son-in-law of R. Isser Zalman Meltzer, explaining the great contribution this exceptional young rabbi could make to building the Torah structure of the country. To the best of our knowledge, this letter is hitherto unpublished.

The recipient of the letter, R. Moshe HaMeiri-Ostrovsky (1886-1947), a head of the Mizrachi movement and one of the founders of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel. He was a leader of the Yishuv in Eretz Israel during the British Mandate, and helped establish the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem (the street where his home stood is named today Sderot HaMeiri). He served as rabbi of the Mazkeret Batya (Ekron) settlement in 1912-1919, and authored many books and essays: HaMiddot ShehaTorah Nidreshet Bahen (Jerusalem, 1924); Mavo LaTalmud (Tel Aviv, 1935); Knesset Yisrael (Tel Aviv, 1937); Toldot HaMizrachi B'Eretz Israel (Jerusalem, 1944); and more. In 1946, his admirers published the book Ish HaTorah VehaMaaseh in honor of his sixtieth birthday.

[7] leaves, official stationery. Approx. 28 cm. Good condition. Stains. Deletions and markings in red pen (in preparation for printing the letter). Folding marks. + [1] enclosed leaf. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.