Manuscript responsum to permit an agunah, by R. Masoud Chai Ben Shimon - a rabbi of Egypt, with a responsum by R. Aharon Mendel HaKohen - Ashkenazi rabbi of Egypt. [Cairo, ca. 1907].
Comprehensive halachic study of a case of a Muslim who coveted a beautiful and poor orphaned Jewish girl. To that end, he succeeded in tricking the Beit Din and converted under a fictitious name. His conversion was insincere, and he continued practicing Islam and declaring himself a Muslim. The manuscript describes how he married the girl and later abandoned her as an agunah.
The manuscript begins with a copying of a testimony received on the affair, dated Av 1907, with the copied signatures of the dayanim who received the testimony: R. Masoud Chai Ben Shimon, R. Avraham Fresco and R. Aharon Mendel Baharan HaKohen. This is followed by a lengthy responsum signed by R. Masoud Chai Ben Shimon, and a copying of a responsum by R. Aharon Mendel HaKohen. The rabbis annul the fictitious conversion and the marriage, and permit the girl to remarry.
In his responsum, R. Aharon Mendel explains that the rabbis were hasty in accepting the conversion, since converts from Islam are rare, and states: "We have a tradition… that the conversion of a Muslim heralds the beginning of the redemption".
Eventually, the rabbis succeeded in getting the runaway husband to give his wife a get.
R. Aharon Mendel HaKohen (1866-1927), outstanding Torah scholar and author. Served as Ashkenazi rabbi of Cairo for thirty years. He is particularly renowned for his efforts to reinstate Semichah.
R. Masoud Chaim Ben Shimon (1869-1925), leading dayan in Egypt and later chief rabbi of Egypt.
[23] leaves (approx. 44 written pages). 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Without binding. Seven final leaves from a different copying of the responsum. These leaves are detached, with margins trimmed affecting text.

Manuscript, twenty-nine large leaves - Chassidic essays, Aggadic novellae and homiletics on the Torah portions, Neviim and Ketuvim, teachings of the sages and various topics, by R. Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), author of Yismach Moshe. Written by a scribe, with dozens of glosses and transition sentences handwritten by his grandson and close disciple, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet - the Yitav Lev. [Gorlitz/Sighet, ca. 1848-1861]. With hundreds of glosses handwritten by Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposch (Târgu Lăpuş). [Laposch, 1900s].
Large leaves, written on both sides (two columns per page), copying in preparation for printing from the novellae of the Yismach Moshe. These leaves were in the possession of the Yitav Lev and his grandson and disciple Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum. Both of them edited sections of this manuscript and printed them in the Yismach Moshe books which they published. These leaves therefore contain their handwritten glosses, notes, additions, emendations and instructions for the printer.
When the Yitav Lev prepared his grandfather's series of books on the Torah for print, he selected several sections from the present manuscript and published them in the Yismach Moshe books (Lviv, 1848-1861). Rebbe Moshe David later selected other sections from these leaves, and published them in the books Yismach Moshe on Neviim, Ketuvim and teachings of the sages (Sighet, 1906-1908). The present manuscript may contain several sections which were never published.
Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel (1759-1841), prominent Chassidic leader in Hungary and Galicia. Tremendous Torah scholar and kabbalist, renowned as a holy man and wonder-worker. Author of the Yismach Moshe series and other books.
Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe and his successor as rabbi of Ujhel. He later was appointed rabbi of Sighet, where he opened a large yeshiva and drew thousands of Chassidim seeking his counsel and blessings.
Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum (1855-1935), grandson and close disciple of the Yitav Lev of Sighet. Published the works of his ancestors, the Yismach Moshe and the Yitav Lev. Served as rabbi of Laposch from 1882, settling in his final years in the United States, where he served as the Volova Rav.
[29] written leaves. 42 cm. Overall good condition. Stains (including dampstains), tears and wear. Large open tears to several leaves, affecting text. Markings and inscriptions in blue ink in the text (presumably indicating sections to be printed).

