Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
Displaying 1 - 12 of 15
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $12,000
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Sold for: $30,000
Including buyer's premium
Leaf (two written pages, 54 lines) handwritten by R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, author of the Haflaa – novellae on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah pertaining to the laws of Kashrut, sections 101 and 105.
Most of the contents of this leaf were published in Chiddushei Haflaa (Munkacs 1895), after undergoing minor editing. The two final lines of the first page, as well as the first line and several words from the second line at the beginning of the second page, were not printed there (and were presumably not printed anywhere else).
This leaf is part of a manuscript which was in the possession of R. Efraim Zalman Horowitz of Komarno, great-grandson of the Haflaa. In 1895, R. Efraim Zalman entrusted R. Sender Chaim of Kozova with the manuscript, to transcribe it for publication. In their enthusiastic approbations to the book, prominent rabbis and rebbes such as the Darchei Teshuvah of Munkacs and the Maharsham of Berezhany attest to this. The Darchei Teshuva describes the preeminence of this manuscript in his approbation: " What shall I testify and to what shall I compare the great value of the manuscript, which although short, revives my soul".
R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish Horowitz, rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, author of the Haflaa (1731-1805), served in his early years as rabbi of Witkowo and Lachovice. On 26th Tevet 1772, he was appointed rabbi and dean of Frankfurt am Main, which at that time was the largest Torah center in Germany. He held this position for over thirty-three years, until his passing. He edified many disciples in his yeshiva, the most prominent of them being his close disciple the Chatam Sofer. He led the battles against Haskalah and the Reform movement. R. Pinchas and his Torah novellae were held in high regard by all the leaders of his generation, whether Chassidic or opponents of Chassidut.?At the end of 1771, shortly before he arrived in Frankfurt, R. Pinchas spent several weeks together with his brother R. Shmelke Rabbi of Nikolsburg, by the Maggid of Mezeritch, where they absorbed the secrets of Torah and worship of G-d from the Maggid and his leading disciples (the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch relates to this in his famous foreword to Shulchan Aruch HaRav, first printed in 1814). The Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch defines R. Pinchas as a disciple of the Maggid (Likutei Torah, Bamidbar, Zhitomir 1848, p. 29b, in a gloss on the words of his grandfather the Baal HaTanya). In his book Panim Yafot, the Haflaa brings several principles from the teachings of the Maggid of Mezeritch (see: Erchei HaHaflaa, Jerusalem 2006, I, pp. 40-41), although he only mentions him explicitly in one place, in Parashat Beshalach (p. 57b), in the commentary to "Vayavo'u Marata" (some claim that the omission of the name of the Maggid from the book Panim Yafot is the fault of the copyists of the manuscript. In his foreword, the publisher R. Efraim Zalman Margolies states that Panim Yafot was not printed based on the author's own manuscript, but from a transcription produced by one of the grandsons of the author, "based on a transcription of the book produced by various scribes", meaning that the book was printed based on a third hand copy. This claim still does not explain the fact that the name of the Maggid of Mezeritch is not mentioned in any of the books published by the Haflaa in his lifetime, even in places where the ideas quoted were derived from the teachings of the Maggid). During his short stay by the Maggid, the Haflaa drew close to several disciples of the Maggid, including the Baal HaTanya, R. Zusha of Anipoli and R. Avraham of Kalisk (whom the Haflaa referred to, in 1792, with great reverence: "my beloved friend, the great luminary, R. Avraham HaKohen of Tiberias"). In a letter he wrote in 1792, he expresses his esteem for the Chassidim of Tiberias who devote themselves to the worship of G-d in the Holy Land (Yeshurun, XXI, p. 855).
The Haflaa was a prolific author, and he recorded many novellae on all parts of the Torah and on most Talmudic tractates. He gave the general title of "Haflaa" to all his books. The first book of this series, on Tractate Ketubot, was named Ketubah (Offenbach 1787), and the second, on Tractate Kiddushin, was named HaMikneh (Offenbach 1801). Both were published in his lifetime, while the third part in this series, Panim Yafot on the Torah in five volumes (Ostroh 1825-1826), was only published after his passing. His halachic responsa were published in Responsa Givat Pinchas.
Publication of the novellae of the Haflaa on other Talmudic tractates and on Shulchan Aruch, including the contents of the present leaf, began in 1895. In 1900, three additional parts on the Talmud were published in Vilna based on the manuscripts of the Haflaa, and in 1994, two further volumes were published. The Vilna printers write in their foreword that the three volumes on the Talmud they published are based on two manuscripts of the Haflaa which they received, "and both manuscripts of the Haflaa testify to each other, since they were both written by the same scribe". One of the two manuscripts was received from R. Efraim Zalman Horowitz, who also inherited the present manuscript.
[1] leaf (two written pages). 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Marginal tears, not affecting text.
Most of the contents of this leaf were published in Chiddushei Haflaa (Munkacs 1895), after undergoing minor editing. The two final lines of the first page, as well as the first line and several words from the second line at the beginning of the second page, were not printed there (and were presumably not printed anywhere else).
This leaf is part of a manuscript which was in the possession of R. Efraim Zalman Horowitz of Komarno, great-grandson of the Haflaa. In 1895, R. Efraim Zalman entrusted R. Sender Chaim of Kozova with the manuscript, to transcribe it for publication. In their enthusiastic approbations to the book, prominent rabbis and rebbes such as the Darchei Teshuvah of Munkacs and the Maharsham of Berezhany attest to this. The Darchei Teshuva describes the preeminence of this manuscript in his approbation: " What shall I testify and to what shall I compare the great value of the manuscript, which although short, revives my soul".
R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish Horowitz, rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, author of the Haflaa (1731-1805), served in his early years as rabbi of Witkowo and Lachovice. On 26th Tevet 1772, he was appointed rabbi and dean of Frankfurt am Main, which at that time was the largest Torah center in Germany. He held this position for over thirty-three years, until his passing. He edified many disciples in his yeshiva, the most prominent of them being his close disciple the Chatam Sofer. He led the battles against Haskalah and the Reform movement. R. Pinchas and his Torah novellae were held in high regard by all the leaders of his generation, whether Chassidic or opponents of Chassidut.?At the end of 1771, shortly before he arrived in Frankfurt, R. Pinchas spent several weeks together with his brother R. Shmelke Rabbi of Nikolsburg, by the Maggid of Mezeritch, where they absorbed the secrets of Torah and worship of G-d from the Maggid and his leading disciples (the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch relates to this in his famous foreword to Shulchan Aruch HaRav, first printed in 1814). The Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch defines R. Pinchas as a disciple of the Maggid (Likutei Torah, Bamidbar, Zhitomir 1848, p. 29b, in a gloss on the words of his grandfather the Baal HaTanya). In his book Panim Yafot, the Haflaa brings several principles from the teachings of the Maggid of Mezeritch (see: Erchei HaHaflaa, Jerusalem 2006, I, pp. 40-41), although he only mentions him explicitly in one place, in Parashat Beshalach (p. 57b), in the commentary to "Vayavo'u Marata" (some claim that the omission of the name of the Maggid from the book Panim Yafot is the fault of the copyists of the manuscript. In his foreword, the publisher R. Efraim Zalman Margolies states that Panim Yafot was not printed based on the author's own manuscript, but from a transcription produced by one of the grandsons of the author, "based on a transcription of the book produced by various scribes", meaning that the book was printed based on a third hand copy. This claim still does not explain the fact that the name of the Maggid of Mezeritch is not mentioned in any of the books published by the Haflaa in his lifetime, even in places where the ideas quoted were derived from the teachings of the Maggid). During his short stay by the Maggid, the Haflaa drew close to several disciples of the Maggid, including the Baal HaTanya, R. Zusha of Anipoli and R. Avraham of Kalisk (whom the Haflaa referred to, in 1792, with great reverence: "my beloved friend, the great luminary, R. Avraham HaKohen of Tiberias"). In a letter he wrote in 1792, he expresses his esteem for the Chassidim of Tiberias who devote themselves to the worship of G-d in the Holy Land (Yeshurun, XXI, p. 855).
