Invitation from the first Admor of Vizhnitz, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz, to the wedding of his son Rabbi Baruch, the future Admor of Vizhnitz. Scribal script and his handwritten signature: “The young Menachem Mendel the son of the Tzaddik ztzuk”l” [Vizhnitz, 1863].
The invitation was sent to the leading Chassid rabbi Moshe Wax of Sered. The Admor writes about the marriage of his son Baruch to the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Shapira of Slavuta (the grandson of Rabbi Moshe Shapira of Slavuta) and asks him to take part in the celebration.
It is told that when the Admor Rabbi Chaim Meir, author of Imrei Chaim, of Vizhnitz visited Safed, a Jew approached him and showed him such an invitation. The Admor took the invitation and kissed it lovingly while weeping bitterly (the story is enclosed).
The Admor Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager [1830-1884] was the son of the Admor Rabbi Chaim of Kosov, author of Torat Chaim . He was Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin’s son-in-law. At the age of 24, he moved to Vizhnitz and became the first Admor of Vizhnitz. His son, Rabbi Baruch, succeeded him as the Admor of Vizhnitz and his Torah was printed in the book Imrei Baruch .
[1] leaf, ink on paper. 17x13cm. In addition, a piece of paper with the name and address of the receiver of the invitation. Fine condition. Aging stains. handwritten signature of the Admor (slightly faded).
The printed invitation has an additional special request handwritten by the Admor of Erloi, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, author of Imrei Sofer . He invites the bar mitzvah boy’s, his firstborn son’s, teacher and his entire class. The Admor adds praises about his son’s education, “and you put forth every effort to educate my son Moshe on the paths of Torah, fear of Heav-n and proper behavior.”
The Admor also invites the bar mitzvah boy’s class, and indicates that he would arrange for “two cars for them, or as many as necessary, to minimize the time taken from Torah learning.”
[2] folded pages. 14×22 cm. About 16 lines were added in the Admor’s holy hand, as well as his signature. Aging stains. Overall fine-very fine condition.
Emotional letter from Rabbi Yisrael Alter [1894-1977], author of Beit Yisrael , of Gur, to Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Zilberberg, who was rabbi and Av Beit Din in Tuliszków, Poland, adjudicator in Warsaw, and then rabbi and Av Beit Din in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Admor writes at length, approximately 23 lines, and blesses the addressee: “… that he merit to continue to study and pray in this study hall, as is his desire as well as mine, and the merit of the mitzvah will protect him, and he should live long days to a good old age …”
[1] leaf aerogram. 30×18 cm. Entirely written in the Admor’s handwriting and with his signature. Very fine condition.
Letter signed by the gaon Rabbi Mordechai Hager, Admor of Vizhnitz-Monsey [1922-2018].
The letter contains a recommendation to support Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg who was raising funds for hachnassat kallah.
[1] leaf. Ink on official stationery. 22×28 cm. Scribal writing with his handwritten signature on three lines. Fine condition. Fold marks.
Personal letter handwritten, signed and stamped by the Admor of Mishlenitz, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Rubin. Mishlenitz [c. 1920].
Letter sent to the Chassid Rabbi Elimelech Elazar [the Admor expands upon his description: “Exalted in Torah and fear of Heaven, precious spirit, pursuer of righteousness and lovingkindness, wise and humble”] in which the Admor requests assistance marrying off his daughter: “And I lack another three hundred dollars until I will be able to bless the conclusion, I still lack a tallit and a shtreimel, and almost all the bridal clothing, and I also lack travel expenses …”
The Admor’s signature appears in the margins of the letter, along with his stamp as a grandson of the author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz, and another stamp in a foreign language.
The Admor of Mishlenitz Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Rubin was born to his father Yitzchak Tuvia of Sanz, who was the Divrei Chaim’s son-in-law. He was Rabbi Naftali Halberstam of Kishinev’s son-in-law. After WWI, he settled in Mishlenitz and served there as Admor. His grandsons include Admors of Bobov and Visheve . [For more about him, refer to Encyclopedia L’Chassidut 3 1861-1862]. Letters written by him are especially rare.
[2] leaves, 23×14 cm. Entirely written in his handwriting with his signature. Fold marks, stains and tears in the bottom part of the leaf. Moderate condition.
Letter of blessing and support upon the publication of the book about Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld by Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, New York. Chanukah, 1980.
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, who was saved from the Nazi enemy, returned to Sighet after the war and attempted to establish a Jewish center there. He later immigrated to the United States, where he joined his uncle, the author of VaYoel Moshe , and was rabbi of a synagogue in Borough Park named for the Sighet community in Hungary. He eventually succeeded his uncle as Admor.
Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld [1848-1932] was the first rabbi of the Edah HaChareidit in Jerusalem. His biography was written by Menachem Mendel Gerlitz and Rabbi Moshe Sofer in the book Mara D’Ar’a Yisrael . In this letter, the writer recommends supporting the publication of the third volume of the book.
[1] leaf. 18×27 cm. Typewritten on paper blank. Signed by the “Berech Moshe.” Very fine condition.
[1] leaf. 21×16 cm. Written and signed by the Admor of Ozerov. Lengthy letter that opens with praises for his honored son-in-law, daughter and grandchildren. Rabbi Aryeh Leib relates personal occurrences from Tarla, Pesach preparations, his brother’s wedding in Warsaw and more.
Nezer Gabaut . Certificate on behalf of the Kollel Chassidim in Jerusalem for a fundraiser to HU”D [Holland and Deutschland]. Signed by the heads of the Kollel, including Admor Yitzchak David Biderman of Lelov. [1872].
[1] leaf. 21×32 cm. Scribal hand with titles in red ink.
The first signatory, Admor Yitzchak David Biderman of Lelov, immigrated to Eretz Yisrael in 1851 together with his father Admor Moshe of Lelov. His father, the first Admor in Eretz Yisrael, passed away shortly after the move, and his sons Rabbi Elazar Menachem and Rabbi Yitzchak David headed the Chassidic settlement in Jerusalem. Rabbi Yitzchak David served as Admor after his brother’s death. He helped establish “Chayei Olam” in Jerusalem. He died suddenly on Shabbat Shuva 1886, on the way back from the mikveh. His biography appears in
Tiferet Beit David .
Additional signatures: R’ Mordechai Lishiptz (possibly, Wunder, Galicia 3, 556). Shlomo (Shalom?) Shmuel shu”v, Nachman (?) Dovber…
Fold marks. Stains. Very fine condition.
A long letter in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Panet, the Rebbe of Deyzh, author of Ma’aglei Tzedek . 1870.
[2] pages, 20×20 cm. A long letter with words of Torah, mentions the book
Mareh Yechezkel . The letter deals with the laws of
yayin
nesech and was sent to his nephew Rabbi Asher Shmuel Panet.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Panet was born in 1818 to his father Rabbi Yechezkel Panet author of
Mareh Yechezkel . He learned from the Chatam Sofer who was exuberant in his praise of him. He was the only one in the Pressburg Yeshiva who wore Chassidic garb and the Chatam Sofer would refer to him as ”
der zeidener bachur” and would go for walks with him on Shabbat. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Panet was present at the well-known revelation of Eliyahu of the Chatam Sofer.
As a result of his marriage he became close to the “Yismach Moshe”; later he was the rabbi of Deyzh and from 1858 served as the Rebbe. In his time, it was written that many people began praying in
nussach Sephard because of him, and that the city of Deyzh became a Chassidic stronghold. He was the leader of the Chareidi Jews of Transylvania for several decades and one of the great Rebbes of his generation.
He wrote the books
Ma’aglei Tzedek ,
Sha’arei Tzedek ,
Mishpat Tzedek and
Avnei Tzedek .
The letter was sent to his nephew Rabbi Asher Shmuel Panet. Rabbi Asher Shmuel Panet was the son of Rabbi Moshe Bezalel Panet, the son of the “Mareh Yechezkel” and the rabbi of Hidalmas and Tashnad. His son Rabbi Asher Shmuel, the recipient of the letter, served as rabbi of Hidalmas. For information on Rabbi Asher Shmuel see: Zvi Hirsch Schwartz, Menachem Meishiv Nefesh, in
Heichal HaBesht ,
a collection of the teachings of Chassidut, its history and its treasures , year 2, issue 4 (8), 2005, page 109.
Folding signs. Tiny tears in the margins. Aging stains. Fine to very good condition.
[1] letterhead of the Chayei Olam Talmud Torah in gilt letters. 29×23 cm. Text on both sides.
Lengthy detailed agreement with the consent of the fundraiser at the conclusion. The first signatory on behalf of Chayei Olam is Rabbi David Tzvi Shlomo Biderman, the Admor of Lelov. He was a prominent righteous person in Eretz Yisrael and was well-respected and highly praised in Poland. He passed away in 1918.
Fold marks. Stains. Tiny tears, without loss of text. Moderate to fine condition.
[1] letterhead. 27×21 cm. Scribal hand with an additional six lines of text written and signed by the Admor. The Admor sent this letter to his two sons: Yochanan (later the Sofer Yochanan Twersky) and Avraham. The Admor misses his sons and asks that they send him pictures.
