Letters on postcards, each bearing the official stamp of the Rebbe – "Oberrabbiner L. Spira Mukačevo".

Sent to the philanthropist R. Eliezer Bollag in Baden, Switzerland. Two of the letters carry varying blessings (written "at the command of the Rebbe" Minchat Elazar) for health, success and livelihood at length: "And I was commanded by the Rebbe to respond affectionately that he entreats and prays for you to have bountiful blessing and success in all your endeavors, and merit to raise all your offspring… in happiness, ease and all your wishes for good and blessing…"; "And I was commanded by the Rebbe to respond affectionately that he entreats and prays for you to have bountiful blessing and success in all your endeavors, and may the creator of cures send your wife a complete recovery, and may you merit to raise all your offspring… in happiness, ease and all your wishes for good and blessing…".

The third letter was written about ten days after the passing of the Minchat Elazar (2 Sivan, 1937). The attendant R. Chaim Dov Grünfeld describes in his letter the loss and grief, and tells of the printing of the Rebbe's ethical will and his desire to go on to print his works in manuscript, and he informs him of the appointment of the Rebbe's son-in-law R. Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz to succeed him as rebbe and rabbi: "…Due to the bitterness and great grief for the fall of our crown, I was silent and could not take the pen in hand to respond affectionately, and my eye weeps tears for the terrible tragedy that has come to pass… Our only consolation is for his holy words to be fulfilled: that he will neither rest nor be at peace in heaven like the other Tzaddikim until our Messiah is sent, speedily in our days".

He goes on to write about the Rebbe's ethical will and printing his works in manuscript: "…And I am sending you the holy ethical will that I printed… in which you will see his request of our fellow Chassidim… to help pay the debts and also to print his holy works… And I know that while he was alive you loved him fervently, and since the righteous even when dead are called alive, I ask you to make every effort to dedicate a worthy sum to these matters, in which merit he will advocate for you to be saved in all your wishes for good and blessing as he wrote in his holy handwriting in the above ethical will".

He goes on to tell of the new rebbe's appointment: "…And I can also inform you that the Rebbe's son-in-law was chosen as Av Beit Din to take the position of his great father-in-law the Rebbe, and he is a new bottle full of aged wine…". 

3 postcards. 14.5x9.5 to 14.5x10.5 cm. Good condition. Light wear. Marginal tear to one postcard.

Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs (1872-1937), the Minchat Elazar, was a leading Torah scholar, halachic and Chassidic authority. Son of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs, author of Shem Shlomo, he was born to the dynasty of Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, the Bnei Yissachar. He fought for the holiness of Judaism, and his halachic and kabbalistic teachings are studied all over the world. Author of Minchat Elazar, Shaar Yissachar, Nimukei Orach Chaim, Divrei Torah in nine parts, and more.

His son-in-law, Rebbe Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz (1915-1998), son of Rebbe Natan David of Parczew (Biala). Married the only daughter of the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, in a wedding recorded in the contemporary newspapers as the largest Jewish wedding in Hungary. Served as Av Beit Din of Munkacs and led the community for three years until the Holocaust. During the Holocaust he took an active part in saving Jews, while using his skills to find original means of rescue. After some travels he eventually reached Jerusalem. In 1945 he moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where he served as rabbi and taught in the local university. In 1963 he immigrated to Israel to serve as Rabbi of Holon. In 1976 he moved to Petah Tikva, where he established his Beit Midrash and wrote his books Binat Nevonim and Divrei Nevonim. His children from his first wife are the famous Rebbes of Munkacs and Dinov in the United States.

* Responsa Tzvi Tiferet. Munkacs: Shmuel Zanvil Kahana and his son-in-law Ozer HaKohen Fried, [1912]. On the title page is an ownership inscription of R. "Yaakov Asher… here in Baka". On the reverse side of the page is an ownership inscription of R. Shlomo Zalman Gutman of Baka, signed by his son R. David Yehudah HaKohen Kahn of Bűdszentmihály.

* Passover Haggadah, with commentary Tiferet Banim. Munkacs: Kahn and Fried, [1914]. At the beginning of the book is an introduction by the author's son, Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchat Elazar.

* Darchei Emunah, discourses for Chanukkah. Munkacs: Kahn and Fried, [1914]. At the beginning of the book is an introduction by the author's son, Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchat Elazar. On the title page is a signature of "Chaim Gartenberg" [a printer in Munkacs and a Komarno Chassid; he was the one to make the match between the Minchat Elazar and his wife Rebbetzin Rachel Perl daughter of Rebbe Yaakov Moshe Safrin of Komarno (Seder HaShanah HaAcharonah, Jerusalem 2021, p. 160)].

* Tikkunei Zohar, with commentary Be'er LeChai Ro'i, Part III. Beregszász (Berehove): Shmuel Shmelka Klein, [1921]. At the beginning of the book is an introduction by the author's son, Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchat Elazar.

4 books. Good general condition. Stains and light damage. Inscriptions and stamps. New bindings.