The Haflaa was a prolific author, and he recorded many novellae on all parts of the Torah and on most Talmudic tractates. He gave the general title of "Haflaa" to all his books. The first book of this series, on Tractate Ketubot, was named Ketubah (Offenbach 1787), and the second, on Tractate Kiddushin, was named HaMikneh (Offenbach 1801). Both were published in his lifetime, while the third part in this series, Panim Yafot on the Torah in five volumes (Ostroh 1825-1826), was only published after his passing. His halachic responsa were published in Responsa Givat Pinchas.
Publication of the novellae of the Haflaa on other Talmudic tractates and on Shulchan Aruch, including the contents of the present leaf, began in 1895. In 1900, three additional parts on the Talmud were published in Vilna based on the manuscripts of the Haflaa, and in 1994, two further volumes were published. The Vilna printers write in their foreword that the three volumes on the Talmud they published are based on two manuscripts of the Haflaa which they received, "and both manuscripts of the Haflaa testify to each other, since they were both written by the same scribe". One of the two manuscripts was received from R. Efraim Zalman Horowitz, who also inherited the present manuscript.
[1] leaf (two written pages). 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Marginal tears, not affecting text.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Sold for: $6,250
Including buyer's premium
Letter signed by Rebbe Aharon of Chernobyl. [No date or place indicated].
Grave warning to an individual who refused to obey a Torah ruling rendered by three rabbis, with blessings should he comply: "My warning is double with serious forewarning to fulfill the ruling of these rabbis without deviance, lest you regret… Aharon son of the famed R. Mordechai".
R. Aharon Twersky of Chernobyl (1787-1871), prominent Chassidic leader in his times and celebrated luminary of the Jewish world in mid-19th century. He was the eldest son of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl and succeeded his ancestors as rebbe in the city of Chernobyl. In his youth, he was educated by his grandfather Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, author of Meor Einayim. Already during his father's lifetime, R. Aharon filled a central role in the Chassidic world, and his father wrote that his great holiness safeguards his generation.
After his father's passing in 1838, all eight sons started serving as rebbes in various places, with R. Aharon, the eldest son, succeeding his father in Chernobyl. He was esteemed by all his brothers and they accepted his authority, even in their private matters. Rebbe Aharon himself was aware of the authority he held and would address the public in sharp and decisive terms. For example, in one letter he writes: "I inform them that even if they live as long as Metushelach, they would not realize nor understand even a thousandth of what I did to assist them during those times, with the help of G-d who affords eternal salvation". R. Aharon lived to an old age and saw many of his descendants serve as rebbes, as he was accustomed to appoint his grandsons as rebbes already in his lifetime. R. David Moshe of Chortkov (1827-1903) was his son-in-law.
[1] leaf. 18.5 cm. Written by a scribe, signed by the Rebbe. Fair condition. Tears (repaired) to folding marks. Edges singed.
Grave warning to an individual who refused to obey a Torah ruling rendered by three rabbis, with blessings should he comply: "My warning is double with serious forewarning to fulfill the ruling of these rabbis without deviance, lest you regret… Aharon son of the famed R. Mordechai".
R. Aharon Twersky of Chernobyl (1787-1871), prominent Chassidic leader in his times and celebrated luminary of the Jewish world in mid-19th century. He was the eldest son of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl and succeeded his ancestors as rebbe in the city of Chernobyl. In his youth, he was educated by his grandfather Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, author of Meor Einayim. Already during his father's lifetime, R. Aharon filled a central role in the Chassidic world, and his father wrote that his great holiness safeguards his generation.
After his father's passing in 1838, all eight sons started serving as rebbes in various places, with R. Aharon, the eldest son, succeeding his father in Chernobyl. He was esteemed by all his brothers and they accepted his authority, even in their private matters. Rebbe Aharon himself was aware of the authority he held and would address the public in sharp and decisive terms. For example, in one letter he writes: "I inform them that even if they live as long as Metushelach, they would not realize nor understand even a thousandth of what I did to assist them during those times, with the help of G-d who affords eternal salvation". R. Aharon lived to an old age and saw many of his descendants serve as rebbes, as he was accustomed to appoint his grandsons as rebbes already in his lifetime. R. David Moshe of Chortkov (1827-1903) was his son-in-law.
[1] leaf. 18.5 cm. Written by a scribe, signed by the Rebbe. Fair condition. Tears (repaired) to folding marks. Edges singed.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Mordechai Twersky of Rachmastrivka. Jerusalem, [1910s].
Addressed to R. Avraham Berensohn. Letter acknowledging the reception of a donation of 11 dollars. The rebbe extends many blessings for the donor: "May he receive a blessing from G-d, a thousand times this amount, and experience great success in his work, and find favor in the eyes of G-d and man, and may he be blessed with physical and emotional health, and a complete recovery for his weak heart… may his eyes behold pleasure and great satisfaction from all his descendants, may they go in the straight path in the eyes of G-d and man, and those who need to get married, may they find a suitable match… and longevity, a good and pleasant life always… One who beseeches on his behalf to be saved with all kinds of salvations, blessings and goodness…".
At the end of the letter, the rebbe asks the donor "to help me and support me in the terrible situation we are in". The contents of the letter seem to indicate that it was written during the years of WWI (1914-1918), a time when the Jews of Jerusalem suffered from terrible hunger.
Rebbe Mordechai (R. Mottele) Twersky (1840-1920). Eldest son of the first Rachmastrivka Rebbe, R. Yochanan Twersky, and son-in-law of his uncle Rebbe David of Tolna. In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of R. Chanina Lipa Shapira of Zhitomir-Slavita. Already in his father's lifetime, a group of Chassidim began frequenting his court, and after the passing of his father in 1895, he served as rebbe of Rachmastrivka together with his brother (initiating the Rachmastrivka tradition of two brothers serving as rebbes, leading the tish and receiving Chassidim – together). In 1906, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he was one of the most prominent rebbes. On Chol HaMoed Pesach 1920, he was injured by Arab rioters on his way to the Western Wall, and passed away several weeks later.
[1] leaf. 17 cm. Good condition. Minor tears. Left margin cut, slightly affecting text. Folding marks.
Addressed to R. Avraham Berensohn. Letter acknowledging the reception of a donation of 11 dollars. The rebbe extends many blessings for the donor: "May he receive a blessing from G-d, a thousand times this amount, and experience great success in his work, and find favor in the eyes of G-d and man, and may he be blessed with physical and emotional health, and a complete recovery for his weak heart… may his eyes behold pleasure and great satisfaction from all his descendants, may they go in the straight path in the eyes of G-d and man, and those who need to get married, may they find a suitable match… and longevity, a good and pleasant life always… One who beseeches on his behalf to be saved with all kinds of salvations, blessings and goodness…".
At the end of the letter, the rebbe asks the donor "to help me and support me in the terrible situation we are in". The contents of the letter seem to indicate that it was written during the years of WWI (1914-1918), a time when the Jews of Jerusalem suffered from terrible hunger.
Rebbe Mordechai (R. Mottele) Twersky (1840-1920). Eldest son of the first Rachmastrivka Rebbe, R. Yochanan Twersky, and son-in-law of his uncle Rebbe David of Tolna. In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of R. Chanina Lipa Shapira of Zhitomir-Slavita. Already in his father's lifetime, a group of Chassidim began frequenting his court, and after the passing of his father in 1895, he served as rebbe of Rachmastrivka together with his brother (initiating the Rachmastrivka tradition of two brothers serving as rebbes, leading the tish and receiving Chassidim – together). In 1906, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he was one of the most prominent rebbes. On Chol HaMoed Pesach 1920, he was injured by Arab rioters on his way to the Western Wall, and passed away several weeks later.
