Satmar institutions in Eretz Israel – large and assorted collection of letters, reports, documents and agreements. Israel and United States, 1950s-1970s. Hebrew and some Yiddish.

The collection includes nine letters to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar: • Three letters from R. Chaim Eliyahu Sternberg on Satmar institutions in Jerusalem and Haifa, reports, quarrels and various subjects. Jerusalem and Haifa, 1959-1962; • Letter of the directors of the Ohel Rachel Beit Midrash in Katamon, regarding a leader of the prayer service touching his beard. Jerusalem, Cheshvan 1958; • Letter of the directors of the Yitav Lev yeshiva and Torah school in Katamon, requesting support and assistance. Jerusalem, 1956; • Letter of R. Ben Tzion Jakobowitz, director of the Satmar institutions in Bnei Brak, requesting prayer for a sick person and various subjects. Bnei Brak, 1961; • Letter of R. Shmuel Steinberg, quarrels and firings in the directorship of Satmar institutions in Bnei Brak. Jerusalem, 1961; • Letter of the committee of the Torah school and yeshiva of Satmar in Haifa, signed by R. Yeshayah Ze'ev Gross, requesting assistance and support. Haifa, 1961; • Report (one page, incomplete) on the activity of the Machazikei Torah institution in Haifa. Haifa, 1961. 

The collection also includes over 40 letters sent to the attendant R. Efraim Yosef Dov Ashkenazi by directors of Satmar institutions in Eretz Israel and members of the Edah HaCharedit in Jerusalem – R. Chaim Eliyahu Sternberg; R. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa ("Chayil") Schwartz; R. Ben Tzion Jakobowitz, director of Maharit yeshiva and founder of the Kiryat Yoel neighborhood in Bnei Brak; R. Yisrael Yitzchak HaLevi Reisman, dayan of the Edah HaCharedit; R. Yosef Scheinberger, secretary of the Edah HaCharedit, the Health Fund for Yeshiva Students, and more. Letters on various subjects – supporting and funding the institutions; resolving disputes and quarrels in the directorship of the institutions; ownership of buildings and campuses; various appointments; reports of income and expenses; names of students and teachers, their salaries and stipends; recommendations; the Rebbe's upcoming visit in summer of 1952; erecting a new building for the Torah school and yeshiva in Jerusalem; building Satmar institutions in Bnei Brak and the Kiryat Yoel neighborhood; questions about money from funds received; repossessing the house of the Rabbi of Tolcsva (father-in-law of the Yitav Lev) in the Old City of Safed; on the dispute with the Rebbe of Sanz-Klausenburg; the publication in Hamodia of an apology by R. Yechezkel Sarna, dean of the Chevron Yeshiva, for his statement on not voting in elections; and various different other subjects. Jerusalem and Haifa, 1960s-1970s.

• Five letters to R. Shlomo Braver (director of the Yitav Lev office in Brooklyn for support of Satmar institutions in Eretz Israel), from R. Chaim Eliyahu Sternberg, R. Aharon Berkowitz and the Health Fund for Yeshiva Students, regarding the institutions and financial support. Jerusalem and Haifa, 1956-1961.

• Letter to R. Simchah Bunam Sofer, invitation from the Edah HaCharedit directorship to participate in the reception for Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, to be held in the Jerusalem train station. Jerusalem, 1959.

• Letter signed by the directors of the Center for Torah Lectures for Youth and Adults in Jerusalem, R. Moshe Weber and R. Yehudah Deutsch, a request for support by R. Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet (later the Berach Moshe Rebbe of Satmar), head of the committee to save Moroccan children. Jerusalem, 1969.

• Letter signed by the directors of the Union of Yeshivas in Eretz Israel, R. Eliyahu Zlotnik, dayan of the Edah HaCharedit; and R. Yitzchak David Shag (Zwebner), on appointing R. Mendel Bernet as emissary to raise funds for the institution. Elul, 1956.