The author, Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs (1845-1913), son of Rebbe Shlomo Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs, author of Shem Shlomo, son of Rebbe Elazar Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Łańcut, son of Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech, Av Beit Din of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissachar. One of the greatest Torah and Chassidic scholars of his generation, he took his father's place as rabbi of Munkacs. Founder of Munkacs Chassidut, his followers numbered thousands. He founded Kollel Munkacs and served as Nesi Eretz Israel. He authored Darchei Teshuvah, Be'er LeChai Ro'i, Tzvi Tiferet and more.

1. Neta Shaashuim, novellae and pilpul on Talmud and poskim, with responsa. Munkacs: Aharon Ber Meisels, 1925. With approbation of his teacher, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs.

The present copy was dedicated to the head of the Central Orthodox Bureau in Budapest, R. Shmuel Zanvil Kahana-Frankel – fine leather binding, with dedication printed in gilded letters: "Loving gift to the head of the Central Orthodox Bureau in Pest, R. Shmuel Zanvil Kahana Frankel – by the author" [the book was apparently dedicated in 1940 – on the reverse side of the binding is an illustration of an eagle headed by a caption indicating that year].

[15], 2-184 pages. Stamps of "Talmud society of Orthodox community, Budapest".

2. Shulchan Neged Tzorerai, "Part I, containing 111 sections". Munkacs: Grafia, 1932.

Sharp polemical work, written in response to Shulchan Melachim by the dayan R. Moshe Tzvi Landau of Kleinwardein (Kisvárda), who had argued with the halachic decisions of the author's teacher, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs.

[9], 2-176 pages. Partial copy (missing 28 pages of approbations at the beginning of the book). Stamps: R. "Asher Anshel HaLevi Jungreis" (apparently a grandson of the Menuchat Asher, Av Beit Din of Csenger).

3. Gan David, with Pri HaGan and Etz HaGan, on the 39 primary forbidden labors on Shabbat and their derivatives, by R. David Schlissel, Rosh Av Beit Din of Munkacs, with glosses "Pri Nitei Shlomo" by the son of the author, R. Neta Shlomo Schlissel. Munkacs: Eliezer Yechiel Kallisch, Grafia, 1940. [10], 3-64, [2] leaves.

Three volumes. Varying size and condition. Good general condition. Light damage. New bindings to two of the books.

The author, R. Neta Shlomo Schlissel (1903-1944, perished in the Holocaust), dayan and posek and dean of Darchei Teshuvah yeshiva in Munkacs. Born to his father R. David Schlissel, dayan and posek in Zborov, and later Rosh Av Beit Din in Munkacs; author of Imrei David. Studied in Munkacs in the yeshiva of Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchat Elazar, and was known from a young age as sharp-witted and erudite. His first book, Neta Shaashuim, was printed at the young age of 21, with the approbation of his teacher, the Minchat Elazar. After his marriage, he lived for many years with his father-in-law in Krenitz (Krynica-Zdrój), and in 1933 he was appointed dayan in the court of the Minchat Elazar, Rebbe of Munkacs. He was a confidant and devoted follower of the Rebbe of Munkacs. He served as rabbi and lecturer in the Beit Midrash Yeshuot Yisrael in Munkacs. After his father's passing in 1940, he was appointed Rosh Av Beit Din in his place.

Report card of the student David Ze'ev Neuman of Șomcuta Mare, who studied in the class of R. Tzvi Kalman in the Keren LeDavid Satmar yeshiva: "Chevrah Bachurim of the yeshiva of the Rebbe Av Beit Din of Satmar". His schedule – basic lecture, Chumash and Rashi, Orach Chaim, Yoreh Deah, in-depth lecture.

The report card was issued for summer 1928, months Iyar-Av. Each page is divided into two weeks and arranged into nine spaces (to be filled and signed) for Monday-Thursday and the lectures in Chumash-Rashi, basic lecture, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim and Yoreh Deah. Some of the spaces are stamped by the Gabbaim of the yeshiva: "passed the test" or "passed the test and satisfied our rabbi".

Afterwards appears an empty page to be filled with the test grades: "lecture tests", "passed the test on the subject", "the great test", "passed the test on Tractate – from folio – to folio –".

On the margins of the pages appears the signature or stamp of the Gabbai of the yeshiva, "Baruch Tzvi Katz Moszkowicz" [on the margins of the title page is a list of other Gabbais of the yeshiva: "Efraim Fishel Moszkowicz, Shmuel David Abrahamowicz, Shmuel David Rappoport and Chaim Weinstock].

On the margins of the first page appears the yeshiva's official stamp: "Stamp of the Av Beit Din and yeshiva dean of Satmar" (inside which is an identical inscription in Romanian and an illustration of an open book); on the margins of the following pages are stamps: "Chevrah Bachurim of the high yeshiva of Satmar".