[1] leaf. 17 cm. Good condition. Minor tears. Left margin cut, slightly affecting text. Folding marks.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $8,000
Estimate: $12,000 - $15,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Leaf of Sefer HaChezyonot by R. Chaim Vital, handwritten by R. Natan Sternhartz of Breslov (Moharnat), prominent disciple of R. Nachman of Breslov.
Leaf (two pages) with a transcript from the book Sefer HaChezyonot by R. Chaim Vital, handwritten by R. Natan of Breslov. The following heading appears at the top of both pages: "Sefer HaChazon – Part II" (this was how R. Natan referred to Sefer HaChezyonot, as seen in a letter sent to his son, in which he quotes this work: "And I explicitly saw in the book of R. Chaim Vital, named Sefer HaChazon" – Alim LiTerufa, letter from Sunday eve, Vaera 1836, Jerusalem 2000 edition, p. 412).
Sefer HaChezyonot is the personal diary of R. Chaim Vital (Maharchu) – prominent disciple of the Arizal, in which he records his dreams and visions. This leaf comprises several passages: In the first passage, R. Chaim Vital relates a dream in which he saw the Temple utensils. In the next passage, he documents a dream in which he saw a 7-year-old boy who descended from Heaven on Rosh Hashanah, during the Shofar blowing in the Sephardic synagogue, and aroused the congregation to repent. In the third passage (on the second page), R. Chaim Vital recounts a dream from the night of Motza'ei Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot, in which he saw his teacher, R. Moshe Alshech. In this passage, he also mentions R. Yosef ibn Tabul (another disciple of the Arizal) and R. Yom Tov Tzahalon (a Safed Torah scholar).
R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (Nemyriv) – Moharnat of Breslov (1780-1844), close disciple and disseminator of the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and his successor as leader of Breslov Chassidism. During his teacher's lifetime, he was the personification of a disciple, and just like R. Chaim Vital disseminated and revealed the teachings of the Arizal, R. Natan revealed and disseminated the teachings of R. Nachman throughout the world. He arranged and published his teacher's works (including: Likutei Moharan, Sefer HaMidot, Sipurei Maasiot, and others). Reputedly, R. Nachman once declared that if not for R. Natan, not even one leaf of his writings would have survived. R. Natan's own compositions expound upon and explain the teachings of R. Nachman. His magnum opus was Likutei Halachot – Chassidic instructions based on the teachings of R. Nachman of Breslov, following the order of topics in Shulchan Aruch. R. Natan was renowned from his youth as an exceptional Torah scholar, who worshipped G-d with complete devotion and extraordinary fervor. His prayers and holiness were legendary. His biography is recorded in detail in Chayei Moharnat and BaEsh UBaMayim – Toldot Moharnat, Jerusalem, 1996.
[1] leaf (2 written pages. Approx. 45 autograph lines). 7.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming and tears, professionally restored (slightly affecting several letters). Elegant leather binding.
Leaf (two pages) with a transcript from the book Sefer HaChezyonot by R. Chaim Vital, handwritten by R. Natan of Breslov. The following heading appears at the top of both pages: "Sefer HaChazon – Part II" (this was how R. Natan referred to Sefer HaChezyonot, as seen in a letter sent to his son, in which he quotes this work: "And I explicitly saw in the book of R. Chaim Vital, named Sefer HaChazon" – Alim LiTerufa, letter from Sunday eve, Vaera 1836, Jerusalem 2000 edition, p. 412).
Sefer HaChezyonot is the personal diary of R. Chaim Vital (Maharchu) – prominent disciple of the Arizal, in which he records his dreams and visions. This leaf comprises several passages: In the first passage, R. Chaim Vital relates a dream in which he saw the Temple utensils. In the next passage, he documents a dream in which he saw a 7-year-old boy who descended from Heaven on Rosh Hashanah, during the Shofar blowing in the Sephardic synagogue, and aroused the congregation to repent. In the third passage (on the second page), R. Chaim Vital recounts a dream from the night of Motza'ei Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot, in which he saw his teacher, R. Moshe Alshech. In this passage, he also mentions R. Yosef ibn Tabul (another disciple of the Arizal) and R. Yom Tov Tzahalon (a Safed Torah scholar).
R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (Nemyriv) – Moharnat of Breslov (1780-1844), close disciple and disseminator of the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and his successor as leader of Breslov Chassidism. During his teacher's lifetime, he was the personification of a disciple, and just like R. Chaim Vital disseminated and revealed the teachings of the Arizal, R. Natan revealed and disseminated the teachings of R. Nachman throughout the world. He arranged and published his teacher's works (including: Likutei Moharan, Sefer HaMidot, Sipurei Maasiot, and others). Reputedly, R. Nachman once declared that if not for R. Natan, not even one leaf of his writings would have survived. R. Natan's own compositions expound upon and explain the teachings of R. Nachman. His magnum opus was Likutei Halachot – Chassidic instructions based on the teachings of R. Nachman of Breslov, following the order of topics in Shulchan Aruch. R. Natan was renowned from his youth as an exceptional Torah scholar, who worshipped G-d with complete devotion and extraordinary fervor. His prayers and holiness were legendary. His biography is recorded in detail in Chayei Moharnat and BaEsh UBaMayim – Toldot Moharnat, Jerusalem, 1996.
[1] leaf (2 written pages. Approx. 45 autograph lines). 7.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming and tears, professionally restored (slightly affecting several letters). Elegant leather binding.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $10,000
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Sold for: $25,000
Including buyer's premium
Four leaves (eight pages), commentaries to Mishnayot Tractate Maaser Sheni – Maaseh Oreg and Pnei Zaken, handwritten by the author – Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin, rabbi of Zidichov and Komarno. [Komarno, 1847?].
Four (consecutive) leaves handwritten by the author, the rebbe of Komarno, with emendations and deletions within the text. The leaves contain the commentaries of the rebbe to the end of chapter 3 and beginning of chapter 4 of Tractate Maaser Sheni, written in parallel columns. The columns are titled "A.E." [=Atzei Eden] and "M. Oreg" [=Maaseh Oreg].
The Rebbe of Komarno composed three commentaries on the Mishnayot: Atzei Eden, which covers nearly the entire Mishnah (ending in the middle of Ohalot) and comprises a short summary of the commentaries on the Mishnah (divided into two parts: Etz HaChaim and the kabbalistic Etz HaDaat); two other commentaries on Order Zera'im and Order Taharot – Maaseh Oreg on the Jerusalem Talmud and the Tosefta pertaining to the Mishnah, and Pnei Zaken which contains the halachic conclusions of the Rambam. The commentaries were first printed in Lviv in 1861-1862, and include Kabbalistic explanations and allusions on the Mishnah and the Halacha.
Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin Rabbi of Zidichov (Zhydachiv) and Komarno (1806-1874), a G-dly kabbalist and leading transmitter of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, a nephew and close disciple of the Sar Beit HaZohar, Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov. He was cherished by foremost Chassidic leaders – the Chozeh of Lublin (who served as his matchmaker), the Rebbe of Apta, R. Moshe Tzvi of Savran, his uncle R. Moshe of Sambor, R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, and others. He authored many books on Chassidut and Kabbalah, including the Heichal HaBerachah commentary to the Five Books of the Torah, based on the teachings of the Arizal and the Baal Shem Tov. The Heichal HaBerachah Chumashim are considered classic books in Chassidic thought and Kabbalah. They were treasured by rebbes of various dynasties (the Zidichov dynasty, the Divrei Chaim and his descendants, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, and others), who extolled the exceptional holiness of the kabbalistic teachings contained in his commentaries.
[4] leaves (8 written pages). 24 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor marginal tears, not affecting text.
Four (consecutive) leaves handwritten by the author, the rebbe of Komarno, with emendations and deletions within the text. The leaves contain the commentaries of the rebbe to the end of chapter 3 and beginning of chapter 4 of Tractate Maaser Sheni, written in parallel columns. The columns are titled "A.E." [=Atzei Eden] and "M. Oreg" [=Maaseh Oreg].
