Very beautiful letter, exceptionally rare, from the wonder-worker, the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael Tzvi Rottenberg, author of Ohr Maleh of Kászony. Kászon, [Hungary, ] 1939. Letters from him are extraordinarily rare, and have been seen only a few times at auction.
The letter was sent right before WWII, from Hungary to America, to the Tomchei Torah Society led by R’ Eliyahu Jung. The front of the letter bears a description by the administrators of the yeshivah in Kászony and its impossible financial situation, against a backdrop of the world war brewing in Europe. Inter alia , there is note of an unknown law that prohibited donations from Jews for Torah institutions: “Our new country forbids collecting funds from our people.” This part of the letter is signed by a son-in-law of the Rebbe Rabbi Chananiah Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum of Nyírbátor, author of Levushei Yom Tov .
On the other side of the leaf, the Kászoner Rebbe added a very lengthy and rare supplement [approximately 150 words!] handwritten, signed and stamped by him, to strengthen his son-in-law’s words. At the same time, he describes the yeshivah’s lofty spiritual level: “Baruch Hashem, its glorious name precedes it.” The Kászoner Rebbe concludes by saying “May the merit of Torah study by the many protect you.” (Rabbi Yissachar Dov of Belz was known to have told him that his blessings will be fulfilled.) The Rebbe adds a few words about the situation in Europe in the margins of the letter: “May Hashem have mercy on the distressed and trapped remnant of His people.” Just a few years after the date of this letter, the Kászoner Rebbe was murdered in the Auschwitz death camp, may his blood be avenged.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael Tzvi HaLevi Rottenburg, author of Ohr Maleh of Kászony .
[1] leaf paper, written on both sides. 34 cm. Thick, high-quality paper.
Very fine condition, except for a tear without lack in the central fold, some of which is glued.