Auction 028 - Special Auction for Pesach and 11th Nissan – Birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
שלושה שטרות של דולר אחד, שהתקבלו מהאדמו"ר מנחם מנדל שניאורסון – הרבי מליובאוויטש.
This edition was distributed by the rebbe on Thursday Yat (19th) Kislev 1991, together with a dollar for charity – the present lot only includes the Tanya, without the dollar.
This edition was printed in a large format in honor of the 192nd year of Chag HaGeulah of the Baal HaTanya (1798-1990), and on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the appointment of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (1951-1991).
3415th printing of the Tanya. At the end of the book, a comprehensive bibliographic section was included, with a list of all the editions and translations of the Tanya, pictures of the title pages and of the Baal HaTanya's manuscripts of the Tanya – Mahadura Kama, a brief biography of the Baal HaTanya, and more.
In a sermon the rebbe delivered two days after the distribution, on Shabbat Parashat Vayeshev 21st Kislev, the rebbe explained the idea behind the distribution of this edition.
Inscription on the title page (in pen): "19th Kislev 1990".
[3], 237 leaves. Approx. 23 cm. Good condition. Pen inscriptions inside front cover. Minor marginal creases and damage to cover.
This edition was distributed by the rebbe at the Hitvaadut on 11th Nissan 1982 together with a dollar for charity – the present lot includes only the Tanya, without the dollar.
Special edition of the Tanya (edition 164), printed in honor of the eightieth birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe – 11th Nissan 1982. At the end of the book – pictures of the title pages of all editions of the Tanya printed up until then, and facsimiles of Tanya Mahadura Kama manuscripts.
This book was distributed by the rebbe to the participants of the Hitvaadut on 11th Nissan 1982. Towards the end of the Hitvaadut, which lasted five hours, the rebbe explained the idea of this Tanya edition – "Since there is a need to hasten even more the coming of Mashiach, another suggestion was raised: to print all the Tanya books printed throughout the world – in one volume… by printing pictures of the title pages of all the Tanya books printed throughout the world…". The rebbe added at the end: "And this is the main thing – to study the Tanya so often that the book will be very worn from extensive use, and the printing of more books will be necessary" (Torat Menachem 1982, III, pp. 1244-1245).
The foreword mentions that on the Hitvaadut on Motzei Shabbat Parashat Mevarchim Elul 1978, the rebbe requested that the Tanya should be printed throughout the world, and it had since been printed in dozens of places (since that Hitvaadut in 1978 until this edition was published in 1982, some eighty new editions of the Tanya were printed).
[4], 334 leaves, [3] leaves. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Original binding, with two fabric bookmarks. Spine partially detached, strengthened with strip of tape. Small marginal open tear to spine.
Letter (over 50 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – the Rayatz of Lubavitch. Zaol'sha (holiday resort near Lyubavichi), 10th Menachem Av 1912. Written on the official stationery of Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch.
Addressed to R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin (1877-1936), dean of the Torah Emet yeshiva in Hebron, during the time the Rayatz served as head of the various branches of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva, and was the close attendant of his father Rebbe Rashab in his holy work and communal activities.
The letter, sent eight months after the establishment of the Hebron branch of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva, contains an inquiry about the yeshiva's accounts and the expenses involved in providing for the students and staff.
At the beginning of the letter, the Rayatz reprimands R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin for the brief and inadequate report he sent regarding the students "there is still no order in external matters… I have no idea who the students are, what they are like, what they are studying…". The rebbe also reproaches him for the disorderliness of the yeshiva's accounts "all I can see is that there is no precise reckoning and order, he only spends money at the expense of the wealthy supporters".
Further in the letter, the Rayatz scrutinizes the various payments and expenses (rent, cleaning, sewing, alterations and laundry, travel…), and sharply rebukes R. Shlomo Zalman Havlin for the extravagant spending, "this way does not lead to moral ethics, and will not bring any good, if only it doesn't cause damage…". The Rayatz then instructs R. Havlin how to keep accurate and organized financial records.
