Auction No. 098
Holy books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors letters, Americana & Judiaca
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A letter in the handwriting of the Admor, author of 'Minchat Elazar' of Munkacs, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira.
Specifications: [1] official paper leaf. 30x23 cm. The Rebbe's glosses were written between the writer's lines, and at the end are five lines in his handwriting and with his signature.
Content: The letter was written on September 7, 1922. The top part of the leaf was written by Moshe Goldstein, the Rebbe's personal secretary, in which he criticizes the way the kollel money is distributed and demands "to receive the receipts as soon as possible", and adds that "you have astounded us during a time of sorrow and pressure...and the gates of tears are locked". He also writes that he encloses the printed protocol against the "Agudah".
The letter was proofread by the Rebbe, who added his glosses in his handwriting between the lines, and even added a number of lines at the end of the letter and signed.
Background: Rabbi Chaim Elazar of Munkacs, (1871-1937), known as the 'Minchat Elazar' after the name of his book. One of the most important Rebbes of his generation, one of the great opponents of Zionism and Agudat Yisrael and the leader of the zealot stream. He headed a kollel in Munkacs which supported the poor of Israel and established the Batei Munkacs neighborhood. He was a great genius in both written and hidden Torah, kept in contact through messengers with the head of the Kabbalists Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari, known as the "Sabba Kadisha", and even travelled to Israel to visit him. He was hopeful that this meeting would quicken the redemption, and even made a pre-condition that no other person be present during their meeting.
Condition: Fine, folding marks and tiny tears. The ink of some of the words is smudged, but it is mostly legible.
A letter in the handwriting and with the signature of the Rebbe Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager, author of Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz - Bnei Brak, to his younger brother, the Rebbe Rabbi Baruch Hager of Seret-Vizhnitz - Haifa, author of Makor Baruch.
Specifications: [1] official paper leaf. 19x14 cm, with the original envelope without the stamps.
Unique Features: The letter is in Yiddish, entirely in the Rebbe's handwriting, who signs at the end, "Your loving brother Chaim Meir".
The Rebbe Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager, author of the "Imrei Chaim" was born in 1888 to his father the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael of Vizhnitz. He was his father's right-hand-man in his life and successor after his death, rehabilitated Vizhnitz chassidut after the Holocaust. In 1947 he immigrated to Israel, re-established the Vizhnitz institutions and was the leader of Chareidi Jewry until his death in 1972. He was buried next to his younger brother, the author of the "Makor Baruch", who died in 1963.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Folding marks, a few stains with no damage to text.
A letter of condolence to the heads of the Tomchei Torah foundation in New York, on the death of the president and founder of the foundation Rabbi Hillel HaCohen, from the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel, Av Beit Din of Vishova and Rosh Yeshiva of the "Beit Yisrael" yeshiva.
Specifications: Official paper of the Beit Yisrael yeshiva. 22x30 cm.
Unique Features: The letter is from the 1920's, on the yeshiva's document paper, with the Rebbe's signature and seal.
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vishova (1885-1941), son of the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael of Vizhnitz, chosen during his father's lifetime, in 1910, to serve as Rabbi of Vizhnitz. In 1925 he was appointed as Av Beit Din of Vishova, where he established the yeshiva with a student body of over 400. He put great efforts into the yeshiva's physical needs, but invested his main efforts in delivering lectures and testing the students. From 1936 he also served as a Rebbe. The many responsibilities which he took upon himself made him ill, and he died at age 56 on January 12, 1941 [Encyclopedia L'Chassidut volume 3 page 95].
Condition: Fine. Folding marks, wear and slight tears at the edge of the leaf.
"A letter with the stamp and signature of the Rebbe Rabbi Chaim of Antinia, to his disciples and followers in the city of Safed, and to Rabbi Yosef Zvi [Geiger, director and representative of Kollel Bukovina in Safed], regarding sending money to the members of the Kollel.
