Two Letters of Recommendation by Rashei Yeshivot in Kremenchuk, 1920 – One Sent to Chofetz Chaim and Son-In-Law

Two Letters of Recommendation by Rashei Yeshivot in Kremenchuk, 1920 – One Sent to Chofetz Chaim and Son-In-Law
* Letter of recommendation to young man Binyamin Trachtman who studied in Sha’arei Torah Yeshiva in Kremenchuk (Ukraine) for two years. Letter in handwriting and signature of the Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo Hyman among teachers of Yeshiva. Elul 1920.
The well-known Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo Hyman (c. 1890-1945), disciple of Radin Yeshiva and disciple of Rabbi Baruch Ber
Leibowitz in Halosk Yeshiva. Served as teacher in Yeshiva of Rabbi Baruch Ber during World War I when the Yeshiva exiled from Slabodka to Kremenchuk. He was later on summoned by his rabbi and mentor, the Chofetz Chaim, to the Yeshiva in Smilavichy which was started by Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman. After the Chofetz Chaim returned to Lithuania together with his Yeshivot, Rabbi Shlomo resumed teaching Torah in Kremenchuk [in Yeshiva of his brother-in-law, Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Berman]. This document is a rare and significant item from that mysterious period of his life. Upon returning to Lithuania was appointed in 1923 as teacher in Yeshiva of Rabbi Elchanan Wassermann in Baranovich. Afterwards he moved to Vilnius and served as Rosh Yeshiva of “Ramailes” Yeshiva. In 1935 began serving as Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vo’Da’at in the USA. His Chidushim were printed by the Ga’on Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz [who was his disciple from period of Ramailes] in two volumes of “Chidushei Rabbi Shlomo”.
* Letter of recommendation for young man “submitting this letter”, sent to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Levinson son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim, by his “disciple”. Kremenchuk, [Elul 1920].
Letter unsigned [apparently out of concern of “evil eye” of authorities]. Written in handwriting upon stationery (printed in Russian) of the righteous Rabbi “Chaim Ber Gringras of Kremenchuk” [among respected personalities of community of Rabbi Baruch Ber in Kremenchuk. Father-in-law of Rabbi Shlomo Harkavi, Rabbi Avraham Ya’akov Gordon, Rabbi Baruch Ya’akov Zmodzak and Rabbi David Rapoport author of Mikdash David, who married his youngest daughter in 1931, after the demise of her father in 1928]. In the letter it is mentioned that the young man studied in the Yeshiva of the Ga’on Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Berman in Kremenchuk.
At conclusion of letter the writer sends regards to family of his rabbi and mentor “I send regards to rebbe, rabbi of the Diaspora, the honorable Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen”.
Presumably, the writer is the righteous genius Rabbi Shlomo Harkavi (c. 1890-perished in Holocaust), prominent disciple of Radin Yeshiva, who married eldest daughter of Rabbi Chaim Ber Gringras in Kremenchuk where he taught Torah. For approximately twenty years served as spiritual director of Sha’ar HaTorah Yeshiva in Grodno headed by Rabbi Shimon Shkop, and was considered leading personality of ethics in Yeshivot of Lithuania.
Two letters, 21 cm. Good-fair condition, wear damage on folds and margins.