The Gabbai of the yeshiva whose signature is on the present document – R. Baruch Tzvi HaKohen Moszkowicz (1907-1990), born in Makó. Studied seven years in the yeshiva of the Keren LeDavid in Satmar, where he advanced beyond his peers and was chosen as Gabbai of the Chevrah Charifut. He traveled to the Ahavat Yisrael in Vizhnitz, to the Minchat Elazar in Munkacs and to Rebbe Aharon of Belz, but he was closest with his own rebbe, Rebbe Yoel of Satmar. After the Holocaust, in 1947 he was appointed Av Beit Din of the Orthodox community in Páks, where he established an important yeshiva. Ten years later, in 1957 he was appointed Rosh Av Beit Din of Budapest, and in 1959 he moved to Vienna. During that period he authored and published his important books Tenuvot Baruch, Mishmeret Tzvi and more. In 1981 he moved to the United States and established his Beit Midrash in Brooklyn, "Beit David of Páks". He was known as great in Torah, Chassidut and fear of God. He was a loyal childhood friend of both the Vayechi Yosef of Pápa and the Berach Moshe of Satmar.

[7] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Inscriptions on the back cover. Stamps in Romanian (apparently of the owner of the report card, the student David Ze'ev Neuman).

The collection includes:

* Zichron Yehudah – Part I on Orach Chaim. Budapest: Meshulam Zalman and Menachem HaKohen Katzburg, 1923, censored edition (see: Kedem Catalog, auction 048, item 60).

Inscription on title page: "I studied this book in 5694 [1934] in military uniform, because I have been working for five months and I don't know when the Creator will desire to redeem us from sorrow to joy, from slavery to freedom, and I hope He will soon take me out from darkness to light –Moshe Leib Weiss".

* Zichron Yehudah – Part II on Yoreh Deah, Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat, and second series on Orach Chaim. Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely): Eliezer Deutsch, 1928. Pages 225-232 ("names of pre-subscribers") is undocumented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book Project.

* Tehillim with Olelot Yehudah commentary. Satmar: Meir Leib Hirsch, 1927. Stamps of the Jewish community in Košice.

* Shevet MiYehudah on the Torah portions, Part I on Bereshit-Shemot and and Part II on Vayikra-Devarim. Seini: Yaakov Wieder, [1928]. Two parts in one volume. First edition. Published by R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, nephew and disciple of the author (grandson of the Chatam Sofer). Lacking [2] final pages (pre-subscribers). Signature on endpaper: "Yechiel Tzvi Yehoshua, Hajdúnánás".

* Ethical will of R. Yehudah Grünwald. Seini: Yaakov Wieder, 1925.

* Chasdei Avot, novellae on Pirkei Avot. Seini: Yaakov Wieder, 1925. Two title pages, one in color. Published by R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, nephew and disciple of the author (grandson of the Chatam Sofer). With approbation of the Keren LeDavid.

* She'erit Yehudah, novellae on the Torah and festivals. Munkacs: Aharon Dov Meisels, [1938]. Does not contain Teshuvah MiYirah by R. Yeshayah Alter Adler of Dubova, which had been printed with it.

* Novellae of the Chatam Sofer on Tractate Ketubot, with previously unpublished responsa and section on 14 mitzvot. Satmar: Natan Menachem Estreicher, 1908. Published by R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, grandson of the author, who had received the author's autograph manuscript from his uncle and teacher, R. Yehudah Grünwald. On the reverse side of the title page is an introduction by R. Yehudah Grünwald.

8 volumes. Varying size and condition. Good general condition. New bindings.

R. Yehuda Grünwald (1848-1920), author of Responsa Zichron Yehudah, a leading rabbi and yeshiva dean in Hungary. An outstanding Torah scholar, recognized since his youth as holy and God-fearing. Disciple of the Ketav Sofer and son-in-law of his brother R. Yosefa Sofer, son of the Chatam Sofer. His teacher, the Ketav Sofer, said of him at his wedding that he was "holy of holies". Ever since his youth he was a faithful and close friend of R. Chaim Sonnenfeld (later rabbi of Jerusalem) and R. Moshe Grünwald (later rabbi of Khust, author of Arugat HaBosem), and he remained in close contact with them his whole life. Served as Av Beit Din of Sobotište, Bonyhád and Šurany. In 1898 he was accepted as Av Beit Din of Satmar, where he served for the remaining 22 years of his life. He opposed modernism and Zionism, and supported the Orthodox Jewish institutions of Satmar. He built Mikvaot, Torah schools, houses of study and synagogues. He was most famous for establishing a large yeshiva in Satmar numbering hundreds of students, many of whom later served as rabbis and dayanim in Hungary and Romania. Among his famous disciples are R. Yosef Nechemiah Kornitzer, Av Beit Din of Selish (Vynohradiv) and Cracow; R. Shemayah Lev, Av Beit Din of Bodrogkeresztúr; R. Chaim Betzalel Panet, Av Beit Din of Reteag; R. Moshe David Estreicher, Av Beit Din of Chepa; R. Naftali Hirtzka Henig, Av Beit Din of Sărmașu; and more.

During his tenure as Av Beit Din of Satmar, he was very warm to the young R. Yoel Teitelbaum, who moved to the city after his marriage, and he supported him financially. Once, after R. Yoel was accused of not being so needy, since he gave charity generously, R. Yehudah replied passionately that in that case he needed even more, and increased his financial support for him. Years later, when R. Yoel served as Av Beit Din in Satmar, he warned not to change the halachic customs of shechita in the city, as they are based on the holy rulings of the Zichron Yehudah.