Throughout his life, the Yismach Moshe composed novellae on all parts of the Torah - Halachah, Aggadah, Derush and Chassidut. He wrote these novellae sporadically, on pieces of paper, rather than in an organized fashion. After his passing, his writings were given to the Yitav Lev, his grandson and disciple, who gave them to a scribe to be copied methodically. After the writings were copied, the Yitav Lev began editing and arranging the novellae according to topics. While he was editing them, he added glosses, introductory and transition sentences, and many sources. From these writings, the Yitav Lev printed the Yismach Moshe series on the Torah portions, between 1848-1861. In time, when the Yitav Lev became busy with his rabbinical position, his yeshiva and disseminating Torah to his many disciples, he handed over the rest of the writings to his son-in-law, R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum Rabbi of Gorlitz and to his grandson R. Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposch, for them to edit and arrange other works of the Yismach Moshe for print. R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum of Gorlitz edited Responsa Heshiv Moshe (Lviv, 1866). R. Moshe David Teitelbaum of Laposch edited Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim (Krakow, 1880), and in 1906 and 1908, he compiled and published two new volumes of Yismach Moshe, comprising a compendium of ten small works on Neviim, Ketuvim, Megillot, Aggadot and more.
These leaves were used in the preparation of several books of the Yismach Moshe, and show the initial stages of editing - prior to the rearrangement according to subjects - bearing the handwritten editing notes of his holy descendants.

Piece of paper from the Pinkas of the Poalei Tzedek - Shoemakers' society in Botoshan, with three lines handwritten and signed by R. Yosef son of R. Meir of Berditchev (grandson of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushat Levi). Botoshan (Botoșani), 1833.
The piece of paper was cut out of the Pinkas of the Poalei Tzedek - Shoemakers' society in Botoshan. One side of the paper is dated Thursday, 3rd day of Chol HaMoed Pesach 1832, Botoshan, and contains an inscription concerning the institution of practices and regulations by members of the society (interrupted after two lines).
The verso contains a recommendation by R. Yosef of Berditchev in support of the society's regulations. Dated Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Av 1833, with his signature.
R. Yosef Yisrael of Berditchev was the son of R. Meir of Berditchev, author of Keter Torah, son of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushat Levi. R. Yosef of Berditchev first printed in 1816 in one volume the two parts of the book Kedushat Levi - on the Torah portions and the festivals. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta, in his approbation to this edition, refers to R. Yosef with many titles of honor.
[1] leaf. 21.5X5.5 cm. Good condition. Stains.

Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yechezkel Paneth Rabbi of Deyzh. Deyzh (Dej), [Iyar] 1903.
Recommendation to provide financial assistance for the wedding expenses of a groom, who had served as the attendant of his father Rebbe Moshe of Deyzh. The letter also mentions his uncle R. Yechezkel Weinberger (rabbi of Marosújvár, see previous item).
Rebbe Yechezkel Paneth, author of Knesset Yechezkel (1870-1930), leading Hungarian Tzaddik in his times. Son and successor of Rebbe Moshe Paneth of Deyzh, grandson of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Paneth Rabbi of Deyzh.
The letter was published in Knesset Yechezkel and other places.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 22.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Folding marks, tears and wear. Dark tape repairs.

Letter (5 long lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen of Alexander. [Warsaw, ca. 1860s]. Sent to Lodz to his son R. Yechiel Efraim Fishel HaKohen. He mentions that he has enclosed a letter intended for R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Biala (son-in-law of the Chiddushei HaRim of Ger), on the occasion of his son's wedding with the daughter of the wealthy R. Yaakov Krohl. The address in Lodz and postmarks appear on the verso, with the following inscription handwritten by R. Chanoch Henich: "Please give this letter to my son… R. Yechiel Efraim Fishel HaKohen of Mielec". Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin of Alexander (1798-1870), leading disciple of R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. He held a rabbinic position for close to 40 years. While still a young man, his teacher the Yehudi HaKadosh appointed him rebbe, yet he preferred to subject himself to the authority of his colleagues, Rebbe Mendel of Kotsk and later Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger. Only after the passing of the Chiddushei HaRim in 1866 did the elderly R. Henich agree to serve as rebbe and lead the Chassidic courts of Kotzk and Ger. [1] leaf. 15X21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and folding marks.