Letter from Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowitz, the first Admor of Biala, to his son, Admor Yerachmiel Zvi, [1904].
Specifications: [1] postcard, 14×9 cm. All in his holy handwriting and with his signature.
Unique features: Rare letter, a personal letter written to his son who he terms “the wondrous avreich.”
Background: Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowitz was born in [1846]. His father was Rabbi Nosson Dovid, the Admor of Szydłowiec, the grandson of the holy Jew of Peschicha, and son-in-law of Rabbi Yehoshua of Ostrova author of Toldot Adam . At a young age, he was known for his righteousness and greatness. It is related that when he visited the Divrei Chaim of Sanz with his father, Rabbi Chaim stood up in his honor though he was just a child. After the death of his father-in-law in 1873, he was asked to take over his position, but he refused. It was only after Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh of Radmzyn, senior Polish Admor and his rebbe, told him that it was the Divine will that he lead a congregation, that he he began serving as the first Admor of the Biala dyansty. He had thousands of families of chassidim and was admired by all chassidic leaders in Poland. He passed away in 1905, and is also known by the name of his work, Divrei Binah. His sons were Admors in a number of Polish cities. His youngest son, Rabbi Yerachmiel Zvi, was born in 1873 and became Admor after the death of his father. He was known as the Admor of Sedlitz, but he died only about half a year after his father. The present Admors of the Biala dynasty are his descendants.
Condition: Very fine. Fold marks.
A letter from Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Leiner of Radzin to Rabbi Avraham son of Chaim [Hoffenberg], Av Beit Din of Vaski [author of Kol BeRama and Ikvei Bracha] regarding the discovery of techeilet, his works on the topic and the price of the techeilet. Radzin, 1890.
Specifications: [1] leaf. The two last lines in the Admor’s handwriting, and with his handwritten signature.
Unique Features: From the Admor’s response, it appears that the questioner asked several questions on the topic, to which the Admor replies that his book Ein HaTecheilet will soon be published, where he will find “everything explained well.” He also inquired about making tzitzit at night and the cost of the strings, to which the Admor also replies. It is interesting that the questioner was a clearly Lithuanian Rabbi (a student of Rabbi Eliezer of Telz, Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berliner and Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik) and it appears that he wanted to buy a string of techeilet.
Background: The Admor of Radzin was a magnificent figure, a genius in both the hidden and revealed Torah, tremendously wise, an expert in medicine and all fields of study, a righteous man and a miracle worker.
He was born in 1839 to his father, the Admor Rabbi Yaakov of Izhbitza, author of Beit Yaakov. In his youth, he was educated in the house of his grandfather, the founder of the dynasty, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner, author of Mei HaShiloach, who was one of the primary disciples of Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa. He was chosen as Rabbi of Radzin at the age of 22, and was imprisoned at the same time due to slander, but was released a short time later. In 1878 he was appointed to succeed his father as Admor of Izhbitza. He expanded and established the chassidut. Thousands of people accepted his authority; however, he himself loathed any external trappings, refused to wear Admor ‘s garments and to have a personal assistant.
His first work was Sidrei Taharot , in which he compiled, with tremendous genius, all of the sayings of the Sages on the order Taharot and arranged them in the manner of the Talmudic discussion, with the commentaries of Rashi and Tosefot around it. It created a great impression, almost unparalleled in the world of rabbinic literature. The same is true for the color of the snail which the Admor of Radzin awakened. In ancient times, they knew the secret of making the color techeilet from the blood of the snail. This custom ended during the time of the Geonim, as they did not know how to identify the snail, and it has never been renewed.