At the end of the letter, the Rayatz blesses him: "May G-d Help us hear and inform of only good tidings", and asks him to give his regards to the students: "Give the students my warmest regards, since they delve in the truth".
This letter was published in HaMashpia (pp. 263-264), and in Igrot Kodesh of the Rayatz (vol. I, letter 39), with extensive omissions.
[1] leaf (2 written pages), official stationery. 27.5 cm. Fair condition. Browned paper. Folding marks. Tears, one leaf is torn along its entire width into two parts, affecting text. Small open tear in corner.
Letter from Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – the Rayatz of Lubavitch, with his handwritten signature. [Leningrad (St. Petersburg)], 24th MarCheshvan 1924.
Written by a scribe (the secretary R. Elchanan – R. Chonye, Marozov), with the addition of three lines handwritten by Rebbe Rayatz, with his full signature – "Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn".
Addressed to his relative R. Azriel Zelig Slonim in Jerusalem, in response to his letter describing the gathering they arranged to promote the Chassidut.
In his letter, the rebbe encourages him to establish Torah classes and to continue disseminating Chassidut in Eretz Israel. The rebbe reminds him of his studies in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch, where he was a member of Rebbe Rashab's household: "Consider, that even though you are one of the youngest students, your eyes witnessed his radiant light, and you heard his fiery voice, which is capable of arousing and enlightening".
In this letter, the Rayatz relates for the first time the famous story regarding the visit of the Shpoler Zeide by the Baal Shem Tov. Reputedly, the Shpoler Zeide once related to the Baal HaTanya, that at the age of 3, he saw the Baal Shem Tov, who "placed his holy hand on my heart, and from that time onward, I have felt warm, a gesture of a tzaddik, and all the more so, seeing him or hearing his voice, should generate an indelible effect". This letter is the source based on which this story was printed in the HaYom Yom calendar (14th Tevet), compiled and published by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
At the end of the letter, the rebbe added in his handwriting: "Write to me all that is going on with you, and I know that several times you were successful in causing a strengthening in Torah study, and surely G-d will help you now as well. Your relative, who seeks your wellbeing and blesses you, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn".
R. Azriel Zelig Slonim (1897-1972), a prominent Chabad communal worker, director of Kollel Chabad, founder of Irgun Neshei UBnot Chabad and of Shikun Chabad in Jerusalem. He travelled around the world to raise funds and strengthen Jewish life in the most far-flung places, building mikvaot, assigning rabbis and shochetim, and setting up Torah classes.
[1] leaf (2 written pages). 21.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Tears and open tears (affecting several words), repaired with paper. Ink erosion. Minor stains.
Letter (15 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn, wife of Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. Riga, Motzaei Shabbat, 2nd Shevat 1929. Hebrew and Yiddish.
Addressed to R. Azriel Zelig Slonim, in response to his congratulations on the occasion of the wedding of her granddaughter Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, daughter of Rebbe Rayatz, to R. Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, future Lubavitcher Rebbe (the wedding took place two months earlier, on 14th Kislev 1928, in Warsaw. R. Slonim had been unable to attend since he was on a mission in Brussels at that time).
In her letter, the Rebbetzin thanks him for his Mazal Tov wishes, "which I received with much delight", and blesses the young couple and the father of the bride: "May G-d help that the blessings of our friends be fulfilled in the young couple, may they live in happiness and see blessed descendants. May my son [Rebbe Rayatz] reap much satisfaction from his children". She then requests "pray for the wellbeing of my son and his family members. May G-d grant us to hear only good from one another".
The Rebbetzin concludes with prayers on behalf of the Chassidim who remained behind the Iron Curtain: "May G-d have mercy on our Chassidim in general and on Russian Jewry in particular, that the persecution on the yeshivot and their deans [should cease], as well as the imprisonments which deplete all one's health and courage".
Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn (1860-1942), wife of Rebbe Rashab and mother of Rebbe Rayatz. She was the granddaughter of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch and great-granddaughter of the Mitteler Rebbe. She supported and assisted her husband in all his activities.
R. Azriel Zelig Slonim (1897-1972), a prominent Chabad communal worker, director of Kollel Chabad, founder of Irgun Neshei UBnot Chabad and of Chikun Chabad in Jerusalem. He travelled around the world to raise funds and strengthen Jewish life in the most far-flung places, building mikvaot, assigning rabbis and shochetim, and setting up Torah classes.
[1] leaf. 27 cm. Fair-poor condition. Folding marks. Tears to folds, affecting text, repaired with transparent tape. Filing holes, affecting several characters. Marginal open tears. Stains and wear.
Second leaf of a 2-leaf letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn – the Lubavitcher Rebbe. [Brooklyn NY, 13th Nissan 1950].
Mimeographed typescript, with the addition of several lines handwritten by the rebbe.
Sent two months after the passing of Rebbe Rayatz (10th Shevat 1950), before his appointment as rebbe.
The (full) letter discusses the great naches-ruach Rebbe Rayatz has when his teachings and writings are studied after his passing, since it causes "his lips to move in the grave…". The rebbe explains this at length, based on the teachings of the sages and the Zohar.
These ideas were first printed in a letter from 1946 (Igrot Kodesh, vol. II, 205), addressed to R. Moshe Dov Ber Rivkin, and later to several Chassidim shortly after the passing of the Rayatz.
The present leaf is the second leaf of a letter sent on 13th Nissan 1950 to R. Yeshaya Horowitz (1883-1978), at the foot of which the rebbe added two lines in his handwriting: "What he wrote in previous letters regarding the distinction between Moshe and Yehoshua… his novella is accurate, since so is written in Zohar Chadash Parashat Ki Tetze in Midrash HaNe'elam" (printed in Igrot Kodesh, vol. III, p. 273).
[1] leaf (one printed page, numbered 2). Approx. 27.5 cm. Thin paper. Good condition. Folding marks and creases. Small marginal tears and pinholes. Minor stains. Pen inscription.
מכתב מאת האדמו"ר רבי מנחם מנדל שניאורסון – הרבי מליובאוויטש, חתום בחתימת יד קדשו. ברוקלין, ניו יורק, ניסן ("חדש הגאולה") תשי"ג [1953].
מודפס במכונת כתיבה על נייר מכתבים רשמי של הרבי, וחתום בחתימת יד קדשו, בתוספת תיקונים בכתב-ידו.
נשלח אל הרה"ח דוד פרקוביץ בירושלים, לרגל חג הפסח. במכתבו מברך הרבי: "ולקראת ימי החג הבאים עלינו ועל כל ישראל לטובה, הנני בזה להביע ברכתי לחג כשר ושמח, ולקיום היעוד המקווה, כימי צאתך מארץ מצרים אראנו נפלאות, בגאולתינו האמיתית והשלימה, בימיו ובימינו על ידי משיח צדקנו".
[1] דף, נייר מכתבים רשמי. 21.5 ס"מ. נייר דק. מצב טוב. נקבי תיוק. סימני קיפול. כתם דיו.
Typewritten on the official stationery of the rebbe, with his signature and several corrections in his handwriting.
Addressed to the activist, educator and writer, R. Avraham Mokotovski (Eliyahu Ki-Tov, 1912-1976) in Jerusalem. In his letter, the rebbe blesses him: "With the approach of the festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom… I wish to extend my blessings for a kosher and joyous festival, and for true freedom, free from material and spiritual worries – from anything impeding the service of G-d with joy and gladness of heart. May this freedom and joy be extended over the entire year".
At the foot of the letter, beneath his signature, the rebbe relates to R. Mokotovski's withdrawal from communal activity: "According to hearsay circulating here, seemingly he has not engaged in communal activity for a very long time" (in 1954, after his party Emunei Yisrael failed to pass the votes threshold for the 2nd Knesset, R Mokotovki left public activism and devoted himself to the establishment of a small publishing house, where he published his halachic and aggadic works, including his most famous composition, Sefer HaTodaah).