Invitation to the wedding of the grandson of the Skverer Rebbe shlit”a, with a personal note with his signature to the Admor of Trisk shlit”a [2005].
[1] poster board. 22×37 cm. 3 folds.
Admor David Twersky shlit”a of Skver was born in Jassy in 1940. In 1968, he succeeded his father, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, as Admor. He is one of the leaders of American Jewry today. This invitation is to the wedding of his grandson, Rabbi Gedalya Yaakov Leib, son of his son-in-law, Rabbi Eliezer Goldman. The reverse features a printed letter to Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Eichenstein of Trisk, with his signature.
Very fine condition.
[1] letterhead of the Agudat Yisrael. 23×28 cm.
Rabbi Mordechai Chaim Kastelintz [1864-1954] merited to see the first Admor of Slonim, the “Yesod Ha’Avoda”. When he was a child, he immigrated with his father to Eretz Yisrael. He lived in Tiberias, was a dayan, and was known as “Rabbi Mottel Dayan”. After the death of the “Beit Avraham” in 1933, his son Rabbi Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua Weinberg was appointed Admor by Rabbi Mordechai Chaim who was a prominent chassid, and he even wrote about this appointment to the chassidim outside of the country. After the Holocaust, during which Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua was killed, the Slonim chassidim asked Rabbi Mordechai Chaim to serve as Admor, but he refused. In 1950, he agreed to serve as Admor on the condition that he was never called by the title.
Filing holes. Fold marks. Very fine condition.
[1] letterhead. 21.5×14 cm. All written and signed by the Admor.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Landau of Biala was the son of Admor Aharon Tzvi of Biala, grandson of Rabbi Avraham of Chechnov. In 1910, he was appointed Admor and moved to Shidlovtza. In 1925, he immigrated to the United States where he was a prominent Rabbi and Admor. He passed away in 1937. His Torah was printed in
Shemesh U’Magen .
Tears without loss of text. Fold marks. Fine condition.
[1] airmail letter. 32×21 cm. Written and signed by the Admor.
The Admor thanks the addressee and gives him a lengthy New Year’s greeting. The letter was written while the Admor’s father, Rabbi Chaim Meir of Vishnitz, was still alive, and he signs with the term
“shlita” for his father. In the margins: Rabbi Moshe Hager, Shikun Vishnitz, Bnei Brak.
The Admor, the “Yeshuot Moshe” of Vishnitz [1916-2012], was the
Nasi of the
Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and a Torah genius. He held his positions and firmly led his chassidut for over forty years after he succeeded his father, the “Imrei Chaim.”
Original folds. Very fine condition.
[1] Official piece of paper the size of a postcard with the Admor’s name printed on it in Hebrew and Polish. 10×15 cm. It seems that the letter was written by the
gabbai and signed by the Admor by hand. It was sent from Poland to Israel. The Admor blesses his friend the chassid and apologizes for the delay in sending the letter due to his poor health.
The Admor Rabbi Shlomo Chanoch HaCohen of Radomsk was the son of the Admor Rabbi Yechezkel of Radomsk. At a young age he was appointed as the Admor. He established a network of 40 yeshivot all over Poland called “Keter Torah.” He lived in Sosnowiec in Poland, and was one of the most important Admorim. At the time of the Holocaust he refused to leave his chassidim and to escape to Italy and was shot with his family at the entrance to his house. Some of his Torah thoughts appear in the book
Shivchei Cohen. His biography appears in the books
Toldot Shivchei Cohen and
Shivchei Malchut Radomsk .
Slight tears with no lack. Taped for reinforcement. Fold marks. Moderate condition.
A letter with the signature of the Rebbe Rabbi Baruch Asher Twersky, the son and successor of his great father, Rabbi Aharon son of Rabbi Mordechai son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, author of Me’or Einayim .
[1] page of paper. 16×13 cm. A congratulatory letter to one of his disciples: “And you will have abundant success in your endeavors and you will see much joy all of the days forever to take pleasure in much peace.” With his handwritten signature: Baruch Asher, son of the famous Rabbi Rabbi Aharon.
The Rebbe Rabbi Baruch Asher son of Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl, who succeeded his father in 1872, was the Rebbe of thousands, great in Torah, and had halachic debates with his cousin, Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornsteipel. It is written about him, “Our teacher the Rebbe the Holy of Holies who is famous in all the corners of the earth, the fruit of the goodly tree, the teacher of all of the children of the diaspora.” According to Chassidic tradition, Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl transferred the power of his blessings to his son Rabbi Baruch Asher.
