Responsum Letter from Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman – To Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv

Responsum Letter from Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman – To Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv
Letter (approx. 16 lines), handwritten and signed by R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, addressed to R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. [Bnei Brak, ca. 1960s].
Investigation of a serious halachic question, regarding a concern of Kerut Shafcha and its proscription from marriage. The letter was written at the behest of R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler), who bid R. Aharon Leib Steinman to relay to R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv all the details known to him on the case, so that the latter can issue a halachic ruling. In this letter, R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman describes his involvement in the case, and his approaching various Mohelim together with the person concerned, to investigate the issue (the letter seems to indicate an instance of a congenital defect known as Hypospadias). The letter discloses R. Steinman's great devotion to help this person obtain a permission to marry, and the Steipler's confidence in him to investigate this complex case.
R. Aharon Leib Yehuda Leib Steinman, a foremost leader of Orthodox Jewry and chairman of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of the Degel HaTorah party, served as dean of the Ponovezh yeshiva for young boys from 1955 and head of Kollel Ponovezh from 1965. For many years, R. Aharon Yehuda Leib lived in great modesty, yet he was known amongst the rabbis of Bnei Brak already then as a prominent halachic authority, and the Steipler would consult with him on complex halachic questions (particularly in halachic issues relating to medicine). He was held in high esteem already by the Chazon Ish, who would reputedly stand up in his honor. R. Steinman became known to the wider public only in 1988, after the establishment of the Degel HaTorah party, and his appointment by R. Shach as member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. Subsequently, his impact on public leadership, educational and yeshiva concerns greatly increased. After R. Shach's passing in 2001, he was recognized as his heir and successor as leader of Lithuanian Jewry together with the halachic authority of the generation, R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv of Jerusalem (1910-2012). This letter presents early correspondence between two prominent Torah figures of Lithuanian Jewry. [This letter was probably written ca. 1965, several years before R. Steinman's eldest son, R. Shraga Steinman, married R. Elyashiv's eldest granddaughter. This letter does not mention any marital connections, since it was composed several years prior their descendants' marriage, in the late 1960s].
[1] leaf. Approx. 20 cm. Good condition. Minor marginal tears. Name of the young man involved deleted with correction fluid.