The Rebbe of Komarno composed three commentaries on the Mishnayot: Atzei Eden, which covers nearly the entire Mishnah (ending in the middle of Ohalot) and comprises a short summary of the commentaries on the Mishnah (divided into two parts: Etz HaChaim and the kabbalistic Etz HaDaat); two other commentaries on Order Zera'im and Order Taharot – Maaseh Oreg on the Jerusalem Talmud and the Tosefta pertaining to the Mishnah, and Pnei Zaken which contains the halachic conclusions of the Rambam. The commentaries were first printed in Lviv in 1861-1862, and include Kabbalistic explanations and allusions on the Mishnah and the Halacha.
Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin Rabbi of Zidichov (Zhydachiv) and Komarno (1806-1874), a G-dly kabbalist and leading transmitter of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, a nephew and close disciple of the Sar Beit HaZohar, Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov. He was cherished by foremost Chassidic leaders – the Chozeh of Lublin (who served as his matchmaker), the Rebbe of Apta, R. Moshe Tzvi of Savran, his uncle R. Moshe of Sambor, R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, and others. He authored many books on Chassidut and Kabbalah, including the Heichal HaBerachah commentary to the Five Books of the Torah, based on the teachings of the Arizal and the Baal Shem Tov. The Heichal HaBerachah Chumashim are considered classic books in Chassidic thought and Kabbalah. They were treasured by rebbes of various dynasties (the Zidichov dynasty, the Divrei Chaim and his descendants, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, and others), who extolled the exceptional holiness of the kabbalistic teachings contained in his commentaries.
[4] leaves (8 written pages). 24 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor marginal tears, not affecting text.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $15,000
Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000
Sold for: $45,000
Including buyer's premium
Ten leaves (twenty pages) handwritten by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Friedman Rabbi of Liska (Olaszliszka) – homilies for Rosh Hashanah. [Liska], 1864-1867.
Ten leaves handwritten by the author Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh (with emendations and deletions in the body of the text).
Most of these homilies were published after the passing of the author in his book HaYashar VehaTov (Munkacs, 1880), after being edited. These are the original homilies, as they were recorded by the author, with textual variations compared to the printed version (see foreword to Ach Pri Tevuah, by the publisher R. Ze'ev Wolf, grandson of the author, who explains how he edited and corrected the original text, with the consent of his grandfather).
Additionally, several passages in this manuscript were presumably never published (leaves 53-54a).
These homilies were recorded and delivered by the rebbe in 1864-1867. At the top of some homilies, the rebbe noted whether he actually delivered them in public or not: "1864, on Rosh Hashanah. This I have not yet delivered in public" (14a); "On Rosh Hashanah, I delivered this homily before the congregation in 1864" (17b); "I said this on Rosh Hashanah 1864 (19b); "I said this on Rosh Hashanah night on the verse…" (20b); "On Rosh Hashanah 1865" (51a); "In 1867, what I said on Rosh Hashanah" (67a); "On Rosh Hashanah 1867" (68). Some of these inscriptions were not published.
In his foreword to HaYashar VehaTov, R. Ze'ev Wolf, publisher and grandson of the author, describes these homilies for the High Holidays: "How magnificent was our teacher during the holy days, while standing before the holy ark, clothed in white, and his face glowed like embers and torches, his appearance was like that of a g-dly angel, his eyes closed, his hands stretched out over the heads of the congregants, like a priest blessing the people… and although he was weak, his voice resounded like the roar of a lion, uprooting mountains and splitting the heavens… his words, which emerged from the depth of his heart, entered deep into the hearts of his listeners, until everyone cried freely… fortunate are the eyes who witnessed all this". In his foreword to the first book of the author, Ach Pri Tevuah, the publisher mentions the writings the author left behind: "All were innovated in his old age, since the Torah novellae which he composed in his youth, were unfortunately all consumed by a fire in Poland".
Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Friedman, rabbi of Liska (1798-1874), a leading Hungarian rebbe, from the first generation of the Chassidic movement in Hungary. A disciple of the Yismach Moshe, Rebbe Shalom of Belz, Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, Rebbe Meir of Premishlan and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was renowned as a wonder-worker, and people flocked to him from all over the country to receive his blessings. He authored Ach Pri Tevua and HaYashar VehaTov. His illustrious disciple was R. Yeshaya of Kerestir, who used to sign: "Who was the close attendant of the pious rabbi of Liska".
[10] leaves (twenty written pages). 25 cm. Good condition. Stains (including dark ink stains and dampstains).
Ten leaves handwritten by the author Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh (with emendations and deletions in the body of the text).
Most of these homilies were published after the passing of the author in his book HaYashar VehaTov (Munkacs, 1880), after being edited. These are the original homilies, as they were recorded by the author, with textual variations compared to the printed version (see foreword to Ach Pri Tevuah, by the publisher R. Ze'ev Wolf, grandson of the author, who explains how he edited and corrected the original text, with the consent of his grandfather).
Additionally, several passages in this manuscript were presumably never published (leaves 53-54a).
These homilies were recorded and delivered by the rebbe in 1864-1867. At the top of some homilies, the rebbe noted whether he actually delivered them in public or not: "1864, on Rosh Hashanah. This I have not yet delivered in public" (14a); "On Rosh Hashanah, I delivered this homily before the congregation in 1864" (17b); "I said this on Rosh Hashanah 1864 (19b); "I said this on Rosh Hashanah night on the verse…" (20b); "On Rosh Hashanah 1865" (51a); "In 1867, what I said on Rosh Hashanah" (67a); "On Rosh Hashanah 1867" (68). Some of these inscriptions were not published.
In his foreword to HaYashar VehaTov, R. Ze'ev Wolf, publisher and grandson of the author, describes these homilies for the High Holidays: "How magnificent was our teacher during the holy days, while standing before the holy ark, clothed in white, and his face glowed like embers and torches, his appearance was like that of a g-dly angel, his eyes closed, his hands stretched out over the heads of the congregants, like a priest blessing the people… and although he was weak, his voice resounded like the roar of a lion, uprooting mountains and splitting the heavens… his words, which emerged from the depth of his heart, entered deep into the hearts of his listeners, until everyone cried freely… fortunate are the eyes who witnessed all this". In his foreword to the first book of the author, Ach Pri Tevuah, the publisher mentions the writings the author left behind: "All were innovated in his old age, since the Torah novellae which he composed in his youth, were unfortunately all consumed by a fire in Poland".
Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Friedman, rabbi of Liska (1798-1874), a leading Hungarian rebbe, from the first generation of the Chassidic movement in Hungary. A disciple of the Yismach Moshe, Rebbe Shalom of Belz, Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, Rebbe Meir of Premishlan and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was renowned as a wonder-worker, and people flocked to him from all over the country to receive his blessings. He authored Ach Pri Tevua and HaYashar VehaTov. His illustrious disciple was R. Yeshaya of Kerestir, who used to sign: "Who was the close attendant of the pious rabbi of Liska".
[10] leaves (twenty written pages). 25 cm. Good condition. Stains (including dark ink stains and dampstains).
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $8,000
Sold for: $6,000
Including buyer's premium
Letter signed by Rebbe Moshe Halberstam, rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa). Shinova, Tevet 1906.
Written by a scribe and hand-signed by the rebbe. On the official stationery of the rebbe, with the letterhead: "Moshe Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova".
Letter of recommendation for R. Yaakov Yisrael Schmerler of Safed, who was compelled to travel to Europe for medical treatment. In the letter, the rebbe mentions R. Yaakov Yisrael's distinguished lineage as a descendant of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk and R. Meir of Premishlan. The letter concludes with blessings: " And may the merit of our ancestors protect… to rescue you from all harm, and to shower you with the blessing of life and peace"; and the rebbe's handwritten signature: "Moshe Halberstam".
