Stunning letter with important and interesting content, entirely handwritten and signed by the mighty gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib Margaliot, av beit din of Loslau, sent to the leading parnassim of the city of Frankfurt am Oder, and discussing his arrival to serve there as rabbi of the city. Loslau, 11 Av, 1804. Especially rare missive, with wonderful content, written in his calligraphic script, comparable to an external decorative letter.
At the top of the letter, the gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib writes about the desire of the parnassim to arrange a reception for him, as befits one of the gedolei hador . The gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib writes in his humility and sharpness, that “If it were up to me, I would say that no one should leave his place to come out and greet me, nor take on any expenses, as I relinquish this imaginary honor. But what can I do, as Chaza”l say, a sage is not allowed to relinquish (the honor) because the Torah is not his.” For this reason, and due to the fact that communities traditionally receive their rabbis, the gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib agrees to participate in the customary reception to be held for him, and informs them of his itinerary: From Loslau to Mezeritch, from there to Rippin near Frankfurt, and from there to Frankfurt am Oder.
The gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib concludes his stunning letter with warm blessings: “And if [you] want to do this for my sake, celebrate Hashem, G-d of your fathers, as Hashem orders, do this and live. May Hashem bless you and add to those like you a thousandfold; may your storehouses be full. May the eyes of your beloved see. May your hearts rejoice together. Regards, HaK’ Yehudah Leib Margaliot of Loslau, and soon of Frankfurt D’Oder.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the renowned gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib Margaliot .
The letter was printed in Kovetz al Yad , New Series, Book III, Booklet 2 (Jerusalem, 1941) p. 227, in the article discussing the history of the rabbinate in Frankfurt am Oder.
[1] sheet of paper divided into [2] leaves, 22.5×19 cm each. The first leaf bears the body of the letter, and the second leaf has the details of the sender and the addressee in a foreign language, and Rabbi Yehudah Leib’s red wax stamp. Thick, high-quality paper.
Very fine condition. Minimal stains. Tear in the outer leaf by the wax stamp, from opening the letter.