In the beginning, the Admor of Radzin established the necessity to return to techeilet and to fulfill the command of the Torah. He then travelled to Italy and toured around many islands in the area, as well as visiting in the underwater observatory in Naples (refer to his introduction of the book Petil Techelet ) and on his return declared that he had identified the original snail. He performed various chemical experiments himself and succeeded in extracting blue blood from them. The first batch was prepared in 1889 and the success was absolute. Twelve thousand Radzin chassidim colored their tzitzit during Chanuka of that year. The color and the secret of the revelation was kept in a safe in a bank in Warsaw and passed down through the Radzin dynasty. The Admor of Radzin published three books on this topic, in his book Shefunei Temunei Chol he explains the fundamental concepts of the techeilet, in his second book, Petil Techeilet, he reports about his scientific and chemical experiments to extract techeilet and in his third book, Ein Hatechelet , he responds to his opponents’ claims.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Tiny tears in the white margins. The bottom left hand corner is professionally restored with no damage to text.
* A letter from the Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Chortkov. Eidelsheim, 1926.
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. 14×22 cm. The letter was signed with the Rebbe’s signature: “Yisrael son of David Moshe.”
Background: The Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman (1854-1933) was the son, right hand man and successor of Rabbi David Moshe, the first Admor of Chortkov, and was named after his grandfather Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. In 1903, following his father’s death, he began to serve as Admor , and was one of the founders of the “Histadrut HaCharedim” in Chernivtsi, which later became incorporated into the newly formed Agudat Yisrael. He was a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Yisrael and participated in their conferences. After the First World War he moved to Vilna. Among his primary disciples were Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin and others, and he was one of the great supporters of immigration to Israel.
Condition: Very fine. Folding marks.
* A thank-you letter to donors with the signature of the Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Husiatyn, Tel Aviv, 1937.
Specifications: [1] leaf, official paper. 22×29 cm. The letter was signed with the Admor ‘s handwritten signature, “Yisrael son of Mordechai Feivush.” Confirmation of receipt of a donation from Jews from Chicago and blessings to the donors are i n the letter .
Background: The Admor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Husiatyn (1857-1948), the second Admor of the Husiatyn dynasty, successor of his father Rabbi Mordechai Shraga Feivush, and named after his grandfather Rabbi Yisrael Friedman, who died seven years previously. With the outbreak of the Second World War the Admor moved to Tel Aviv together with a large group of his disciples, to whom he said “we must escape in our slippers.” He took part in the prayer conducted in 1942, when it seemed that the Nazis may reach the Holy Land. He died in December 1948 and was buried, at his request, in Tiberias. His son-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov Friedman, succeeded him as Admor .
Condition: Fine, folding marks, a few stains.
Letter from Rabbi Mordechai Rokeach of Bilgoray. [c. 1945-1950].
Specifications: [1] leaf. 21×20 cm. 14 lines in his handwriting, with his signature and stamp.
Content: The letter was sent to the members of the Chief Rabbinate in Tel Aviv and discusses the necessity of finding employment for a Holocaust survivor Torah scholar “who underwent a number of adventures.” He suggests that they employ him in the field of kashrut, since the Torah scholar is very capable and an appropriate candidate for such a job.
Background: Rabbi Mordechai Rokeach was born in Belz. His father was Rabbi Yissacher Dov Rokeach of Belz. In his youth, he was appointed Rabbi of Bilgoray. During the Holocaust, he wandered from place to place, until he joined his brother Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, the Admor of Belz. In 1943, he reached Hungary together with his brother. They stayed in Budapest until they were informed that the Gestapo was after them and demanding that the Hungarian government give them over. They miraculously fled until they reached Palestine. After he found out that his wife and children were murdered in the Holocaust, he remarried. His only son is the current Admor of Belz.
Condition: Fine. Marginal tears, without loss of text. Minimal stains and folds.
Letter to the presidium of the Siebenburgen and Siladi kollel signed by Admor Yechezkel Paneth of Dej and his brother Rabbi Yitzchak Yechiel Paneth. Dej, [1922].
Specifications: [1] leaf, letterhead printed in blue, text on both sides of the leaf.
Content: Lengthy official letter with precise sums of money, signed by the presidents of the kollel, including Admor Yechezkel Paneth and Rabbi Yitzchak Yechiel Paneth, who also added his stamp.
