Letter sent by the first Admor of Narol, Rabbi Yaakov Reinman. Entirely in his holy hand and with his signature. Sent to the famed Torah genius, Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margoliot; includes an insight regarding the Tosafot in Tractate Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbi Yaakov Reinman was one of the first Admors in Galicia. Born in 1778, his father was Rabbi Mordechai of Sokal, brother of Rabbi Shlomo of Lutzk, author of Dibrat Shlomo. He was a son-in-law of Rabbi Leibush Wallerstein Yaffe of Halshitz [Holishits], whose glosses were printed in a number of editions of the Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah.
He was orphaned of his father at a young age and was educated by his uncle, author of Dibrat Shlomo . It is related that at the age of 12, his teacher caught him rolling in the snow at the edge of the village. The boy promised his teacher that he would merit a long life if he wouldn’t reveal what he had seen. The teacher lived to be over 90 years of age.
He was very knowledgeable in both the hidden and the revealed Torah and was known for his self-afflictions. He was a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin who sat him next to him at the table and said that the trip from Lublin to Narol was illuminated by him.
At the age of 20, he was already appointed rabbi of Kozowa, and then of Radichow. He took over his father-in-law’s position in Halshitz for a while, before being appointed rabbi of Narol where he served as Admor. He is famed for the guarantee he gave the residents of Narol that a fire wouldn’t break out in the city for 100 years. In fact, until 1914, exactly 100 years after his passing, there were no fires. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz – walked by foot to visit him about 3-4 times. Rabbi Shimon of Jaroslow, who was blind, came for a visit. When he arrived, he told his helpers to move to the side, saying “I don’t need you now, the light of Torah is illuminating things for me here.” He passed away at the young age of 36, on the 4th of Tammuz 1814. His progeny were Admors in Narol until the Holocaust. (Alfasi, 249, Meorei Galicia , p. 959).
[2] pages. Ink on paper. 20×17.5 cm. 32 lines written and signed by the Admor. He added another five lines on the back of the letter, with extensive honorifics for the addressee, the Beit Ephraim.
Fine condition. Professional restoration in the fold marks, affecting only solitary letters. Aging stains.