Auction 66 - Rare and Important Items
Written by a scribe, and signed by the Chatam Sofer (in German): "Moses Schreiber Oberrabinner Allda" (Moshe Schreiber, chief rabbi there).
The document certifies that there is no opposition to the marriage of Lazar Singer of Eibenschütz (Ivančice), Moravia, with Regina Singer, native of Pressburg, daughter of the community leader R. Moshe Tzvi Hirsch Singer (M. H. Singer), and that any local rabbi in Moravia is authorized to perform the wedding ceremony.
Beside his signature, the wax-seal of the Chatam Sofer is affixed, with the inscription: "Moyses Schreiber, Oberrabiner in Presburg". At the center of the seal, an illustration of an open book resting on a lectern, inscribed: "Talmud".
R. Moshe Tzvi Hirsch Singer, mentioned in this document, served as head of the Pressburg community near the end of the Chatam Sofer's life (see enclosed material).
[1] leaf. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Folding marks. Tears to folds and margins, slightly affecting text. Cracks to wax-seal.
Withdrawn.
Manuscript, ledger recording babies born and circumcised in the Pressburg community between 1829-1851. [Pressburg, ca. 1851]. German.
The ledger contains records of over one thousand five hundred babies, including many grandsons of the Chatam Sofer, some of whom he circumcised himself. Amongst the descendants featured are the sons of the Ketav Sofer, the sons of R. Shimon Sofer author of Michtav Sofer, and the sons of R. David Tzvi Ehrenfeld (see below for more details).
The title page states: "Register, Geburts Protokol – Lit. B" (Register, Birth Protocol – B).
A paper label is affixed on the front cover, stating: "Register zum Verzeichen. Beschneid. Bücher-Auszuges" (Register of Circumcised, Summary of the Books).
The title page and other leaves bear stamps of the Orthodox Jewish community of Pressburg (in Hebrew, Hungarian and German).
The ledger contains a detailed list of approximately 1700 boys, born and circumcised in 1829-1851. The register is organized alphabetically according to surnames, and lists the name of the child, name of the father, serial number and year of birth.
Many descendants of the Chatam Sofer appear in the lists, including the following grandsons (some of whom he circumcised himself):
• Four sons of R. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer ("Sam. Wolf Schreiber"), son of the Chatam Sofer, rabbi of Pressburg and author of Ketav Sofer: "Jacob" in 1839 (p.30a) – R. Yaakov Akiva Sofer of Myjava; "Moses" in 1841 (p. 30b) – R. Moshe Sofer, expert mohel, founder and president of Machzikei HaDat in southern Transylvania; "Bernhard" in 1842 (p. 31a) – R. Simcha Bunem Sofer, rabbi of Pressburg and author of Shevet Sofer; "Simon" in 1850 (p. 32b) – R. Shimon Sofer, rabbi of Erloi (Eger) and author of Hitorerut Teshuva.
• Two sons of R. Shimon Sofer ("Simon Schreiber"), son of the Chatam Sofer, rabbi of Kraków and author of Michtav Sofer: "Jacob" in 1839 (p. 30a) – R. Akiva Sofer of Pápa, last child to be circumcised by the Chatam Sofer; "Moses" in 1840 (p. 30b) – this grandson is unknown and probably died as a child. He was presumably the first grandson to be named after the Chatam Sofer (see below).
• Five sons of R. David Tzvi Ehrenfeld ("Dav. Hirsch Ehrenfeld"), son-in-law of the Chatam Sofer: "Samuel" in 1834 (p. 7b) – R. Shmuel Ehrenfeld, rabbi of Mattersdorf and author of Chatan Sofer; "Samuel" [sic] in 1839 (p. 7b) – R. Shaul Ehrenfeld, rabbi of Szikszó; "Jacob" in 1842 (p. 8a) – presumably R. Akiva Ehrenfeld of Budapest; "Abraham" in 1844 (p. 8a) – no details are known about him and he presumably passed away as a child; "Josua" in 1850 (p. 8a) – R. Yeshaya Ehrenfeld, rabbi of Šurany and author of Shevet Sofer on the Torah.
• Other grandsons of the Chatam Sofer (such as the Kornitzer and Geiger families).
One of the interesting facts which emerge from this ledger is that R. Shimon Sofer, author of Michtav Sofer, had a son named Moshe, who apparently passed away at a young age and therefore is undocumented in later years. The register records that this Moshe was circumcised in 1840, soon after the passing of the Chatam Sofer (who passed away in October 1839), and is therefore the first grandson named after the Chatam Sofer, and not R. Moshe son of the Ketav Sofer (as is recorded in Chachmei Transylvania, p. 161), who was born on Passover 1841.
A baby's portrait is sketched (in pencil) on the verso of the title page.
[1], 38 leaves. Approx. 34 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal creases and tears. Title page and several other leaves repaired with tape. Original binding, with minor damage and wear.