Specifications: [1] paper leaf, 22x14 cm. A letter from the year 1925.
Unique Features: On one side is a letter from the Rebbe Rabbi Chaim of Antinia, with his stamp and signature. On the other side is a letter from his Gabai Mendel Waltzer requesting a mehudar etrog to be sent to him.
Background: Rabbi Chaim, the Rebbe of Antinia, son of the Rebbe Rabbi Baruch of Vizhnitz, born in 1863 and named after his grandfather Rabbi Chaim of Kosov, son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchak of Bohush, grandson of Rabbi Yisrael of Kozin. Served as Rebbe from 1893 for forty years, until his death in 1932. From a young age he was known as a great and sharp genius and as extremely diligent. He was ordained at a very young age by the leading Galician Rabbis - Rabbi Shlomo of Sokal, author of the responsa Beit Shlomo; the Gaon of Grzymałów, author of Kochav M'Yaakov; and Rabbi Yitzchak Shmelkish, Av Beit Din of Lvov. The author of Responsa Beit Yitzchak describes him as the light of Israel, the crown of the diaspora, [refer to Ohalei Shem ibid].
He was the president of the Bukovina Kollel for seventeen years, and put great efforts into sustaining the kollel. The books Nimukei Chaim and Tal Chaim were printed from his teachings. His writings were also published in various Torah compilations, and many more remained in manuscript form.
Condition: Very fine. Folding marks. "
Specifications: [1] paper leaf, 14x22 cm. Written in 1946. Printed, with an additional handwritten line. Signed with the stamp of the Rebbe Rabbi Aharon of Belz.
Unique Features: The letter, which it seems was displayed in the Beit Midrash with the addition of a handwritten line, "To all of our loyal followers the tremendous chassidim, each one will be blessed by his name", and with the Rebbe's stamp, was written before the rejuvenation of Belz chassidut, about two years after his arrival in Israel, and the chassidim are requested to "assist with anything possible".
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Aharon of Belz [1880-1957], the fourth Rebbe of Belz. He acted with abstinence and piety from a very young age and was known as a holy person. After his father's death in 1927 he was appointed as his successor, and thousands of Belz chassidim from throughout Europe flocked to him. Tragedy struck when his wife and six children were murdered in the Holocaust, he was miraculously saved and escaped to Israel, where he settled in Tel Aviv. Enormous sums of money were needed to save him, and the great Rebbes went - even on Shabbat! - from door to door and collected money for his salvation. He was known as a quasi angel in his lifetime, he hardly ate and weighed only about forty kilograms. He was well-known to be a miracle worker, one of the most important and famous Chareidi and chassidic leaders in the world. The person closest to him was his brother Rabbi Mordechai who also lost his entire family in the Holocaust and managed to escape together with the Rebbe to Israel, where he re-married. His only son is the present Rebbe of Belz.
Condition: Very fine, folding marks.
Specifications: [1] official paper leaf. 27x21 cm. Entirely in his handwriting and with his signature. The letter is from 1972, when he still served as Av Beit Din of Sighet in Brooklyn.
Unique Features: The Satmar Rebbes are famous for encouraging their disciples to donate to all charities, not just to the Satmar institutions, and indeed Satmar chassidim are among the greatest charity-givers of the present day. In this letter of recommendation the Rebbe begs "to give as much help as possible" to a Sephardi yeshiva in Canada.
Background: Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar (1914-2006), was born in the city of Sighet, Romania to his father the author of Atzei Chaim of Sighet, and was a disciple of his uncle the Satmar Rebbe. During the war he was sent to Auschwitz with his entire family, where his wife and three children were murdered. After the Holocaust he emigrated to America, where, following the death of the Satmar Rebbe (with no living descendants), he was appointed as his uncle's successor and became the revered Rebbe of the Satmar chassidim - which is considered one of the largest chassidic groups in the world, and as President of the Eidah Chareidit in Israel.
Condition: Very fine.