Background: Admor Yechezkel Paneth of Dej was born in 1863. His father was Rabbi Moshe of Dej. He served as rabbi in a number of communities from a very young age. After his father’s death in 1903, he succeeded him as rabbi and Admor in Dej. He passed away in 1930. A eulogy booklet, Kol Bochim , was printed in Dej in 1930. His Torah thoughts were printed in Knesset Yechezkel . Refer to: Alfasi, Chassidut 2, 174-175. Rabbi Yitzchak Yechiel Paneth of Dej was born in 1863. His father was Rabbi Moshe of Dej. He studied in yeshiva with his grandfather, Rabbi Menachem Mendel. He lived in Dej his entire life. After his father’s death, his brother Rabbi Yechezkel served as Admor. However, he also served as Admor in addition to his role as president of the “Ahavat Tzion” Siebenburgen Kollel. He passed away in 1940. Refer to Alfasi, Chassidut 2, 408.
Condition: Fine. Small tears.
An important letter from the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, of Lubavitch.
Specifications: [1] official paper leaf. 23×21 cm. Typewritten with corrections in his handwriting and with his signature, dated 24 Tammuz [July 3] 1956.
Content: The battle against Israeli ships travelling on Shabbat was a mighty battle waged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the 1950’s and 60’s in order to raise public awareness of the prohibition against travelling on Israeli ships owned by Jews which travel on Shabbat while desecrating Shabbat. In an attempt to allow the Israeli ship company ‘Zim’ to continue its journeys while misleading the public, there were those who claimed that operating ships does not desecrate Shabbat, and the Zim company even published a detailed opinion of an engineer, who explained that there is no need to desecrate Shabbat for a ship to travel, as everything is done automatically by machine. In the important letter before us, the Lubavitcher Rebbe explains his approach to the matter (while making use of his extensive knowledge of ship engineering from his studies in France), and responds to these claims, proving that they are lies and deception, and writes: “It is impossible for a ship to be controlled automatically for an entire day with no human intervention.” They also claimed that stopping the ships is life threatening, as it will cause financial damage to the State of Israel, and could lead to security damage; the Rebbe responds to these claims in the letter before us, saying that desecration of Shabbat is the greatest damage there is, “as it is similar to one who extinguishes a fire with petroleum,” and additionally, if we were to take this claim seriously, factories, and other similar institutions, in Israel would have to be permitted to work on Shabbat as well (G-d forbid). In the late 1960’s, when travelling in passenger ships became a rarity and was replaced by airplane travel, the controversy gradually died out.
Unique Features: The letter before us is addressed to Rabbi Dr. Zvi Harkavi, and is the continuation of an interesting story. In the winter of 1956, Harkavi’s wife and son travelled to America, intending to return to Israel by boat. When the Lubavitcher Rebbe heard of this, he informed them that he will pay for their return journey by airplane, despite the high costs. This was reported in the newspapers of the time and caused a great furor.
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn [1902-1994] was the seventh Rebbe of Lubavitch, and one of the greatest Rebbes of the last generation. He was known as a tremendous genius in the revealed and hidden Torah and as having an astounding memory. In addition to his greatness in Torah, he also had extensive secular knowledge. In 1933 he moved to Paris, where he completed electronic engineering studies in the E.S.T.P school of higher education of public works. He even received a degree as an electronic engineer.
Condition: Very fine. Folding marks, aging stains.
Letter signed by Admor Menachem Mendel of Strikov. Zgierz, 1924.
Specifications: [1] leaf. 21×22 cm. His holy signature on two lines.
Content: The letter was written to the community of chassidim, and the Admor requests that they try to give a membership donation to the Agudat Yisrael. He details the amount and notes that this donation will hasten the redemption as it will cause all of Israel to be part of one “agudah” [group].
