Interesting exchange of letters between the Admo”r Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira, author of Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, and the gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky. Jerusalem-Munkacs, 1922.
Rabbi Tukachinsky sent the ‘Minchat Elazar’ his book Bein HaShemashot together with a request that he receive the book Masa’ot Yerushalayim from him – the Munkacher Rebbe’s travelogue of his journey from Munkacs to the Land of Israel.
Th responsum is divided in two. The first part is in the hand of the gabbai Rabbi Moshe Goldstein, right-hand-man of the ‘Minchat Elazar’ and editor of the book Masa’ot Yerushalayim . He opens the letter with exalted honorifics. With respect to sending the book, he writes that sending it needs authorization from the yeshivah’s administration. [The yeshivah probably invested in the book’s printing.] The second part of the letter is the response of the ‘Minchat Elazar’ himself, in his hand and with his signature, that he is happy to send him his work. [We have found that the book Bein HaShemashot sent by Rabbi Yechiel Michel to Munkacs has been found among his descendants.] The original envelope from Munkacs is included.
The ‘Minchat Elazar’ blesses at the end of the letter, in his hand: “Kol tuv, selah, and may our eyes witness the return of the Divine presence to Tziyon and Jerusalem when Torah will proliferate from there with its great light in His mercy and lovingkindness, signed with feelings of honor for the Torah, Chaim Elazar Shapira”
The Admo”r Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira [1872-1737] was a son of the Admo”r, the author of Darkei Teshuvah and a descendant of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissachar . He was a rabbinic leader of Hungary before the Holocaust, a Kabbalist and one of the geonim in Torah, halachah and Chassidut of his generation. He led the fight against Zionism and was the spiritual father of Satmar Chassidim. The ”Minchat Elazar’ visited the Land of Israel in order to meet his friend, the ‘Saba Kaddisha, Rash”a Alfandri’ and to ask him his questions in Kabbalah. At the same time, he took the opportunity to found the Batei Munkacs neighborhood in Jerusalem. The author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz said of him that a person like him comes to the world only once every few generations. His books include: Shu”t Minchat Elazar – five parts, Darkei Teshuvah al Hilchot Niddah , Darkei Chaim V’Shalom , Sha’ar Yissacher , Nimukei Orach Chaim and many others.
[1] leaf paper, 30 cm. Ink on official stationery, with the addition of approximately 50 words in the Minchat Elazar’s hand and with his signature. Very fine condition. Fold marks. Tiny tear in the fold.
With a halachic letter [two typewritten leaves]. Letter full of content, comments by Rabbi Yechiel Michel to Shu”t Minchat Elazar , with rare information about Rabbi Shmuel Salant. There is also a letter from the Munkacs yeshivah that came with the book that was sent.