A letter in the handwriting of the Rebbe and Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Zvi Brandwein of Stretin - a request for support from the Ezrat Torah organization in order to marry his daughter to the young man Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Halberstam, son of the Av Beit Din of Zimigrad.
Specifications: [1] official documents paper leaf. 21x28 cm. Tel Aviv, 1944.
Unique Features: A long letter with details of his family ties to the great Chassidic leaders. The Rebbe Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef of Sadigura added a few lines of recommendation in the letter's margins, in his handwriting and with his signature, part of the signature is torn. His stamp partially appears on the page of the letter, and again on the rear side of the page. The Rebbe of Stretin's original address, as printed on the leaf, is Jerusalem, and his address in Tel Aviv is written by hand.
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Yehuda Zvi Brandwein of Stretin, a descendant of Rabbi Zvi Aryeh of Alik, son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham of Stretin. He was born in Safed in 1903. During the First World War he travelled to Hungary and studied from the Rebbe Rabbi Yoel of Satmar. After an year and a half he returned to Jerusalem where he met the Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ashlag, Ba'al HaSulam. He became his primary disciple, and assisted him in editing his works and with his famous commentary on the Zohar. Rabbi Yehuda himself published and edited a 14 volume work of the writings of the Ari with source references and punctuation etc. [refer to Encyclopedia L'Chassidut volume 2 pages 50-51].
Condition: Fine condition with the exception of a blemish at the bottom of the leaf which also damages the signature of the Rebbe Rabbi Mordechai Shalom of Sadigura, filing holes with slight tears around them without damage to text, folding marks in addition to these blemishes.
A letter in the handwriting of the Rebbe Rabbi Yechiel Michel Landman Av Beit Din of Lutsk - the Strelisk dynsaty; to the sages of Jerusalem.
Specifications: [3] pages, official paper, 21x13 cm, entirely in his handwriting, with his signature.
Unique Features: A long letter from 1908, regarding a woman who ran away from her husband to Switzerland and refuses to accept a Get. He asks for their opinion as to whether he should allow him to marry another woman due to the Heter Meah Rabbanim. The Rebbe describes the halachic reasoning for giving the permission.
Background: Rabbi Yechiel Michel Landman, son of Rabbi Avraham of Shepetivka, a direct descendant of the Maggid of Zlotchov, son-in-law of Rabbi Uri of Podolia, Rebbe in Lutsk and Nikolayev, and from 1934, in Prague. He was a great Torah scholar and left behind him many works in manuscript form. [Encyclopedia L'Chassidut page 220, Chassidut M'Dor L'Dor page 282, Yemei Zikaron, Chodesh Cheshvan page 150].
Condition: Fine-very fine, filing holes, folding marks, a few aging stains.
A postcard from the year 1905, a letter of condolence to his nephews Rabbi Yosef, Rabbi Ayreh Leib and Rabbi Avraham.
Specifications: A postcard on thick paper, 9x14 cm. The postcard is in his handwriting and with his signature, with cramped writing over the entire page.
Background: Rabbi Aharon of Berezne, son of Rabbi Chaim [Taubman] of Berezne [son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Leibishov, son of Rabbi Avraham Abba Yosef of Soroka (one of the primary disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch), son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchak of Berezne [son-in-law of Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl], son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Berezne son of Rabbi Shmaryahu of Leibishov, son-in-law of Rabbi David of Stepan, son-in-law of the Maggid Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov], son-in-law of Rabbi Mordechai of Kashnov, a grandson of the Maggid of Zlotchov on his mother's side], succeeded his father in 1908 together with his brother Rabbi Gedaliah Moshe. He died on June 5, 1926).
[Encyclopedia L'Chassidut pages 160-161, Encyclopedia L'Chachma Galicia part 6 page 825 and Sefer Yemei Zikaron Chodesh Sivan pages 241-242].
Condition: Very fine.