Background: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Landau was the first Admor of Strikov. He was the son of Rabbi Dov Berish of Biala and grandson of Rabbi Avraham of Chechnov. He lived in the village of Strikov and moved to Zgierz after the First World War. He was a prominent Admor, one of the heads of Agudat Yisrael, and among the leaders of ultra-Orthodox Jewry in Poland. He passed away in 1936.
Condition: Fine. Fold marks.
“Perhaps, in the merit of my holy fathers, he could find favor in their eyes to give an exceptional entry permit to my delicate sister and her family, to save them from danger of death, heaven forbid.”
Moving letter by the Admor of Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef Friedman, in an attempt to rescue his sister, her husband and their children from the claws of the Nazis. Stencil print with handwritten addition with his signature in English.
The letter is addressed to the lawyer Buxbaum who at the time dealt with helping Jews who requested refuge in the Land of Israel. In the letter, the Admor details his distress with respect to his sister and her husband who were then in Poland and set to be transferred to Dachau ‘where there is danger to life in the full sense of the word.’ The Admor asks him to turn to the British High Commissioner to make efforts on their behalf to rescue them, and he suggests that if there is a need, he will come urgently to Jerusalem ‘because the matter cannot be delayed.’ There are four handwritten lines with personal details, his place of residence in Tel Aviv, and his signature in English.
Provenance: Estate of the lawyer Mordechai Buxbaum [from the Admor’s personal folder].
The Admor Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef Friedman (1897-1979) was born in Sadigura to his father Rabbi Aharon Friedman, author of Kedushat Aharon (of Sadigura). When WWI broke out, he fled to Vienna together with the other Admors of Ruzhin. He was an Agudat Yisrael activist after the war. At the first Kenissiah Gedolah (Great Conference), when he was just 26 years old, he was appointed as a member of Agudat Yisrael’s “Vaad HaPoel HaOlami” (World Executive Committee) and as president of the Torah Fund. He established the Meshivat Nafesh yeshivah in Pshemishl in 1923. He began sending chassidim to the Land of Israel in 1925. He visited the Land and lit the traditional Lag B’Omer bonfire in Meron in 1933. At the third General Conference in 1937, he was among the heads of the side of Agudat Yisrael who supported the state of Jews. He visited the Land of Israel again in Adar of 1939, and acting upon the advice of his Uncle, the Admor of Husitian, he settled there, residing in Tel Aviv. He managed to extricate his family from Europe, and moved them to Israel. He opened a synagogue on Betzalel Yaffe Street. During the Holocaust years, he edited a draft of a proclamation to be posted by Agudat Yisrael about the situation of the Jews in Europe. He worked with the survivors after the Holocaust, and inter alia, corresponded with the high commissioner and met with Moshe Shapira on this topic. He passed away at the age of 83 on 29 Nissan 1979, and was interred in the Nachalat Yitzchak cemetery in Givatayim. His Torah thoughts on Torah and holidays appear the the series Knesset Mordechai.
Letter handwritten and signed by the Admor Rabbi Baruch Hager of Seret Vizhnitz. 24 Elul 1952.
[1] leaf, official stationery, approx. 22×14 cm.
Fine condition.
[3] letters, of which [2] are printed Rosh HaShanah greetings, and letter handwritten and signed by the Admor Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Kahan, on the invitation to his daughter’s wedding.
Specifications:
* [2] new year’s greeting cards printed in the name of the Admor, just before Rosh HaShanah 1970 and 1972. With the original envelopes.
* Invitation to his daughter Malkah’s wedding, on which the Admor wrote a number of lines in his handwriting as a personal invitation and blessing to the addressee, signed in his handwriting.
Condition: Both Shanah Tovah cards are blemished in a number of words due to the detachment of the adhesion. Except for this, overall fine condition.
Letter signed by Rabbi Avraham Chaim Roth, the Admor of Shomrei Emunim, with a blessing “that this year be a year prayers are accepted, a year of redemption and salvation through the coming of mashiach with mercy and great kindness.” Jerusalem, 1964.
