Interesting letter handwritten and signed by the Admor of Zhmigrod, Rabbi Sinai Halberstam [the second] to the Admor of Stropkov, Rabbi Yechezkel Lipshitz Halberstam, about his glosses on Divrei Chaim on mikvahs, and the Admor of Stopkov’s handwritten response in the margins.
At the beginning of the letter, which is written in pleasant, stylized script, the Admor of Zhmigrod turns to the Admor of Stropkov with exalted descriptions: ‘Life and peace to the the cedar of Lebanon, my relative, son of holy ones, the rabbi, the gaon, sharp and expert, whose learning is pure and clean … friend on high and kindred spirit who lives in lovingkindness and asceticism, famous and great in Torah and awe …’ The letter deals with the Admor’s request to include the Admor of Stropkov’s glosses which were published in 1957 to the Divrei Chaim on the halachahs of mikvahs which he is about to publish, and he asks that he write an approbation for the new publication which he intends to distribute, and he adds: ‘Clearly, I will write and repeat twice on the title page to reveal to all who see it the quarry and the spring from which I drew.’ The Admor concludes with many blessings for the upcoming Passover festival, and blesses him with long life with strength, etc.
On the reverse side of the last page, the Admor of Stropkov responds in his handwriting that attaching his glosses to the new edition would cause him a monetary loss, as the public would no longer buy the edition he printed in 1957, and after consulting with those in the know, he agrees that he add his glosses to the new edition, but it would have to be published in a limited amount of 300 or 500 books that would not be sent to America and Europe.
The Admor Rabbi Sinai Halberstam was the Admor of Sanz-Zhmigrod in Boro Park.
[3] leaves. The Admor of Zhmigrod’s official stationery.