Letter of Ordination – Rabbi Shimon Shkop – Grodno, 1935

Letter of Ordination – Rabbi Shimon Shkop – Grodno, 1935
Letter signed by R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop. Grodno, 1935.
Letter of rabbinical ordination for R. Chaim Rabinowitz, son of the rabbi of Izabelin, according him the authority to issue rabbinic rulings and serve as rabbi of a town. Written by a scribe, with the addition of two lines handwritten by R. Shimon Shkop: "So says the one who signs in the honor of the Torah and those who study it. Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1935 – Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop".
R. Shimon Yehuda HaKohen Shkop (1860-1939, Otzar HaRabbanim 19962) was a disciple of R. Chaim Soloveitchik in the Volozhin yeshiva, who guided him in the intricate and deep methodology of Torah study. At the age of 24, R. Shimon became dean of the Telz yeshiva (established by his uncle, R. Eliezer Gordon), where he taught his method of study, an approach adopted by the entire Torah world until this day. R. Elchanan Wasserman was among his prominent disciples during that period. In 1920, he was asked to head the Shaar HaTorah Yeshiva in Grodno. His books include: Shaarei Yosher, Maarechet HaKinyanim and Chiddushei Rabbi Shimon Yehuda HaKohen.
The recipient of the ordination is R. Chaim Dov Rabinowitz (1911-2001), author of Daat Sofrim on the Bible. An outstanding Torah scholar, he disseminated Torah and composed many books. He was the son of R. Shraga Feitel Rabinowitz Rabbi of Izabelin.
[1] leaf, official stationery, 28 cm. Fair-good condition. Minor tears to the folds, with stains from acidic adhesive tape.