Specifications: [1] leaf, official stationery. Typed letter signed by the Admor. 16×20 cm.
The Admor Rabbi Avraham Chaim Roth, the “Chukei Chaim,” (1924-2012) was the only son of Rabbi Aharon Roth, founder of the Shomrei Emunim Chassidut. His sons continue his way and serve today as Admors in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod and more.
Condition: Filing perforations. Fine condition.
Rav Tavchia [copy with lack] on the laws of ritual slaughter, with color pictures, Warsaw 1913. Personal copy belonging to the holy rabbi Shlomo Chanoch HaKohen Rabinowitz, author of Shivchei Kohen , of Radomsk. On the title page: “Shlomo Chanoch HaKohen, son of the Holy Rabbi, ztz”l,” and the Admor of Trisk, London Rabbi Yaakov Leib Twersky’s stamp.
Specifications: [6] leaves, paper. Lacking 2-81, 88-96. 24×20 cm.
Background: The holy rabbi Rabbi Shlomo Chanoch HaKohen Rabinowitz [1844-1942] served as Admor of Radomsk with the passing of his father in 1911, and until his murder on 18 Av 1942 in the Warsaw ghetto. He was known as a tremendous wonder-worker, and suffered bitter torments all his life. When WWII started, his chassidim prepared a plan for him to flee from Europe to the Land of Israel. When they presented him with this plan, he said that he does not want to flee, he wants to be with all the Jews, and their fate will be his fate. Indeed, on Shabbat of the Torah portion of Ekev 1942, he was murdered in his home by a regiment of Nazi soldiers. He served as the final Admor of Radomsk. With his passing, the magnificent Radomsk dynasty established by the Tiferet Shlomo was cut short.
Condition: Moderate, tear in the title page without lack, detached pages.
Shaarei Teshuvah by Rabbeinu Yonah, which belonged to the holy Admor Rabbi Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam, author of Shefa Chaim of Sanz Klausenberg, with his personal stamp.
Specifications: [1] 133, 30, [4] leaves, paper. Shaarei Teshuvah in two parts, with a separate title page for Shaarei Teshuvah Chelek Bet Sefer HaYirah . The title page bears the stamp Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam, Av Beit Din of Sanz.”
The flyleaf bears the signature and the stamp of his associate, the rabbi of Sanz chassidut in Ramot. The book belonged to him after he received it from the holy Admor.
It is well-known that the Admor would quote extensively from the Shaarei Teshuvah in all his sermons.
The Admor of Sanz-Klausenberg Rabbi Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam [1904-1994] was one of the great Admors of the generation after the Holocaust, grandson of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz and his successor. His first wife was the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, author of Eitz Chaim of Sighet. He established the Sanz institutions in Israel and in the United States, as well as the Laniado hospital in Netanya and the Mifal HaShas HaOlami. His sons and successors are the Admor Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam of Sanz in Netanya and the Admor Rabbi Shmuel David Halberstam of Klausenberg in the United States.
Fine condition.
Siddur and Tehillim from which the Admor Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz Halbertam of Stropkov prayed. With his holy signature and kabbalistic glosses in his handwriting.
Specifications: Thick siddur with Tehillim published by Eshkol 1989. [The siddur is 768 pages and the Tehillim is 188 pages]. There is a letter of authorization included with the siddur signed by the Admor’s son, Rabbi Avraham Shalom Yissachar Dov Lipshitz Halberstam of Stropkov, attesting to the fact that his father prayed from this siddur.
“I, the undersigned, do hereby attest that the small siddur with Tehillim, called Siddur Tefillat Kol Peh published by Eshkol, 1989 edition, with my father, ztz”l’s signature, was used by him, and that he prayed from it, signed AShY”Sh Halberstam, son of the Admor of Stropkov, ztz”l.”
