Lengthy letter [approximately 500 words] dealing with Torah novellae in revealed and hidden Torah, entirely handwritten and signed by the Admo”r of Gur, Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter, author of Pnei Menachem . Jerusalem, 1974. Signed autograph.
The letter was sent to the gaon, the Chassid, Rabbi Avraham Chanoch Koteiner, author of the book Chanukat HaBayit (about which this letter revolves), one of the most prominent adjudicators in Bnei Brak and candidate for the chief Ashkenazic rabbi of Jerusalem. At the beginning of the letter, the Admo”r notes that he is enclosing payment for the book he received, and with the author’s agreement, he delayed payment until that point in time, as he requested that he wait with the payment until the comments are written. At the end of the letter, the Rebbe writes about a question brought in the book, and the author writes that this question has already been resolved by the Sefat Emet and the Brisker Rav. The Rebbe notes Early Authorities and ancient works that dealt with the topic, and parenthetically mentions the Zohar ‘s words on the topic as well. The letter was printed in the new edition of the book.
Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter [1926-1996] was the Admo”r of Gur and president of Agudat Yisrael’s council of Torah Sages. He had previously served as head of the Sefat Emet yeshivah, as a member of the council of Torah Sages and chairman of Agudat Yisrael. The Rebbe lived simply and resided his entire life in an old three-room apartment. He would draw out his prayers, which were accompanied by enthusiastic gestures. Rabbi Pinchas Menachem is referred to as the author of Pnei Menachem . He is interred in the courtyard of the Sefat Emet yeshivah in the Machaneh Yehudah neighborhood of Jerusalem, next to the grave of his father, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, author of Sefat Emet .
[1] leaf paper, 21×28 cm. Official stationery leaf as the rosh yeshivah of Sefat Emet. The entire letter is in his hand (with many erasures and corrections), and with his signature.
Original postal envelope included.
Very fine condition: Fold marks.