Rebbe Mosheleh Halberstam of Shinova (Sieniawa; 1843-1919), a leading rebbe of his generation. He was the son and successor of Rebbe Yechezkel of Shinova. Holy and ascetic from a young age, he never slept for a full half-hour. His father attested that he was born entirely spiritual. His grandfather, the Divrei Chaim, blessed him with longevity, and indeed he lived until the age of 76, despite being weak and sickly throughout his life. Following the passing of the Divrei Yechezkel in 1899, he succeeded him as rabbi and rebbe of Shinova. In 1904, he relocated to Sanz to serve there as rabbi and rebbe. Righteous men of the generation regarded him with awe, and accorded him great respect. The Shinova Chassidic dynasty was renowned for its resolute leadership and battles against those who tried to uproot Judaism. The Rebbe participated in famous public conferences and was amongst the leaders of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia. His descendants include dynasties of prominent rabbis and rebbes.
He departed from this world in a wondrous manner. His grandson Rebbe Abish Kaner relates that a day prior to his passing, the Rebbe began preparing for his demise, engrossed in kabbalistic thoughts and refusing to allow anyone to look at him. His disciple R. Avraham Yehoshua Freund Rabbi of Năsăud hid in a corner of the room, yet the Rebbe sensed his presence and asked him to exit his chamber. Another disciple, the Minchat Elazar Rebbe of Munkacs, had the merit of immersing the Rebbe's holy body in the Mikveh following his passing. Rebbe Moshe was buried in Sanz, alongside his grandfather the Divrei Chaim.
[1] leaf. 21 cm. Stains. Tears to folds. Professionally restored on verso.
Written by a scribe and hand-signed by the rebbe. On the official stationery of the rebbe, with the letterhead: "Moshe Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova".
Letter of recommendation for R. Yaakov Yisrael Schmerler of Safed, who was compelled to travel to Europe for medical treatment. In the letter, the rebbe mentions R. Yaakov Yisrael's distinguished lineage as a descendant of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk and R. Meir of Premishlan. The letter concludes with blessings: " And may the merit of our ancestors protect… to rescue you from all harm, and to shower you with the blessing of life and peace"; and the rebbe's handwritten signature: "Moshe Halberstam".
Rebbe Mosheleh Halberstam of Shinova (Sieniawa; 1843-1919), a leading rebbe of his generation. He was the son and successor of Rebbe Yechezkel of Shinova. Holy and ascetic from a young age, he never slept for a full half-hour. His father attested that he was born entirely spiritual. His grandfather, the Divrei Chaim, blessed him with longevity, and indeed he lived until the age of 76, despite being weak and sickly throughout his life. Following the passing of the Divrei Yechezkel in 1899, he succeeded him as rabbi and rebbe of Shinova. In 1904, he relocated to Sanz to serve there as rabbi and rebbe. Righteous men of the generation regarded him with awe, and accorded him great respect. The Shinova Chassidic dynasty was renowned for its resolute leadership and battles against those who tried to uproot Judaism. The Rebbe participated in famous public conferences and was amongst the leaders of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia. His descendants include dynasties of prominent rabbis and rebbes.
He departed from this world in a wondrous manner. His grandson Rebbe Abish Kaner relates that a day prior to his passing, the Rebbe began preparing for his demise, engrossed in kabbalistic thoughts and refusing to allow anyone to look at him. His disciple R. Avraham Yehoshua Freund Rabbi of Năsăud hid in a corner of the room, yet the Rebbe sensed his presence and asked him to exit his chamber. Another disciple, the Minchat Elazar Rebbe of Munkacs, had the merit of immersing the Rebbe's holy body in the Mikveh following his passing. Rebbe Moshe was buried in Sanz, alongside his grandfather the Divrei Chaim.
[1] leaf. 21 cm. Stains. Tears to folds. Professionally restored on verso.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $15,000
Estimate: $20,000 - $25,000
Sold for: $50,000
Including buyer's premium
Lengthy letter (four pages) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam (the first) Rabbi of Bobov, addressed to his uncle Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova, author of Divrei Yechezkel. Bobov (Bobowa), Erev Shabbat Shelach [Sivan] 1895.
Sharp polemic letter regarding chalitzah, with harsh criticism of a posek in Dzikov (Tarnobrzeg).
In the letter, Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam describes to his uncle, the Divrei Yechezkel, the case of a woman in Vishnitza (Wisznice) who married a young man from Dzikov, and was widowed during her first pregnancy. The baby, who was born several months after the passing of his father, died 21 days later. The rebbe relates that the father of the widow contacted him, and he ruled that chalitzah is required. The Beit Din in Dzikov however, headed by the posek R. Menashe Eichenstein (later rabbi of Veretski, son-in-law of Rebbe Yehoshua Horowitz Rabbi of Dzikov, he authored Torat HaAsham, Alfei Menashe and Mateh Menashe; see: Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, p. 187), maintained that the widow was exempt from chalitzah, since there were testimonies to the fact that she was visibly pregnant before her husband's passing. They based their ruling on their understanding of a responsum of R. Akiva Eger (section 89), yet Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam argued that the cases were not comparable. Additionally, he contends that the ruling of the posek of Dzikov is in contradiction with an explicit ruling of the Rambam, Tur and Shulchan Aruch, and contradicts the decisions of R. Yom Tov Algazi and the Beit Efraim. The rebbe adds that the question was sent to Maharsham of Berezhan, and he concurred with him that the woman requires chalitzah.
Further in the letter, the rebbe sharply attacks the posek and witness, and accuses them of receiving bribes, which influenced their ruling: " …and I cannot do anything about it, since the people of Dzikov mock my words… and I hereby enclose the letters which I received from Vishnitza, so that my honored uncle should see that they are shamelessly and openly doing everything for money, and it is disgraceful that such a person should serve as a posek in a Galician city…".
He then asks his uncle to intervene to prevent the situation of a woman requiring chalitzah being presented as able to remarry, and to warn the family not to rely on this groundless ruling. He concludes: " May G-d help that we should merit that he lead us towards Mashiach speedily, as are the wishes of his nephew, servant and disciple, who prostrates himself from afar, Shlomo Halberstam".
Next to his signature, the rebbe added his name and the name of his mother, as a chassid writing a kvittel: "Shlomo son of Beila".
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
It turns out that the Divrei Yechezkel indeed intervened, and following this letter, sent a letter to R. Aryeh Leibush Horowitz Rabbi of Stryi, author of Harei Besamim, requesting that he get involved (Divrei Yechezkel HeChadash, section 44; also printed in Michtevei Kodesh – Bobov, section 54). The letter of the Divrei Yechezkel, dated Parashat Chukat 1895 (some two weeks after the present letter was written) contains a clear mention of this letter: "My nephew R. Shlomo Rabbi of Vishnitza, presently residing in Bobov, sent to me, writing that in Vishnitza there is a woman whose husband passed away…". The Divrei Yechezkel further writes in his letter that he sent a letter to the father of the late husband and instructed him not to rely on the lenient ruling, and instead, one of the brothers should perform chalitzah.
