Exceptional letter of rabbinic ordination entirely handwritten and signed by the gaon Rabbi Akiva Sofer, av beit din of Pressburg, in honor of the appointment of his beloved disciple, the gaon Rabbi Yuda (Yehudah) Dov Singer, av beit din of Waitzen, as rabbi of Givat Shmuel, next to Bnei Brak. Jerusalem, 10 Adar, 1953.
This letter is written in a lyrical style, reminiscent of letters by his grandfather, the Chatam Sofer. Starting from the 1953 year detail at the beginning of the letter, which the Da’at Sofer designates with initials “ת’הא ש’נת י’שועה ג’מורה” and through the huge blessings at the end of the letter, handwritten by the gaon of Pressburg: “May Hashem desire your success … He who raises Himself above all will shine [your] light with honor and glory … the youth Akiva, son of … Simchah Bunim Sofer, ztz”l.”
The Da’at Sofer opens his letter of rabbinic ordination with a lengthy rhyming poem that praises its recipient, who had already served in prominent rabbinic positions in Hungary (Budapest, Waitzen) and in the Land of Israel (Beit Meir). The poem opens with the words: And this is for Yuda/ Who is nothing but Torah/ That became a light for him etc.
Following the descriptive lines is the blank part of the rabbinic ordination document designed with wider lines, in which the Da’at Sofer attached his ordination for his disciple’s appointment to the rabbinate of Givat Shmuel: “You put joy in my heart with the news that you were chosen as local rabbi … for the people of the community, their leader … to guide them in the paths of Torah on tranquil waters as transmitted to us by our forefathers … may you merit disseminating Torah and fear of Heaven. May Hashem desire your success … and He who raises Himself above all will shine [your] light with honor and glory … the youth Akiva, son of … Simchah Bunim Sofer, ztz”l.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of Rabbi Akiva Sofer and Rabbi Yehudah Dov Singer .
[1] leaf paper. 27×18 cm. Official letter.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Professional restoration.