at the turn of the 20th century, an aging salant approached yosef chaim zonnenfeld to assist him, but he refused the offer. in 1898 a letter was sent to chaim ozer grodzinski of vilna requesting his advice in the matter. this resulted in eliyahu david rabinowitz-teomim being appointed in 1901 as chief rabbi. however, rabinowitz-teomim predeceased him in 1905 aged 62. four years later salant died aged 93, and chaim berlin of moscow, son of the netziv, took the position. berlin died 3 years later in 1912. with zonnenfeld still refusing to take up the offer and another candidate, yitzchak yerucham diskin coosing to remain director of the diskin orphanage, the position was unfilled.