The collection additionally includes documents, contracts, agreements and protocols: • Legal agreement (3 typewritten pages, unsigned) between the Yitav Lev Torah school and a contracting company to build the Satmar institutions on Yechezkel Street and Avinoam Yellin Street in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, 1960; • Report (five typewritten pages, incomplete) sent to the Satmar Rebbe by R. Chaim Eliyahu Sternberg regarding the directorship of the yeshiva and Beit Midrash, detailing income and expenses, names of teachers and students, total salaries, legal matters, and more; • Two documents detailing the names of people receiving a stipend from Yitav Lev yeshiva and Torah school in Jerusalem [ca. 1950s]; • Report of R. Yosef Scheinberger, secretary of the Edah HaCharedit, on his visit in Chassidic communities in England and Switzerland (4 pp.); • Protocol of the Ohel Rachel Satmar Beit Midrash, regarding the ownership dispute over the Beit Midrash building. Jerusalem, 1963; • Printed leaf – "Instructions for the teachers in our holy yeshiva as we merited to hear from our Rebbe", with 16 instructions.

• And more.

Over 70 items. Varying size and condition. Overall good condition.

Four volumes and printer’s sheet from library of Rebbe Chaim Halberstam, Rosh Av Beit Din, dayan and posek in Satmar, with his stamps, signatures and a lengthy gloss in his handwriting:

1-2. Maayenei HaChochmah, on Tractate Bava Metzia, Part I – Mahadura Kama, and Part II – Mahadura Batra, by R. Aryeh Leib Zünz. Warsaw: Shalom Shachna Munk, 1895. Two parts in two volumes. Ownership signatures on title pages of both parts: “Chaim Halberstam”; “Chaim Halberstam of Ratzfert, now in…” (partially cut off); stamp on the title page to Part I: “Chaim Halberstam, residing here in Satmar”.

Part I: [2], 135 leaves. Part II: [2], 2-71 leaves. Missing final 8 leaves. At the beginning of Part II appears the title page to Part I (the title page was originally bound with this part, since the Rebbe’s signature appears at the top of both title pages). 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and damage. Inscriptions and stamps. New bindings.

3. Minchat Kohen, on the laws of Bein HaShemashot, by R. Avraham Pimentel. Lemberg (Lviv): Uri Ze’ev Salat, 1892. His stamps on title page and other leaves, from his period of residence in Ratzfert in his youth: “Chaim Halberstam Ratzfert”; and his stamp on the title page from his period of residence in Satmar: “Chaim Halberstam, residing here in Satmar”.

On the endpapers, signatures of two of his sons: “Mordechai Dov Halberstam” [R. Mottele Halberstam, son-in-law of R. Avraham Steiner of Kerestir, served as Rabbi in Tiszalök and later opened his own Beit Midrash in Miskolc; perished in the Holocaust]; “Yaakov Yitzchak Halberstam” [R. Chaim’s third and youngest son, in 1943 married daughter of R. David Yaakov Brisk, Av Beit Din of Tiszadada; perished in the Holocaust].

On the front endpaper is a Kvittel inscription for a complete recovery written by one of his followers. On title page and additional leaves, stamps of “R. Moshe HaKohen Gross – Geneva” [R. Moshe Gross, an important Belz Chassid, 1916-1980]. Inscription on title page: “I bought this book from R. Avraham Shmuel Schreiber, here in Kamenets”.

[1], 2-88 leaves. 25.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and damage. Repaired with paper. New leather binding.

4. Chanukat HaTorah, collection of novellae by R. Heshel of Cracow. Piotrków: Shlomo Belchatowski, [ca. 1900-1910 – stereotype of first edition, 1900]. Ownership inscription on title page, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam during his period of residence in Ratzfert in his youth. Many stamps on title page and other leaves of the Beit Midrash of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer Halberstam in Ratzfert.

[1], 5-16 pages; 91, 90-114 pages. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and tears. Stamps. New leather binding.

5. Leaf from Tractate Gittin, Piskei HaRosh [small format, apparently from one of Lemberg editions ca. 1860-1870, p. 99a]. On the margins of the leaf is a lengthy handwritten gloss signed “Chaim Halberstam”.

[1] leaf. 22 cm. Good condition.