R. Shlomo Halberstam, first Rebbe of Bobov (1847-1905) was the grandson of the Divrei Chaim, Rebbe of Sanz and of Rebbe Eliezer Horowitz of Dzikov-Ropshitz. He was orphaned in his childhood of his father, R. Meir Natan Halberstam, and was raised and educated by his two illustrious grandfathers. He was appointed in ca. 1865 as rabbi of Bukowsko (at the young age of 18), and later (ca. 1876) of Ushpitzin (Oświęcim). In 1875, he was one of the grandchildren selected by R. Chaim of Sanz to edit and publish his prominent book Responsa Divrei Chaim in Lviv. In ca. 1880, he went to serve as rabbi of Vishnitza, where he established the first yeshiva in Galicia, and would deliver daily lectures in the yeshiva before hundreds of students. This yeshiva produced hundreds of Galician rabbis and dayanim. In Cheshvan 1892, he was appointed rabbi of Bobov, which he became renowned for. He served as rebbe to thousands of Chassidim, particularly working on drawing youths to Chassidut, developing Bobov into a large center of thousands of young Chassidim, who transformed Galician Jewry by disseminating Torah and Chassidut. R. Shlomo was a leader of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia and joined the Machzikei HaDat organization (in contrast to the other rebbes of the Sanz dynasty who did not endorse this organization). He wrote numerous halachic responsa. His son Rebbe Ben Tzion prepared his writings for print before WWI, but the composition was lost during the war. The present letter is one of his rare extant letters on Halachic matters. His son Rebbe Ben Tzion Halberstam, the Kedushat Tzion, was the father of Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam (the second), Rebbe of Bobov-USA – who established the large center of Bobov Chassidut in the United States. His grandfather the Divrei Chaim cherished and revered him greatly, and even taught him Kabbalah. In a halachic responsum from 1871, he addresses him in terms of great honor (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Yoreh De'ah, section 32). In that responsum, his grandfather requests: "Please pray for me since I am very weak, may G-d help him with a long life… seeking the wellbeing of your Torah and awaiting to see you in peace".
[1] leaf, [4] written pages. Large sheet of paper (34X41.5 cm), folded into four pages (each page: 21 cm). Fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Many tears and wear to margins and folding marks. Tears to folding marks, reinforced with tape on verso.
Sharp polemic letter regarding chalitzah, with harsh criticism of a posek in Dzikov (Tarnobrzeg).
In the letter, Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam describes to his uncle, the Divrei Yechezkel, the case of a woman in Vishnitza (Wisznice) who married a young man from Dzikov, and was widowed during her first pregnancy. The baby, who was born several months after the passing of his father, died 21 days later. The rebbe relates that the father of the widow contacted him, and he ruled that chalitzah is required. The Beit Din in Dzikov however, headed by the posek R. Menashe Eichenstein (later rabbi of Veretski, son-in-law of Rebbe Yehoshua Horowitz Rabbi of Dzikov, he authored Torat HaAsham, Alfei Menashe and Mateh Menashe; see: Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, p. 187), maintained that the widow was exempt from chalitzah, since there were testimonies to the fact that she was visibly pregnant before her husband's passing. They based their ruling on their understanding of a responsum of R. Akiva Eger (section 89), yet Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam argued that the cases were not comparable. Additionally, he contends that the ruling of the posek of Dzikov is in contradiction with an explicit ruling of the Rambam, Tur and Shulchan Aruch, and contradicts the decisions of R. Yom Tov Algazi and the Beit Efraim. The rebbe adds that the question was sent to Maharsham of Berezhan, and he concurred with him that the woman requires chalitzah.
Further in the letter, the rebbe sharply attacks the posek and witness, and accuses them of receiving bribes, which influenced their ruling: " …and I cannot do anything about it, since the people of Dzikov mock my words… and I hereby enclose the letters which I received from Vishnitza, so that my honored uncle should see that they are shamelessly and openly doing everything for money, and it is disgraceful that such a person should serve as a posek in a Galician city…".
He then asks his uncle to intervene to prevent the situation of a woman requiring chalitzah being presented as able to remarry, and to warn the family not to rely on this groundless ruling. He concludes: " May G-d help that we should merit that he lead us towards Mashiach speedily, as are the wishes of his nephew, servant and disciple, who prostrates himself from afar, Shlomo Halberstam".
Next to his signature, the rebbe added his name and the name of his mother, as a chassid writing a kvittel: "Shlomo son of Beila".
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
It turns out that the Divrei Yechezkel indeed intervened, and following this letter, sent a letter to R. Aryeh Leibush Horowitz Rabbi of Stryi, author of Harei Besamim, requesting that he get involved (Divrei Yechezkel HeChadash, section 44; also printed in Michtevei Kodesh – Bobov, section 54). The letter of the Divrei Yechezkel, dated Parashat Chukat 1895 (some two weeks after the present letter was written) contains a clear mention of this letter: "My nephew R. Shlomo Rabbi of Vishnitza, presently residing in Bobov, sent to me, writing that in Vishnitza there is a woman whose husband passed away…". The Divrei Yechezkel further writes in his letter that he sent a letter to the father of the late husband and instructed him not to rely on the lenient ruling, and instead, one of the brothers should perform chalitzah.
R. Shlomo Halberstam, first Rebbe of Bobov (1847-1905) was the grandson of the Divrei Chaim, Rebbe of Sanz and of Rebbe Eliezer Horowitz of Dzikov-Ropshitz. He was orphaned in his childhood of his father, R. Meir Natan Halberstam, and was raised and educated by his two illustrious grandfathers. He was appointed in ca. 1865 as rabbi of Bukowsko (at the young age of 18), and later (ca. 1876) of Ushpitzin (Oświęcim). In 1875, he was one of the grandchildren selected by R. Chaim of Sanz to edit and publish his prominent book Responsa Divrei Chaim in Lviv. In ca. 1880, he went to serve as rabbi of Vishnitza, where he established the first yeshiva in Galicia, and would deliver daily lectures in the yeshiva before hundreds of students. This yeshiva produced hundreds of Galician rabbis and dayanim. In Cheshvan 1892, he was appointed rabbi of Bobov, which he became renowned for. He served as rebbe to thousands of Chassidim, particularly working on drawing youths to Chassidut, developing Bobov into a large center of thousands of young Chassidim, who transformed Galician Jewry by disseminating Torah and Chassidut. R. Shlomo was a leader of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia and joined the Machzikei HaDat organization (in contrast to the other rebbes of the Sanz dynasty who did not endorse this organization). He wrote numerous halachic responsa. His son Rebbe Ben Tzion prepared his writings for print before WWI, but the composition was lost during the war. The present letter is one of his rare extant letters on Halachic matters. His son Rebbe Ben Tzion Halberstam, the Kedushat Tzion, was the father of Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam (the second), Rebbe of Bobov-USA – who established the large center of Bobov Chassidut in the United States. His grandfather the Divrei Chaim cherished and revered him greatly, and even taught him Kabbalah. In a halachic responsum from 1871, he addresses him in terms of great honor (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Yoreh De'ah, section 32). In that responsum, his grandfather requests: "Please pray for me since I am very weak, may G-d help him with a long life… seeking the wellbeing of your Torah and awaiting to see you in peace".
[1] leaf, [4] written pages. Large sheet of paper (34X41.5 cm), folded into four pages (each page: 21 cm). Fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Many tears and wear to margins and folding marks. Tears to folding marks, reinforced with tape on verso.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Letter signed by Rebbe Avraham Mordechai of Ger and leading Polish rabbis: R. Meir Dan Plotzky author of Kli Chemda, R. Yaakov Meir Biederman and R. Menachem Ziemba. Iyar 1926.
Letter from "Keren HaTorah Center in Poland", addressed to British Jewry. Appeal for assistance for the Torah institutions in Poland, who were in dire financial straits due to the economic crisis in Poland. Typewritten, with handwritten signatures of the above-listed rabbis. At the foot of the page, signature of R. Alexander Zusia Friedman (author of Maayana shel Torah) – "In the name of Keren HaTorah in Poland".
The elder Rebbe of Ger – R. Avraham Mordechai Alter, author of Imrei Emet (1865-1948), third Rebbe of the Ger dynasty. Son of the Sefat Emet, he was a holy and outstanding Torah scholar. A founder of Agudath Yisrael and prominent leader of Orthodox Jewry before the Holocaust, he served as rebbe to tens of thousands of Ger Chassidim in Poland. During the Holocaust, most of his Chassidim and dozens of his descendants perished, yet the Rebbe miraculously survived and immigrated to Jerusalem, where he rebuilt the Ger Chassidic dynasty and its yeshivot. His surviving sons all in turn served as rebbes: the Beit Yisrael, the Lev Simcha and the Pnei Menachem. He was named Imrei Emet after his book.