A tear artistically restored with no damage to text. Aging stains. Fine condition.
A thank-you letter from the Rebbe Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky, author of the Netivot Shalom to Rabbi Menachem Porush, 1976. In his handwriting.
[1] page. 11×16 cm. Official paper of the Beit Avraham Yeshiva. All in his handwriting and with his signature. In this letter the Rebbe thanks the M.K “our great friend who does great deeds for Torah and kindness Rabbi Menachem Porush” on the receipt of 1000 liras to be distributed to the poor, and blesses all of his deeds.
Refer to the Hebrew text for more information about the Rebbe.
Folding signs. Filing holes with no lack of text. Very fine condition.
Letter from Rabbi Yissacher Ber Halevi Rotenberg, the Vodislover Rebbe. New York [1955].
[1] letterhead. 21.5×13.5 cm. Written on both sides of the leaf in a clear legible hand. Written and signed by the Admor.
Rabbi Yissacher Ber Rotenberg of Vodislav was a grandson of the Admor of Apt and a disciple of Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin. He served as Rabbi and Admor in Vodislav and then moved to the United States where he was close to Chassidut Satmar. He authored noted works with critiques on the works of the Chida. He passed away in 1987.
Fold marks. Filing holes affecting solitary words. Fine condition.
A letter from the heads of Agudat Yisrael in America, in preparation for the National Conference, signed by hand.
Among others is the handwritten signature of the Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Nachum Perlow, who was one of the heads of Agudat Yisrael and the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of America (the father of the Novominsker Rebbe who currently serves as the head of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of America). In addition are the signatures of Rabbi Eliezer Silver,
av”d of Cincinnati, and the President of Agudat Yisrael in America; Moshe Sherer; and Rabbi Elimelech Tress, later the President of Young Agudat Yisrael in America.
Folding signs. Filing holes. Very fine condition.
[1] postcard. 15×10.5 cm. All in his clear, legible hand with his signature and stamp.A letter of thanks and greetings from Admor Chaim Hager to Rabbi Kahan, the rabbi and
av”d of Montreal, for his assistance during “the terrible crisis.”
Rabbi Chaim Hager was the rabbi and Admor of Zablotow. In 1938, he visited Eretz Yisrael and considered settling there but eventually returned to his homeland. He was killed in the Holocaust, and was the last Admor of Zablotow. Refer to: Alfasi,
Encyclopedia L’Chassidut , 1,539.
A letter by the Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Husiatyn. 1938.
[1] page. 29×22 cm. Official paper. All in his handwriting and with his signature. Written in black fountain pen.
A thank-you letter from the Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Husiatyn (1857-1948), in which he thanks his Chassidim in Chicago for their support and blesses them with many blessings.
The Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Husiatyn (1857-1948) was known as a holy man and as the elder of the Rebbes of the Ruzhin dynasty, and the last grandson of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. From 1894 he was his father’s replacement as the Admor of Husiatyn and thousands of Chassidim from Galicia came to his court, among them rabbis known throughout Galicia. During World War I he moved to Vienna, and in 1937 he immigrated to Israel, to Tel Aviv, and was known as the elder of the Rebbes and as a holy man who was greatly admired by all.
Fold marks. A slight tear with no lack. Fine condition.
A letter from the Rebbe Rabbi David Bornsztain of Sochatchov [1928].
[1] page. 21×27 cm. Official paper. Written in a gray fountain pen. All in his handwriting and with his signature.
The Rebbe Rabbi David Bornsztain (1876-1942) was the son of the author of the
Shem MiShmuel , the grandson of the “Avnei Nezer” of Sochatchov. He was a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Poland and died in the Warsaw Ghetto. In this letter, which was sent to “his beloved student, ” he notes that he sent him a
heter hora’ah , and at the end he tell of his plans “to establish a tent of Torah” in the city of Pabianice.
Fold marks and aging stains. Fine condition.
[1] leaf. 22×18 cm. Written by a scribe and signed and stamped by the Admor.The letter was sent to Kollel Polin in Jerusalem and asks for assistance for two Polish brothers who recently settled in Jerusalem. One of the brothers later became the Admor “Emunat Moshe” of Alexander. He immigrated to Jerusalem a few months before this letter was written.
Admor Menachem Mendel Landau, the first Admor of Strikov, was the son of Admor Dov Berush of Biala, who was a son of Rabbi Avraham of Chechnov. He lived in Strikov and moved to Zgierz after World War I. He was a prominent admor and leader of orthodox Jewry in Poland. He passed away in 1936.
Fold marks. Filing holes. Very fine condition.
