A rare passport photograph of Maran HaChazon Ish during his arrival in Vilnius in 1920, when he was around 40 years old.
In the year 1920 the Karlitz family settled in the city of Vilnius, and there the Chazon Ish became close to the city’s rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski. At the same time, Maran became close to the elders of Vilnius, who had recognized his greatness even earlier. In the mornings, the Chazon Ish would walk to another village called Paplauja, There, his brother-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Greiniman, made available to him a room in his apartment with basic furniture: a bed, a chair and a table, basic books, etc. In this room he studied alone as was his custom, until the evening, sometimes until he was exhausted, for three years.
Provenance: The photograph came from relatives of the Chazon Ish.
9×6 cm. Light cracks. Good condition.