In the beginning of the siddur, the Admor signed his full name, “Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz Halberstam.” He added a number of kabbalistic glosses in his handwriting. For example, he added the lengthy, spelled-out divine Names, longer that what is generally used, at the tops of some of the pages. He also wrote abbreviations hinting at kabbalistic concepts on certain pages.
Moderate-fine condition: The siddur is very used and signs of usage are evident along the entire length of the siddur, as well as stains; the binding is partially detached.
Zichron Shmuel on the Torah from a student of the Maggid of Kosnitz and the Chozeh of Lublin [Bardejov 1925], copy that belonged to Rabbi Shmuel Engel of Radomysl and his son-in-law Rabbi David Halpern of Dobczyce.
Specifications: 74 leaves, paper. Without spine or binding. 24 cm. The title page has Rabbi Shmuel Engel of Radomysl’s foreign language stamp. Under the stamp there is a [slightly faded] signature by his son-in-law Rabbi David Halpern of Dobczyce: הק’ דוד היילפרין אבדק”ק דאמבטשיץ חתן הרב הגאון מראדומישלא.
Rabbi Shmuel Engel of Radomysl [1853-1935] was a prominent halachic adjudicator in Galicia. He authored the Shu”t Maharash and was a close disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Sanz. After his Rebbe’s passing, he joined the court of son, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam of Shinov.
Rabbi David Halberstam of Dobczyce was the Mahara”sh Engel’s son-in-law and of Rabbi David Halberstam of Shinov’s grandson, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz’s son. His son was Rabbi Elchonon Halpern of Radomysl in Golders Green, London.
Fine condition: Water stains on a few leaves.
Ten letters handwritten and signed by the great Admors of Sanz.
*Letter with much content, handwritten and signed by the Admor Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Halberstam of Zhmigrod.
[20] lines and his signature, in which he writes, inter alia,
“I beg you to pray for my son Chaim Naftali Aharon shlit”a who has had a fever for some months now, we know not from what, but thank G-d he feels good.”
Nine other letters, various sizes and conditions, overall very fine condition.
Huge and important collection of 50 invitations to great Admors’ weddings and family celebrations, all with their handwritten additions or signatures.
All the invitations, without exception, have handwritten additions or signatures by great Admors.
Various sizes and conditions, overall fine condition.
40 letters handwritten and signed by great Admors.
Various sizes and conditions; overall very fine condition.
81 Shanah Tovah greeting cards and envelopes, the vast majority of which are handwritten or signed by great Admors and rosh yeshivahs.
There are a total of 81 items of various sizes and conditions, overall very fine condition, some tears and folds.
Invitation to the the Admor of Shomrei Emunim [founder of the chassidut], Rabbi Aharon Roth’s son’s wedding. The bridegroom: Rabbi Avraham Chaim [the Admor of Shomrei Emunim – Jerusalem], the bride: Batya Chaya, Jerusalem. With an interesting addition from the bridegroom’s grandfather, the Admor of Zvhill.
Interesting invitation in which the Admor of Shomrei Emunim, Rabbi Aharon Roth, is called the ‘Admor of Satmar.’ In 1921, the Admor established a group called ‘Yirei Hashe-m’ in Satmar, Rumania, and was called the “Admor of Satmar’ for some time, as he was considered by his followers to be the successor the the Admor of Satmar. A picture of the Admor of Zvhill is on the left side of the invitation, with an inscription next to it requesting help with the wedding expenses of his son, Rabbi Mordechai, and blessing those who assist with this.
The Admor Rabbi Aharon Roth [Reb Ahrelech 1894-1947] founder of the Shomrei Emunim chassidut, known by the nickname ‘Reb Ahreleh’ and to this day residents of the old yishuv in Jerusalem are know as ‘Reb Ahrelech.’ Born in Ungvar to his father, who was a butcher, he started the dynasty himself, a rare thing in itself. He was holy and refrained from pleasures of the world, and required of his chassidim extremely modest and ascetic conduct. Authored many books, including Shomer Emunim and Taharat HaKodesh . The holy group continues to our day in the chassidic groups “Shomer Emunim,” “Toldot Avraham Yitzchak,” “Mevakshei Emunah” and more.
