A letter by Rav Ben Zion of Bielsk (1835-1917), a foremost Torah scholar in Lithuania. He was a childhood ...

A letter by Rav Ben Zion of Bielsk (1835-1917), a foremost Torah scholar in Lithuania. He was a childhood companion of the Chafetz Chaim and the letter applied to him for approbations on his books Chafetz Chaim and Mishnah Berura. From a young age, he was acknowledged as a prominent Torah scholar and served in the rabbinate of Lithuanian towns: Khislavichi, Kalvarija, Sharashova and Eišiškės, but was primarily renowned for the decades he served as Rabbi of Bielsk. At the time he served in the Eišiškės rabbinate, he headed the famous "Kibbutz" which produced many Lithuanian rabbis including the Chafetz Chaim. R. Sternfeld was celebrated for his profound unceasing study. His book Sha'arei Zion contains deep highly brilliant thinking and his halachic conclusions were accepted by leading poskim. He was the close teacher of R. Yitzchak Ya'akov Rabinowitz of Ponevezh (R. Itzele Ponevezher). Recounted at the end of the book Pe'er HaDor (Vol. 1 p. 253), is that the Chazon Ish would repeatedly tell with great awe of his meeting in his youth with the elder R. Ben Zion of Bielsk who left upon him a rare impression of his enthusiastic service of G-d and his incessant diligence. The Chazon Ish would not forget to note that he himself saw him study an entire night, standing on his feet, absorbed in study and that he did not sit to rest even for one moment. The Chazon Ish also spoke of his fear of Heaven and utter faith.

In this letter he disputes about the Kashrut of the Muscovy Duck and concludes that it is permitted to be eaten according to his signs of Kashrut although there is disagreement in Brisk upon the matter. In the letter he askes for the opinion of Rav Chaim on his Pesak of permission.

Long letter of four pages, in excellent state.