R. Meir Dan Plotzky (1866-1928), a prominent Polish rabbi in the early 20th century. He was one of the founders of Agudath Yisrael in Poland and a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. In 1891, he was appointed rabbi of Dvart (Warta) and in 1918, of Ostrov (Ostrów Mazowiecka). He was one of the most brilliant Torah scholars in Poland, and R. Chaim Soloveitchik wrote in his approbations: "He is extremely great in Torah, with astuteness, erudition and reasoning"; "He is great both in Torah and fear of G-d". R. Plotzky's popular book Kli Chemda on the Torah was highly cherished by Polish Torah scholars. He was a Gerrer Chassid and his entire life clung to the Sfat Emet and the Imrei Emet. He participated in the famous delegation of leading rabbis who travelled to the United States in 1924, together with the Dvar Avraham, Rabbi of Kovno, with R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein and with R. Avraham Yitzchak Kook.
R. Yaakov Meir Biederman (1870-1941, perished in the Holocaust), outstanding Torah scholar, who edited the books of his father-in-law the Sefat Emet, rebbe of Ger. He served as dayan and on the board of rabbis of the Warsaw community. He was the father-in-law of his brother-in-law the Imrei Emet, Rebbe of Ger, in the latter's second marriage (his daughter bore Rebbe Pinchas Menachem of Ger), and father-in-law of the Beit Yisrael in his first marriage. R. Yaakov Meir was a foremost Chassid in the Ger court, and administrated the Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes fund in Poland.
R. Menachem Ziemba (1883-1943, perished in the Holocaust), a prominent Polish Torah scholar in his times, a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Poland and a member of the Warsaw Vaad HaRabbanim. He edified many disciples, and his home in the Praga neighborhood (suburb of Warsaw) was always teaming with Torah scholars and young men who came to absorb his teachings. All the leading Torah scholars of Lithuania and Poland regarded him as a leader of the generation for his scholarly prominence. He was killed on Pesach, 1943, during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. His works include Zera Avraham, Totza'ot Chaim, and others, although most of his writings were lost during the war.
R. Alexander Zusia Friedman (1897-Cheshvan 1943, perished in Holocaust), brilliant Torah scholar and well-known community activist, speaker, author and organizer, founder of the Agudath Yisrael newspaper "Diglenu". Among the founders and ideologists of Agudath Yisrael movements in Poland (Tze'irei Agudath Yisrael, Po'alei Agudath Yisrael, Bnot Agudath Yisrael, Beit Yaakov, Yesodei HaTorah and more). From 1925, he served as general secretary of Agudath Yisrael in Poland. His books on the Torah, Maayana shel Torah (Der Torah Kval) were published in dozens of editions.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and folding marks. Filing holes.
Letter from "Keren HaTorah Center in Poland", addressed to British Jewry. Appeal for assistance for the Torah institutions in Poland, who were in dire financial straits due to the economic crisis in Poland. Typewritten, with handwritten signatures of the above-listed rabbis. At the foot of the page, signature of R. Alexander Zusia Friedman (author of Maayana shel Torah) – "In the name of Keren HaTorah in Poland".
The elder Rebbe of Ger – R. Avraham Mordechai Alter, author of Imrei Emet (1865-1948), third Rebbe of the Ger dynasty. Son of the Sefat Emet, he was a holy and outstanding Torah scholar. A founder of Agudath Yisrael and prominent leader of Orthodox Jewry before the Holocaust, he served as rebbe to tens of thousands of Ger Chassidim in Poland. During the Holocaust, most of his Chassidim and dozens of his descendants perished, yet the Rebbe miraculously survived and immigrated to Jerusalem, where he rebuilt the Ger Chassidic dynasty and its yeshivot. His surviving sons all in turn served as rebbes: the Beit Yisrael, the Lev Simcha and the Pnei Menachem. He was named Imrei Emet after his book.
R. Meir Dan Plotzky (1866-1928), a prominent Polish rabbi in the early 20th century. He was one of the founders of Agudath Yisrael in Poland and a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. In 1891, he was appointed rabbi of Dvart (Warta) and in 1918, of Ostrov (Ostrów Mazowiecka). He was one of the most brilliant Torah scholars in Poland, and R. Chaim Soloveitchik wrote in his approbations: "He is extremely great in Torah, with astuteness, erudition and reasoning"; "He is great both in Torah and fear of G-d". R. Plotzky's popular book Kli Chemda on the Torah was highly cherished by Polish Torah scholars. He was a Gerrer Chassid and his entire life clung to the Sfat Emet and the Imrei Emet. He participated in the famous delegation of leading rabbis who travelled to the United States in 1924, together with the Dvar Avraham, Rabbi of Kovno, with R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein and with R. Avraham Yitzchak Kook.
R. Yaakov Meir Biederman (1870-1941, perished in the Holocaust), outstanding Torah scholar, who edited the books of his father-in-law the Sefat Emet, rebbe of Ger. He served as dayan and on the board of rabbis of the Warsaw community. He was the father-in-law of his brother-in-law the Imrei Emet, Rebbe of Ger, in the latter's second marriage (his daughter bore Rebbe Pinchas Menachem of Ger), and father-in-law of the Beit Yisrael in his first marriage. R. Yaakov Meir was a foremost Chassid in the Ger court, and administrated the Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes fund in Poland.
R. Menachem Ziemba (1883-1943, perished in the Holocaust), a prominent Polish Torah scholar in his times, a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in Poland and a member of the Warsaw Vaad HaRabbanim. He edified many disciples, and his home in the Praga neighborhood (suburb of Warsaw) was always teaming with Torah scholars and young men who came to absorb his teachings. All the leading Torah scholars of Lithuania and Poland regarded him as a leader of the generation for his scholarly prominence. He was killed on Pesach, 1943, during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. His works include Zera Avraham, Totza'ot Chaim, and others, although most of his writings were lost during the war.
R. Alexander Zusia Friedman (1897-Cheshvan 1943, perished in Holocaust), brilliant Torah scholar and well-known community activist, speaker, author and organizer, founder of the Agudath Yisrael newspaper "Diglenu". Among the founders and ideologists of Agudath Yisrael movements in Poland (Tze'irei Agudath Yisrael, Po'alei Agudath Yisrael, Bnot Agudath Yisrael, Beit Yaakov, Yesodei HaTorah and more). From 1925, he served as general secretary of Agudath Yisrael in Poland. His books on the Torah, Maayana shel Torah (Der Torah Kval) were published in dozens of editions.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and folding marks. Filing holes.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $3,000
Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $5,750
Including buyer's premium
Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Avraham Weinberg of Slonim (the first), author of Yesod HaAvodah, including a section of a Chassidic essay which he sent his Chassidim. [Slonim, Elul 1871].
First leaf of a double leaf. Part of a lengthy letter (presumably several pages long) which the rebbe sent to his Chassidim in Tiberias, comprising a personal letter, with regards and blessings, and a lengthy and profound Chassidic essay on Kabbalah and worship of G-d. The first page contains the personal letter which preceded the Chassidic essay, with two signatures of the rebbe, once his full signature (with the name of his father), and once "Avraham" alone.
The letter with the essay was sent to Slonim Chassidim in Tiberias, and to the three heads of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias: R. Mordechai of Vileyka, R. Menachem Mendel Epstein of Minsk and R. Shmuel Shemaya HaKohen Katz of Slonim.
In the personal letter on the first page, the rebbe extends blessings and regards to his relatives and friends in Tiberias: to his brother-in-law R. Elchanan Isser; to his sister Esther Shprintza; to his sister's son-in-law "beloved man of desirable qualities" – R. Mordechai Lieder – "R. Motke"; to R. Yitzchak (presumably referring to the son of R. Elchanan from his first marriage); to R. Aharon Shmuel of Vileyka (brother of R. Mordechai of Vileyka), and to the "brilliant son-in-law" of R. Aharon Shmuel – R. Todros; to his grandson "the young, talented and outstanding Torah scholar" – R. Noach Weinberg (son of his son R. Michel Aharon, father of the Birkat Avraham).
