Letter from Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Erloi. Erloi, [1939].
Specifications: [1] postcard. 10×15 cm. In his handwriting and with his signature.
Content: The postcard was sent to Rabbi Meir Chai Uziel for the Yeshiva Shaarei Tzion in Jerusalem, which he headed. Rabbi Shimon Sofer writes about some books that he sent to him; the works of his grandfather the Chatam Sofer, his father the Ktav Sofer, and works that he authored himself.
Unique features: Rare, as his letters are very uncommon. Rabbi Shimon Sofer edited a number of the Chatam Sofer’s works, his father’s works, and authored the Shu”t Hitorerut Teshuva, Musrei HaRambam and more. In his letter, Rabbi Shimon Sofer details the names of the books that he sent: Chatam Sofer, Ktav Sofer, and the Hitorerut Teshuva that he published [he did not write that he was the author, just as he did not explicitly write the name of the author in the book itself] and Musrei HaRambam , again without noting that he was the author, since it was printed anonymously. The note is written in letters similar to Rashi print, apparently because the receiver, Rabbi Meir Uziel, was not used to reading Ashkenazi handwriting.
Background: Rabbi Shimon Sofer was born in Pressburg in 1850. His father was Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, the “Ktav Sofer,” and his grandfather was the “Chatam Sofer.” He lived in Kleinwardein, Uman, Kiev and Pressburg. In 1881, he was appointed rabbi of Erloi and served in that position for over sixty years, until he was murdered at a very old age by the Nazis in 1944. His grandson is present-day Admor Yochanan of Erloi.
Condition: Very fine. Filing holes.