In this letter, the rebbe expresses the anguish this decision caused him: "And my surprise at this distressful and painful move is evident", and wonders: "Is this in your opinion the opportune time for deserting the battlefield?". The rebbe later apologizes for his sharpness: "Maybe the style is not diplomatic or polite enough – yet the sharpness was certainly not sufficient in relation to the sorrowful and distressing situation of Judaism throughout the world".
Printed in Igrot Kodesh of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (vol. XV, letter 5361) and in Likutei Sichot (part XII, p. 203), based on a photocopy of the present letter.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 27.5 cm. Thin paper. Good condition. Filing holes. Minor creases and folding marks.
מכתב מאת האדמו"ר רבי מנחם מנדל שניאורסון – הרבי מליובאוויטש, חתום בחתימת יד קדשו. ברוקלין, ניו יורק, י"א ניסן תשכ"ג [1963]. יידיש.
מודפס במכונת כתיבה על נייר מכתבים רשמי של הרבי, וחתום בחתימת יד קדשו.
נשלח אל הרה"ח מנחם מענדל וזוגתו מרת אסתר רחל [איידלמאן], לרגל חג הפסח. במכתבו מברך הרבי: "לקראת חג המצות, זמן חירותנו.... הנני בזה להביע ברכתי לחג כשר ושמח. ולהמשיך משמחה זו בכל ימות השנה" (יידיש).
[1] דף, נייר מכתבים רשמי. 21.5 ס"מ. מצב טוב. סימני קיפול. כתמים וקמטים קלים.
מכתב מאת האדמו"ר רבי מנחם מנדל שניאורסון – הרבי מליובאוויטש, חתום בחתימת יד קדשו. ברוקלין, ניו יורק, י"א ניסן תשכ"ד [1964].
מודפס במכונת כתיבה על נייר מכתבים רשמי של הרבי, וחתום בחתימת יד קדשו.
נשלח אל מר שמחה פורת, לרגל חג הפסח. במכתבו מברך הרבי: "לקראת חג המצות, זמן חירותנו... הנני בזה להביע לכ' ברכתי לחג כשר ושמח ולחירות אמתית, חירות מדאגות בגשם ומדאגות ברוח – מכל דבר המעכב עבודת ה' בשמחה ובטוב לבב. ולהמשיך מחירות ושמחה זו בימי כל השנה כולה".
[1] דף, נייר מכתבים רשמי. 27.5 ס"מ. נייר דק. מצב טוב. קמטים קלים.
The description and condition report appear below in Hebrew. For information in English, please contact us at office@kedemltd.com
מכתב מאת האדמו"ר רבי מנחם מנדל שניאורסון – הרבי מליובאוויטש, חתום בחתימת יד קדשו. ברוקלין, ניו יורק, י"א ניסן תשכ"ה [1965].
מודפס במכונת כתיבה על נייר מכתבים רשמי של הרבי, חתום בחתימת יד קדשו, בתוספת מספר מילים בכתב-ידו.
נשלח אל הרה"ח ראובן געציל כהן מירושלים, לרגל חג הפסח. במכתבו מברך הרבי: "ולקראת חג המצות, זמן חירותנו... הנני בזה להביע ברכתי לחג כשר ושמח ולחירות אמתית, חירות מדאגות בגשם ומדאגות ברוח – מכל דבר המעכב עבודת ה' בשמחה ובטוב לבב. ולהמשיך מחירות ושמחה זו בימי כל השנה כולה".
בפתח המכתב הוסיף הרבי את המילים "והפ"נ יקרא עה"צ [על הציון]", ובסופו את המלים: "ולבשו"ט [ולבשורות טובות]", בכתב יד קדשו.
[1] דף, נייר מכתבים רשמי. 21.5 ס"מ. מצב טוב. סימני קיפול.