Authentic Chassidic letter from the renowned Chassid Rabbi Yisrael David Gutterman, one of the most prominent Chassidim in Poland – the Chassidic center, and one of the closest associates of the first Admo”r of Porisov, son of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. Garwolin, 1879?
This letter contains rare and important historic-Chassidic material that gives a taste of the lofty Divine service of Chassidim from a century and a half ago, along with important chapters in Chassidic conduct that appear in these letters. This is aside from the historiographic details regarding the Chassidic leaders of his generation, with whom the writer was in close contact as well as being related.
Background to writing this letter: The gaon and Chassid Rabbi Yehoshua Elazar Gutterman, son of the writer of these letters, ascended from Poland to the Land of Israel in his youth. In the Land, he married a daughter of the gaon and Chassid Rabbi Avraham Eliezer Mintzberg, av beit din of Józefów, (son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchak David of Lelov, grandson of the Yehudi HaKadosh). Trips from Poland to the Land of Israel in the 19th century were uncommon, and ascending to the Land often meant parting from one’s family and never seeing them again. In these letters, the gaon and Chassid Rabbi Yisrael David, who was a flaming Chassid with all his heart and soul, as is clear from each and every line in these special letters, shares a father’s guidance for his son – authentic Chassidic guidance in which he instructs his son how to conduct himself in the Chassidic way, the way of their forefathers. Rabbi Yisrael David considers the words he writes about Chassidut and Divine service in these letters as carrying great weight, and instructs his son to review them once in a while. Indeed, it is clear from the letters that they were read and studied.
The first half of the first page consists of a letter from Rabbi Yisrael David to his father-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Eliezer, and his wife, signed twice. The second part of the first page and the first part of the second page are a letter from Rabbi Yisrael David to his son. The second part of the second page bears a letter from his mother, Sarah, to her son.
Primary historic documentation appears at the top of the letter regarding the Admo”im of Porisov, also mentioning the Lelov dynasty. Family connections are known to have existed between the Porisov and Lelov dynasties. The Admo”r Rabbi Yehoshua mentioned here is an uncle of Rabbi Moshe of Lelov. “When my son’s – your son-in-law’s – letter arrived while I was travelling to Parisov, I took it with me and showed it to my son and my son-in-law – the Admo”r, shlit”a, and I spoke to him … for the good. Rabbi Meir Shalom and his brother-in-law, the excellent avreich Moshe Chaim, wrote regards in their own sacred script here. The Rebbetzin, the tzaddeket , said that she is unable to find a good time to write on her own; I should send regards on her behalf. The girls all said ” Mir bengin zeir noch Yocheved Lebin ” …
“Ask after the welfare of my dear friend, the kindred spirit, dear to my heart … (followed by a long list of descriptions) Rabbi Binyamin Yehuda Leib [Bornstein], son-in-law of the righteous Rabbi YD [Yitzchak David of Lelov] shlit”a” and [mention us?] to the tzaddikim … R’ Yitzchak David, shlit”a, and to his younger brother, the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Menachem shlit”a, to pray for us among the entire Jewish people for the good, at all the sacred sites …” The mother notes, inter alia , ” Gam bit ich tzu grissen hatzaddekes hameyuchses, HaRabbanis Maras Mattel … eshes harav hatzaddik Rebbi Eliezer Menachem shlit”a. ”
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. 33×21 cm.
Moderate condition. Fold marks. Slight tears in the margins. Damp stains with damage to the text.