American passport issued in Washington, on 21st May 1952 (renewed on 2nd June 1954, expired on 20th May 1956). Identifying details of the Rebbe, bearer of the passport, are recorded on p. 3 (in print) – Place of birth: Rumania; Date of birth: 13th January 1887; Occupation: Rabbi; together with other details such as height, hair and eye color. The Rebbe's signature (in English) appears at the bottom of the page. On p. 4, the Rebbe's photograph is affixed, stamped "Department of State, Washington", with another signature of the Rebbe.
The passport contains two entrance visas to the State of Israel, completed by hand, and many stamps. The stamps document the Rebbe's two trips to Eretz Israel, and the places he visited on the way.
His first journey to Eretz Israel: 6th July – 6th August 1952. On his journey towards Eretz Israel, he travelled through various European countries and cities: Cherbourg (France), Brussels (Belgium), Basel and Chiasso (Switzerland), Bari (Italy) and Piraeus (Greece). On his return trip to the United States, he passed through Napoli and Bardonecchia (Italy), Dover and Southampton (England). A handwritten inscription appears on one leaf (with the stamp of the Haifa customs), indicating that the Rebbe was carrying with him a small Torah scroll.
His second journey to Eretz Israel: 28th June – 3rd August 1955. While heading for Eretz Israel, he passed through European countries and cities: Southampton and Dover (England), Paris (France), Switzerland, Venice (Italy), Piraeus (Greece). On his return trip to the United States: Piraeus (Greece), Napoli, Genoa and Brenner (Italy), Salzburg (Austria) and France.
Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979) was the youngest son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov (1836-1904), and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region.
He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. At a young age, he was appointed rabbi of Irshava. In 1925, he was appointed rabbi of Karaly (Carei; in place of R. Shaul Brach who went to serve as rabbi of Kashoi), and in 1934, of Satmar (Satu Mare). In all the places he served as rabbi, he also maintained a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of the faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was one of the founding pillars of the Torah world in the generation following the Holocaust. After his escape from the Holocaust, he reached America and established the Satmar Chassidic community – the largest Chassidic community in the world. He served as president of the Eda HaCharedit in Jerusalem, and as leader of Orthodox Jewry in the United States and throughout the world. His writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.
Passport, 48 pages. Approx. 15.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Some leaves within plastic sheet protectors. Fabric cover.
Polish passport. The identifying details of Rebbetzin Karelitz were filled in by hand on p. 2 – Year of Birth: 1860; Place of Birth: Kosava; Civil status: Widow; and other details. Her photograph is affixed to p. 3, accompanied by her handwritten signature.
The passport contains several ink-stamps, which document her immigration to Eretz Israel: On 8th May 1935, she received an entry visa to Palestine from the British Passport Office in Warsaw. On the 21st May 1935, she was accorded an immigration certificate from the Polish authorities. On 28th May 1935, she left Poland for the port-city of Constanța, Romania, where she boarded a ship, reaching Eretz Israel on 2nd June 1935.
Rebbetzin Rasha Leah Karelitz (ca. 1854-1940), daughter of R. Shaul Katzenellenbogen Rabbi of Kosava and Kobryn. In 1874, she married R. Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz (1852-1916), who was appointed rabbi of Kosava (close to Hrodna), in place of his father-in-law who went to serve as rabbi of Kobryn. She was renowned for her righteousness and modesty, and not for naught did she merit that all her nine sons and sons-in-law were outstanding Torah scholars and renowned rabbis, amongst the leaders of their generation. Her sons: R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz author of Chazon Ish, R. Meir Karelitz Rabbi of Lechavitch (Lyakhavichy) and head of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, R. Yitzchak Zundel Karelitz successor of his father as rabbi of Kosava, R. Moshe Karelitz of Vilna author of Or Chadash. Her sons-in-law: R. Shmuel Greineman, R. Abba Swiatycki Rabbi of Kosava and Tiktin, R. Shmuel Eliyahu Kahn Rabbi of Orsha, R. Nachum Meir Tzibolnik-Karelitz, R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky author of Kehilot Yaakov (the Steipler).
The Chafetz Chaim once asked her how she merited to bear such illustrious offspring, and she responded that the merit may be ascribed to her exceptional modesty, as she was particular that the walls of her home never see her hair. Reputedly, she fell ill soon after her wedding, and the doctors warned her that bearing children may risk her life. Her father R. Shaul reluctantly suggested that his son-in-law divorce her to enable him to have children, but she heroically decided to disregard the doctors' cautions, asserting that since that was her purpose in life, G-d would surely have mercy on her (HaChazon Ish BeDorotav, p. 17).
She was widowed of her husband during WWI, and near the end of her life she immigrated to Eretz Israel, where she resided for a few years in Bnei Brak, close to her son the Chazon Ish and her daughter, wife of the Steipler. She merited to witness the preeminence of her son the Chazon Ish, in fulfillment of the dictum "fortunate is the one who bore him".
Passport, 40 pages. 14.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Marginal creases and tears to first leaf. Minor damage to cover.