Rebbe Chaim Halberstam (1885-1942), firstborn of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer of Ratzfert (1862-1944). Named for his illustrious paternal grandfather, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. At a young age he married the daughter of Rebbe Avraham Shalom Pinchas HaLevi Rottenberg of Wolbrom. He was famed for his great holiness and intense prayer, and he was known as a great Torah scholar and posek. He was very beloved by his maternal grandfather, Rebbe Mordechai Dov Twersky of Hornostaipil, who appreciated his great learning and corresponded with him on halachic matters (printed in Emek HaChochmah and Shoshanat HaAmakim). In Shoshanat HaAmakim, his grandfather calls him “my dear grandson, beloved to my heart, nice and pleasant vine, branch full of wisdom, with erudition and right reasoning”, and the like. At the age of 57 he fell sick and did not recover. His funeral took place in Satmar, and he was eulogized by the leader of the local community, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, and others. His son, R. Alter Meir David took his place as dayan. All his descendants perished in the Holocaust. Opening: $250

Tehillim with commentary Olelot Yehudah by R. Yehudah Greenwald, Av Beit Din of Satmar, author of Zichron Yehudah, with "Iggeret Musar of the Ramban" and "Tzetel Katan of R. Elimelech". Satmar: Meir Leib Hirsch, 1927. First edition.

The present copy was owned by the author's nephew, R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, dayan and posek of Satmar, who gave it as a wedding gift to R. Avraham son of the philanthropist R. Moshe Shiman [R. Moshe Shiman is mentioned in the list of donors at the end of the book]. At the top of the title page is a handwritten dedication: "wedding gift to… Avraham son of the philanthropist R. Moshe Shiman from her for his wedding day, and may they be a good match and merit to build a faithful Jewish home… from his friend, Avraham Chanoch Friedman, local dayan and posek"; under the dedication appears his stamp: "Avraham Chanoch Friedman, dayan and posek of the orthodox community, Satmar".

The approbation of this R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman is printed at the beginning of the book, attesting that he gave R. Chaim Tzvi Zimmend, "a faithful and very dear student of R. Yehudah Greenwald", the author's manuscript on Tehillim: "I hereby give him this column as proof that I happily gave him copies of the commentary Olelot Yehudah on Tehillim which the holy author left behind".

In the list of signatories in the city of Carei at the end of the book appear the names of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar and his son-in-law R. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum.

Rabbi Avraham Chanoch Friedman (1866-1944; perished in the Holocaust), son of the Chatam Sofer's daughter, close disciple and confidant of his uncle Rabbi Yehudah Greenwald, who adopted him as a son and married him to his niece. He edited and published the works of his teacher Rabbi Greenwald and of his grandfather the Chatam Sofer. He served for decades as a dayan and posek in Satmar (from 1905), directed a large yeshiva in it, and served as Rabbi of the Machazikei Torah Ashkenazi synagogue in the city. He was a supporter of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum's appointment as Rebbe of Satmar.

[4], 256, [10] leaves. 22.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Open tear on the margins of leaf 89, affecting the margins of the text. Stamps. Gilt edges. Fine new leather binding.

Variant – in the present copy, [10] leaves are printed at the end of the book in which many more names are added to the list of "donors" and "signatories"; in most copies only [4] leaves are printed.

Interesting assorted collection of fefteen letters from rabbis, Chassidim and pious laymen from Satmar, including Beit Din rulings, signed and stamped by the dayanim. [Satmar and surroundings, 1916-ca. 1950.] Hebrew and Yiddish.

• Letter of R. Eliyahu HaLevi Epstein of Satmar to R. Yosef Leib Sofer, Av Beit Din of Paks. Satmar, [1916]. The letter contains a fascinating description of the 1890 Seder night with R. Eliezer Zusman Sofer, Av Beit Din of Paks: "…While he was reciting the Hallel with purity and beauty, it was as if his worldly existence were nullified… Our legs were shivering and our hair was standing at its edge while we heard the express words of the greatest of the great…" [part of the letter is printed in Mizkeret Paks, II, p. 82]. At the bottom part of the leaf is a Kvitel inscription for a blessing with his and his mother's name, and the names of his wife and children.

• Lengthy Torah letter to R. Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich of Şimleu Silvaniei. One and a half pages, handwritten (not signed; on official stationery of the Jewish community of Șomcuta Mare). Apparently written by one of the town rabbis. [Șomcuta Mare], Isru Chag Shavuot [1931].

• Permission for an agunah to remarry, handwritten, signed and stamped by R. Eliyahu Leichtag, "dayan and posek of the Orthodox community of Satmar", with signatures of the dayanim who comprised the Beit Din: R. Shimshon Rosenberg ("Shimson son of R. Yehudah Leib Rosenberg") and R. Yaakov Leib Frankel ("Yaakov Leib Frankel, author of Gevurat Aryeh and Migdanot Maharil"). Satmar, 27 Shevat, 1932.

