Leaf (2 pages), novellae on Parashat Acharei Mot, handwritten by R. Eliezer David Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar, author of Keren LeDavid.
Manuscript handwritten by the author. R. Eliezer David's novellae on the books of Bereshit and Shemot were published before the Holocaust. The manuscripts of the other parts were hidden in the ground and thus survived the Holocaust, and were only finally published in 1976. The present leaf may have been amongst the writings which were hidden during the Holocaust.
This manuscript contains the initial text, handwritten by the author; it was published with many variations in the Brooklyn 1976 and Bnei Brak 2008 editions.

R. Eliezer David Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar (ca. 1866 – 1928), prominent Torah leader and yeshiva dean in Hungary and Transylvania. Close disciple of his brother R. Moshe Grünwald, the Arugot HaBosem. He served as rabbi in many prominent communities, establishing in each place a large yeshiva where he edified many disciples, including dozens of rabbis and poskim.

[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Marginal stains (traces of glue). Marginal open tears, affecting text. Margins strengthened with sellotape.

Ink blotter dedicated to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum – gift received immediately upon his victory in the first elections for the Satmar rabbinate, Tishrei 1928, from the community leader R. Chaim Freund and the community members. Satmar, 17th Tishrei 1928.
Wooden ink blotter. Metal plaque on upper part, with vegetal motifs and engraved dedication: "To R. Yoel Teitelbaum, much success – 17th Tishrei 1928 – Chaim Freund and the entire Satmar community".
The next day, second day of Chol HaMoed Sukkot, 18th Tishrei, R. Yoel received the official certificate of appointment as rabbi of Satmar, signed by the rabbis and notables of the city, headed by the community leader R. Chaim Freund (see Kedem auction 63, item 111).

The Controversy Over the Satmar Rabbinate
In summer 1928, shortly after the passing of R. Eliezer David Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar, elections were held to appoint a new rabbi. Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum won the elections, yet several members of the community attempted to disqualify the election, claiming that the results were forged. The severe controversy over the election lasted for six years, during which polemic writings were published on each side, and several repeated elections were conducted. Only in 1934 was R. Yoel Teitelbaum finally appointed as rabbi of Satmar.
The election of R. Yoel Teitelbaum to the Satmar rabbinate marked a turning point in the impact of the Orthodox and Chassidic communities in the Maramureş region and Transylvania. Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum turned Satmar into a powerhouse of Torah and Chassidism, with a yeshiva numbering hundreds of students and a dynamic Chassidic community.

R. Chaim Freund (1865 – ca. 1950), community leader of Satmar for many years. Brother of R. Avraham Yehoshua Freund Rabbi of Năsăud. He played a central role in the appointment of Rebbe Yoel as rabbi of Satmar in 1929-1934.

Approx. 8.5X15X8 cm. Good-fair condition. Defects and rust to metal plaque. Fading and minor abrasions to wood. Blotting cloth worn and slightly torn.

The Holiness of Items of Tzaddikim - In the Teachings of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar

In his writings, Rebbe Yoel of Satmar repeatedly relates to the holiness contained in the possessions of a Tzaddik; and conversely to the prohibition of benefitting from the money of the wicked, warning not to accept funding from the Zionist state and the like.

In several places in his book Divrei Yoel on the Torah, the Rebbe describes the tremendous virtue of the belongings of the Tzaddik, which have the power to endow holiness for generations, since the "sparks of holiness" endure in them. Based on this concept, the Rebbe explains Yosef's influence on the Egyptians, who were sustained from his produce during the famine and drew from it "spiritual vibrancy": "…the property of Tzaddikim has the power to impart spiritual vibrancy…" (Divrei Yoel, Shemot, p. 33). Regarding the "aspect of holiness" contained in the belongings of Tzaddikim from "the root of their soul", he writes: "The possessions of Tzaddikim are precious to them… since they contain an aspect of the root of their soul… as they are particular not to steal…" (Divrei Yoel, Vayetze, p. 92).

Two polemic books printed during the course of the battle against the appointment of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum as rabbi of Satmar:
1. Sefat Emet. Satmar: Meir Leib Hirsch, [1929].
[8], 76, [8] leaves. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Creases and wear. Inscriptions and stamps. New leather binding.
2. Shamoa Ben Achechem. Satmar, [1929].
[1], 13, [1] pages. 15.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Tears, including open tear to final leaf, affecting text. Paper repairs on verso of title page and final leaf. Detached leaves. Inscriptions and stamps. New leather binding.

The Controversy Over the Satmar Rabbinate
In summer 1928, shortly after the passing of R. Eliezer David Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar, elections were held to appoint a new rabbi. Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum won the elections, yet several members of the community attempted to disqualify the election, claiming that the results were forged. The severe controversy over the election lasted for six years, during which polemic writings were published on each side, and several repeated elections were conducted. Only in 1934 was R. Yoel Teitelbaum finally appointed as rabbi of Satmar.
The present two books present the point of view of those who opposed the appointment of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum. With approbations and responsa by several Torah leaders, including the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, R. Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert, R. David Sperber of Braşov and others.

Two polemic books printed by the two sides, during the split in the Sighet community:
1. Ohev Mishpat. Published by the "Sefardic" community in Sighet. Lviv: Felix Bednarski, 1887. Two title pages.
[4], 16 pages; [24], 25-104 leaves. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Paper repairs on verso of first title page. Wormhole through half the book. New binding.
2. Open letter and Milchemet Mitzvah. Sighet: Menachem Mendel Wieder, 1888. Includes booklets published during the course of the polemic: Ein Mishpat, Yashuv Mishpat and Emek HaMishpat. On the title page, stamp of R. Chaim Dov Gross of Munkacs (d. 1938), close attendant of the Minchat Elazar.
[2], 2-157, [2] leaves (some leaves are not numbered – the three booklets which were distributed independently before the printing of the book was completed). 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears and minor open tears to some leaves, not affecting text. New binding.

The Split in the Sighet Community
In 1883-1890, a stormy controversy broke out in Sighet between the members of the community who joined the Central Bureau of the Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Communities, and a group of community members who refused to be subordinate to the bureau, and established an independent, Status Quo "Sefardic" community. The Orthodox community was headed by the Yitav Lev and the Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet, while the seceding camp was led by the powerful Kahana family, and some Vizhnitz Chassidim.
With time, the split in the Sighet community affected many other Hungarian communities, with most the Hungarian rabbis, as well as many rabbis from Galicia and Poland, taking sides in the polemic.

Printed proclamation, denial of the ban issued by the rabbis on voting for the Zionist parties in the elections for the Czechoslovak parliament. Orsheva (Irshava), "Wednesday Parashat Vayikra" [6th Adar II] 1924. Munkacs: Bernhard Meisels.
In the proclamation, the rabbis deny the prohibition published in their name to vote for the Zionist parties. Signed by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, R. Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, R. Chaim Meir Hager, and Rebbe Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum Rabbi of Volova.

With the approach of the Czechoslovak elections, the aforementioned rabbis had issued the day before (5th Adar II 1924) a proclamation forbidding voting for the Zionist parties (see previous item). Since such a ban was illegal, they were forced to retract it in the present proclamation (presumably only outwardly, for the authorities).

[1] leaf. 23.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Tears to margins and folds. Minor wear.