Especially Important Halachic Responsum from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - Leader of American Jewry

Especially Important Halachic Responsum from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - Leader of American Jewry
Lengthy and important halachic responsum, one of the responsa that shaped the face of American Jewry, by the rabbi of the entire diaspora, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, to his disciple the gaon Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt, author of Rivevot Ephraim. New York, 1969. Signed autograph.
In the responsum before us, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein exceptionally and very firmly and comes out against a custom which had started to gain traction among the American public, in which the bride also gives the bridegroom a ring under the wedding canopy. The gaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein rejects this on halachic grounds, but even more so on philosophic grounds.
In his responsum, the gaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein tries to undermine the foundations of modernity which began to spread in the United States, even among the Orthodox, from a misguided thought that there is nothing wrong with politically correct behavior as long as it does not contradict halachah. He had the crystal eyes to anticipate that it would deteriorate into assimilation among the nations. Therefore, aside from the halachic approaches to the core of the matter, the gaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein uses extreme expressions in his responsum, such as "non-Jewish custom," "avodah zarah," "vanity and nonsense," "corruption" and such, in order to demonstrate the severity of the matter in his eyes.
It can certainly be said that this responsum is one of the most important halachic responsa which created the red lines for ultra modern Orthodox Judaism in America.
Rabbi Moshe Feinsteinֲ [1895-1986] was the leading halachic decisor in the United States. He was the chairman of Agudat Yisrael's Council of Torah Sages and the leader of American Jewry. He led Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem in New York. He is also known for his monumental book series, Shu"t Iggerot Moshe.
The responsum before us appears inֲ Shu"t Iggerot Moshe Even HaEzer III, siman 18.
[2] pp. Official stationery leaf. 28x21 cm. Entirely in his handwriting and with his signature, including erasures and corrections. Very fine condition. Aging stain and fold mark.