• Letter on a postcard, handwritten and signed by R. Yosef Shimon Pollak of Satmar, editor of the periodical Beit Vaad LaChachamim and author of Rashei Besamim. Satmar, 1929. Sent to his son in Budapest [apparently R. Moshe Yehudah Pollak, editor of the monthly periodical HaYeshivah]. In the letter, his father tells him of the Tishrei festivals in the company of his rebbe [apparently Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz] and the holy rabbi of Carei [apparently Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum during his tenure as Av Beit Din of Carei]: "Your brother Chaim Yehoshua traveled home… and he was [with Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum] in Carei on Chol HaMoed, and he honored him greatly and also inquired about you… And I am weary from travel… since I slept no night before 3:00, because we stood by the door many nights to merit to enter, and afterwards all the days of the festival the meals ended every night at 4:00 – and there was no rain during the festival… And what can I say, having seen his service day and night, and all his followers standing before him in fear – If God wills it, I will travel next Sunday to the Tzaddik of Carei [Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum] for him to sign permitting the agunah to remarry… Yosef Shimon".

• Letter on postcard, handwritten and signed by R. Yosef Shimon Pollak of Satmar, editor of the periodical Beit Vaad LaChachamim and author of Rashei Besamim. Satmar, 1936. Sent to R. Menashe Margaliot in Brooklyn, New York, regarding printing his novellae.

• Two letters from the "Beit Din Tzedek of the Orthodox community of Satmar and the region", signed by dayan and posek of Satmar R. Yishai Hecht Weintraub. Satmar, [Shevat and Adar] 1949. The letters deal with saving copies of Responsa Avnei Zikaron which were left sitting in the printing house of R. Meir Leib Hirsch in Satmar, "so that strangers not possess them and for the honor of the Torah not to be desecrated". The first letter was sent to the author, R. Alter Shaul Pfeffer, and the second letter was sent to his son, R. Meir Yehudah Pfeffer, who informed him that his father had long since passed away [R. Alter Shaul Pfeffer had passed away in the United States in 1936], and he asks the son to pay the expenses of recovering the books and sending them to him.

• Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by "Yissachar Dov son of R. Tz. of Veretzka (Nyzhni Vorota), grandson of R. A.A. of Brod". Request for help and financial assistance from R. Yitzchak Sodden, rabbi of Ohev Shalom synagogue in Brooklyn. Satmar, [13 Sivan], 1929. The author is the Chassid R. Yissachar Dov Weinberger (ca. 1871-1944, perished in the Holocaust), a Belz Chassid and leader of Satmar, descended from the Fränkel-Teomim family.

• Permission to marry, handwritten, signed and stamped by R. Yitzchak Klein, Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar [editor of the monthly Torah periodical Ohel Yitzchak and HaMaggid]. Satmar, [30 Adar], 1942.

• Three letters from the "Beit Din of the Orthodox community of Satmar and the region" – after the Holocaust, records of testimony on people who perished in the Holocaust and permission to remarry. One of them is signed by the three dayanim: Rosh Av Beit Din R. Moshe Aryeh Freund, R. Shlomo Zalman Friedman and R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss. Satmar, 1946-1947.

• Letter to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar from Mrs. Esther Wiesel. Satmar, [apparently after the Holocaust]. Yiddish. The letter is torn and incomplete. • Letter to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar from the mashgiach R. Yechiel Yehudah Wallengstein. [Ca. 1950s.] Yiddish.

• Letter signed and stamped by R. Yechiel Ausch, Av Beit Din of Vulcan and after the war dayan and posek in Satmar; a request for help and assistance for the upcoming Passover festival by R. Yitzchak Sodden, rabbi of Ohev Shalom synagogue in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, New York, [ca. 1950s]. Yiddish.

• Enclosed: Early facsimile of a letter (four large pages) by the Chassid R. Yirmeyahu Kahn (written in Iyar, 1963), in which he describes at length the Seder night and days of the Passover festival he spent with Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, and reviews the Torah teachings and novellae he heard from the rebbe at the time.

16 items. Varying size and condition. Overall good condition. One letter in fair condition.