The bridegroom, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Roth [1924-2012] the first Admor of the Shomer Emunim chassidut after the passing of the “Chok Chaim,” founder of the Shomer Emunim group, in his first years serving as Admor, he was called the “Admor of Beregszasz” after his birthplace.
30×10 cm. [open] very fine condition.
24 Kvitelach notes with names for prayer and blessings written by prominent Admors.
Highlights include seven kvitelach written by the Admor of Erloi, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer [two in a different hand, possibly written by his wife, the Rebbetzin]; kvitelach written by the Admor of Stropkov, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz Halberstam ztz”l [“for health of the body and soul, repentance and good deeds”]; kvitelach written by the Admor of Kashoi, Rabbi Elazar Chaim Blum; kvitelach in the hand of Admor Pinchas Gveritz [for success…to be written for a chatima tova …and that our prayers should be accepted with compassion for a good, sweet year, a year of light and joy, redemption and salvation]; two kvitelach written by the Admor of Dej, Rabbi Dov Berish Paneth, and more.
Various sizes and conditions, overall fine condition.
Nine-page notebook with a long responsum handwritten and signed by the Admor of Stropkov, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz Halberstam, about tzitzit made in a machine by a gentile with the help of a Jew.
The gaon was asked about tzitzit made by a non-Jew with a Jew’s help – are the tzitzit kosher in this way, using the Jew’s power by way of the machine? The Admor discusses the issue in the words of the great earlier and later authorities [Rabbi Akiva Eiger, the Pri Megadim , HaSimlah Chadashah and more], the essence of b’koach kocho [using his power’s power] in general, and in this case specifically. He also discusses those who do things on their own without asking their rabbis.
Near the end of the notebook, the Admor resolutely addresses the essence of the law of making tzitzit by machine, and brings his grandfather’s words: ‘What was said by the holy Admor, leader of the entire diaspora, heavenly angel … author of Divrei Chaim ztzuk”l of Sanz, may his memory protect us, is well known … to prohibit the tzitzit machine. He who caused others to stumble has been punished, as the machine crashed and the entire factory burned down and they suffered much damage, and his holy words are forever, to punish those who cause others to stumble. Go study his holy book in depth (which I don’t have at present, due to my many sins) and it is certainly the Torah of truth, and the halachah has been established as such. Thus was the halachah determined in heaven and in the walls of the study halls which trembled here on earth.’ And he signs that what his grandfather forbade was with respect to the simple machines of about a hundred years previous, when it was possible to find ways of allowing it; all the machinery now is wondrous with tremendous wisdom of the hidden powers in the nature of creation ‘Everyone admits that these tzitzit are disqualified at the Torah level.’ His signature is in the margins.
[9] lined notebook pages, 20×17 cm. Very fine condition.
“May you be blessed from the source of all blessings with bounty, success and all goodness, and may Hash-m fulfill all your heart’s wishes favorably and for good,” a letter by the Admor Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Perlow of Karlin.
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. 20×13 cm. Six lines in his handwriting and with his signature.
Condition: Tear on the pages’ sides causing lack in the text, non-professional repair. Moderate condition.
Letter of blessing handwritten and signed by the Admor of Nadvorna, Bnei Brak, 1997.
Letter from the Admor’s gabbai in the Admor’s name from 23 Cheshvan 1986.
The Admor Rabbi Yaakov Yissachar Ber Rosenbaum [1930-2012] the Be’er Yaakov, served as Admor in Bnei Brak in the outskirts of the Vizhnitz neigborhood, he was a fifth-generation decendant of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna, known as ascetic and holy. He was one of of the Admors whose followers included even some from the Lithuanian (yeshiva) world, and Admors from other chassidic courts. [2] leaves. 24×17 cm.
Very fine condition.
