Certificate of Semicha for the Rabbinate - Handwritten and Signed by Rabbi Refael Shapira of Volozhin

Letter of Semicha (ordination) to the rabbinate, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Refael Shapira, head of the Volozhin Yeshiva. Nissan 1916.
Ordination for R. Binyamin Chaim Eidelstein, son of R. Yerachmiel Gershon Eidelstein, Rabbi of Szumiaczi. Contains high praise of his Torah proficiency and clear reasoning and ordains him with semicha.
R. Rafael Shapira, head of the Volozhin Yeshiva (1837-1921), son of R. Aryeh Leib, Rabbi of Kovna and son-in-law of the Netziv of Volozhin was renowned for his genius and diligence. During 1865-1881, he served as head of the Volozhin Yeshiva together with his father-in-law, the Netziv. Served as Rabbi of Bobroisk and other cities. In 1899, upon the re-establishment of the yeshiva [after its closure in 1892], he returned to Volozhin and was appointed rabbi and Rosh Metivta. During WWI, he fled to Minsk where he taught Torah for about five years until his death. His son-in-law was R. Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik, Rabbi of Brisk, author of Chidushei Rabbeinu Chaim HaLevi.
The recipient of the semicha is R. Binyamin Chaim Eidelstein (died in 1943), eldest son of R. Yerachmiel Gershon Eidelstein, Rabbi of Szumiaczi. Rabbi of Shamovo (Mogilev district of Russia). Immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1934 and served as Rabbi of the Maccabi neighborhood in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
Official stationery. 27.5 cm. 13 lines in his characteristic handwriting. Fair condition, tears and gluings to paper folds and margins, stains and few damages affecting text.