A long letter from the Rebbe Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam of Sanz-Klausenburg, to Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin.
Specifications: [2] pages, official paper leaf. 17x25 cm.
Unique features: Written on the eve of Shabbat HaGadol 1962. The majority of the letter is written in the handwriting of his assistant Rabbi Aharon Yeshaya Zvi Spitzer, and there are six lines at the end - words of greeting in the Rebbe's handwriting and with his signature.
The letter gives an overview of the development of the chassidic neighborhood Kiryat Sanz in Netanya, the number of families, number of students in the neighborhood's institutions, schools and teaching college, as well as about the establishment of the hospital in Netanya run entirely according to Torah and halacha "with no stumbling blocks and danger of autopsies and desecration of Shabbat and non-kosher food".
Condition: Very fine, folding marks.
A letter from the Rebbe Rabbi Chaim Taubman of Brezno, son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Leibishov, to his "mechutan" the Rebbe Rabbi Yitzchak Wertheim of Bender and to his son-in-law the Rebbe Rabbi Shimon Shlomo Wertheim of Bender, the son of the aforementioned Rabbi Yitzchak.
Specifications: [1] paper leaf. 24x21 cm. A long letter in his handwriting and with his signature.
Unique Features: A very rare and important letter.
Content: The letter deals with arranging the date of his daughter's wedding to her bridegroom Rabbi Shimon Shlomo. In the letter, Rabbi Chaim inquires after Rabbi Yitzchak's father-in-law's health, and mentions his journey to "the ufrefrin" [i.e. the Shabbat of the 'Ufruf']. His father-in-law was Rabbi Yosef of Radvil [son of Rabbi Eliezer of Tchan, son of Rabbi Yisrael of Tchan, son of Rabbi Yosef of Yampil, son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel, the Maggid of Zlotchov, son of Rabbi Yitzchak of Drohobycz, son of Rabbi Yosef Sprawidliwi, 'Ish Emet', refer to Nachalat Zvi 14:139].
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Chaim Taubman of Brezno, son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel son of Rabbi Avraham the Rebbe of Leibishov [one of the primary disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch], son-in-law of the Rebbe Rabbi Yitzchak of Brezno, [son-in-law of Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl] son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Brezno son of Rabbi Shemariyahu of Leibishov, son-in-law of Rabbi David of Stepan, son-in-law of the Maggid Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, succeeded his father-in-law as Rebbe of Brezno from 1865 until his death in 1908.
Condition: Fine. A slight tear with lack of a few letters in the first lines, professionally restored. Aging stains.
Handwritten inscription from Rabbi Moshe Yechiel HaLevi Epstein of Ozerov, author of Esh Dat and Be'er Moshe, on a flyleaf of a book of Psalms with the Likutei Orot and Panim Yafot commentaries, from the holy brothers Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the author of Panim Yafot [published in Warsaw, 1923], to his "mechuten" "the Rabbi and tzaddik, glory of the holy", Admor Dovid Mordechai Twersky of Tolna.
Specifications: [1] leaf, 13x22 cm. Above the signature of the Admor of Ozerov is the signature of Rabbi Dovid Mordechai of Tolna.
Background: Rabbi Dovid Mordechai was born in Tolna in 1888. His father, Rabbi Menachem Nachum was the son of Rabbi Mordechai, the only son of Rabbi Dovid of Tolna, patriach of the dynasty. Rabbi Dovid Mordechai received ordination at a young age and served as Rabbi in Tulchyn, Russia. In 1913, he moved to the United States. He was the second Admor to move from Russia to America. As soon as he arrived, his court drew the many chassidim that had arrived previously on the shores of the United States. He passed away in 1953. His son was Rabbi Yochanan of Tolna ztz"l, who settled in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. [Sefer HaYachas M'Chernobyl V'Ruzhin, p. 135; Toldot Anshei Shem, p. 53; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, p. 495].
Condition: Fine-very fine. Tiny tears that have been professionally restored.