Lot 42
Letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Paneth, First Rebbe of Deyzh, Disciple of the Chatam Sofer – Deyzh, 1877 – With List of Donors to the Needy of Safed
Letter (9 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Paneth. Deyzh (Dej), Thursday night, Parashat Shemot 1877.
Letter regarding donations to the poor people of Safed. The first three pages comprise lists of donors from Deyzh in winter 1877 (written by a scribe). The fourth page contains a letter handwritten by the rebbe, addressed to the rabbis of Safed. Wax seal of the rebbe (damaged): "Menachem son of R. Yechezkel… – Mendel".
R. Menachem Mendel Paneth Rabbi of Deyzh (1818-1885) was the son of Rebbe Yechezkel author of Mareh Yechezkel (disciple of R. Mendel of Rymanów, served as rabbi of Carlsburg and Siebenburgen). In 1837, he studied in the yeshiva of the Chatam Sofer and was the only young man in the Pressburg yeshiva who donned a Chassidic silk robe on Shabbat. His teacher, the Chatam Sofer, was very fond of him and every Shabbat eve he would stroll and converse with him (he would dub him "the golden one"). While studying in the yeshiva of the Chatam Sofer, he merited a revelation of Eliyahu HaNavi who greeted him in the Beit Midrash, in the disguise of a poor person. In 1842, he was appointed rabbi of Urişor, and in 1858, of Deyzh. From ca. 1855, he served as chief rabbi of Siebenburgen (Transylvania). He authored Maaglei Tzedek on the Torah and a series of responsa books Avnei Tzedek, Shaarei Tzedek and Mishpat Tzedek.
[1] double leaf (four written pages). 29 cm. Good condition. Stains and folding marks.