In his letter, the rebbe blesses his sister Esther Shprintza and her husband (from her second marriage) – his brother-in-law R. Elchanan Isser "may G-d remember them in this coming year with offspring… and may He bless them once again with an abundant measure of good" (regarding the background of this blessing, see enclosed material).
The rebbe adds further blessings: "A good inscription and sealing in the book of Tzaddikim, and wellbeing of all his family members"; " May G-d bless you and guard you from any harm, and grant you a good inscription and sealing, and may you succeed wherever you turn".
At the end of the page, the rebbe writes words of ethics and encouragement to his grandson R. Noach: "Fear G-d, my son, and subjugate the bad inclination to the good inclination, and be watchful of the purity of thought and character, and remember the saying of the sages, that one who comes to purify himself receives Heavenly assistance, and one who sanctifies himself below, is sanctified from above. An eye sees and an ear hears one who strives with all his might to grow in fear of G-d and service of the heart. Your grandfather, Avraham".
On verso of the letter is a section of a profound essay on Kabbalah and Chassidut (this page comprises the lower half of the large first page of a multi-page essay). In this essay, the rebbe explains the Chassidic approach to worship of G-d through the kabbalistic concept of Taamim, Nekudot, Tagim and Otiyot. This essay was published in the letters section of Yesod HaAvodah, letter 68.
The personal letter was not printed there, and it was presumably never published.
(In the printed essay, the publisher was unsure of how to decipher one word, and he suggested various possibilities in a marginal note. In this original letter, the correct word is easily identifiable – and it is not one of the options suggested by the publisher).
Rebbe Avraham Weinberg, first rebbe of Slonim, author of Yesod HaAvodah (1803-1883), a brilliant and holy kabbalist, and an original and innovative scholar. He was a close disciple of his teachers, Rebbe Noach of Lechovitz and R. Moshe of Kobryn. In the 1830s, he headed the Anaf Etz Chaim yeshiva in his hometown of Slonim, a branch of the renowned Etz Chaim yeshiva in Volozhin (Moshe Tzinovitz, Etz Chaim, p. 433; Aharon Surasky, Marbitzei Torah MeOlam HaChassidut, I, pp. 177, 183-186). He would devote all his strength to Torah study, studying for eighteen hours a day until absolute exhaustion. In his youth, he studied Torah under extreme deprivation. In his old age, when one of his disciples remarked that one can discern on him revelations of Divine Inspiration, he replied: "I don't know about Divine Inspiration, but I did study Torah under deprivation, and the sages state that whoever studies Torah under deprivation will be satiated from the splendor of the Divine presence". After the passing of his teacher, R. Moshe of Kobryn, in Nissan 1858, he established his court in Slonim, and most of the Kobryn Chassidim accepted his authority and began frequenting his court. He would conduct Tish not only on Shabbat and festivals, but also on weekdays. Like an ever-flowing wellspring, he delivered many extremely profound Chassidic discourses, and produced many compositions on all parts of the Torah (most were lost during the Holocaust). Some of his writings were published after his passing. His renowned books are Chessed LeAvraham, a profound, very abstract and impenetrable book on Kabbalah and philosophy; Yesod HaAvodah – on the topic of studying Torah for the sake of Heaven and Chassidic principles on the worship of G-d (in this book, he sharply criticizes the book Nefesh HaChaim by R. Chaim of Volozhin, primarily on his views on the study of Torah for the sake of Heaven; the original manuscript of this work reputedly states several times "contrary to the Nefesh HaChaim"); Be'er Avraham on Mechilta. After the Holocaust, his writings were published in additional volumes of Chessed LeAvraham and Be'er Avraham.
In 1870-1874, the Yesod HaAvodah sent an elite group of young, select disciples, including several grandsons and relatives, to Tiberias. This group was named Kollel Reisin, and the rebbe arranged fixed annual fundraising and trips of emissaries so that the members of the Kollel be free to fulfill their mission of studying Torah and worshipping G-d in peace and serenity. The rebbe corresponded continuously with this group on profound topics of Chassidut and worship of G-d. Some of these letters (such as the present letter) were printed after his passing in his book Yesod HaAvodah (in the letters section), as well as at the end of the book Be'er Avraham on the Torah.
[1] leaf. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears and folding marks, affecting text, professionally restored with paper. Ink faded. Some words illegible.
First leaf of a double leaf. Part of a lengthy letter (presumably several pages long) which the rebbe sent to his Chassidim in Tiberias, comprising a personal letter, with regards and blessings, and a lengthy and profound Chassidic essay on Kabbalah and worship of G-d. The first page contains the personal letter which preceded the Chassidic essay, with two signatures of the rebbe, once his full signature (with the name of his father), and once "Avraham" alone.
The letter with the essay was sent to Slonim Chassidim in Tiberias, and to the three heads of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias: R. Mordechai of Vileyka, R. Menachem Mendel Epstein of Minsk and R. Shmuel Shemaya HaKohen Katz of Slonim.
In the personal letter on the first page, the rebbe extends blessings and regards to his relatives and friends in Tiberias: to his brother-in-law R. Elchanan Isser; to his sister Esther Shprintza; to his sister's son-in-law "beloved man of desirable qualities" – R. Mordechai Lieder – "R. Motke"; to R. Yitzchak (presumably referring to the son of R. Elchanan from his first marriage); to R. Aharon Shmuel of Vileyka (brother of R. Mordechai of Vileyka), and to the "brilliant son-in-law" of R. Aharon Shmuel – R. Todros; to his grandson "the young, talented and outstanding Torah scholar" – R. Noach Weinberg (son of his son R. Michel Aharon, father of the Birkat Avraham).
In his letter, the rebbe blesses his sister Esther Shprintza and her husband (from her second marriage) – his brother-in-law R. Elchanan Isser "may G-d remember them in this coming year with offspring… and may He bless them once again with an abundant measure of good" (regarding the background of this blessing, see enclosed material).
The rebbe adds further blessings: "A good inscription and sealing in the book of Tzaddikim, and wellbeing of all his family members"; " May G-d bless you and guard you from any harm, and grant you a good inscription and sealing, and may you succeed wherever you turn".
At the end of the page, the rebbe writes words of ethics and encouragement to his grandson R. Noach: "Fear G-d, my son, and subjugate the bad inclination to the good inclination, and be watchful of the purity of thought and character, and remember the saying of the sages, that one who comes to purify himself receives Heavenly assistance, and one who sanctifies himself below, is sanctified from above. An eye sees and an ear hears one who strives with all his might to grow in fear of G-d and service of the heart. Your grandfather, Avraham".
On verso of the letter is a section of a profound essay on Kabbalah and Chassidut (this page comprises the lower half of the large first page of a multi-page essay). In this essay, the rebbe explains the Chassidic approach to worship of G-d through the kabbalistic concept of Taamim, Nekudot, Tagim and Otiyot. This essay was published in the letters section of Yesod HaAvodah, letter 68.
The personal letter was not printed there, and it was presumably never published.
(In the printed essay, the publisher was unsure of how to decipher one word, and he suggested various possibilities in a marginal note. In this original letter, the correct word is easily identifiable – and it is not one of the options suggested by the publisher).
Rebbe Avraham Weinberg, first rebbe of Slonim, author of Yesod HaAvodah (1803-1883), a brilliant and holy kabbalist, and an original and innovative scholar. He was a close disciple of his teachers, Rebbe Noach of Lechovitz and R. Moshe of Kobryn. In the 1830s, he headed the Anaf Etz Chaim yeshiva in his hometown of Slonim, a branch of the renowned Etz Chaim yeshiva in Volozhin (Moshe Tzinovitz, Etz Chaim, p. 433; Aharon Surasky, Marbitzei Torah MeOlam HaChassidut, I, pp. 177, 183-186). He would devote all his strength to Torah study, studying for eighteen hours a day until absolute exhaustion. In his youth, he studied Torah under extreme deprivation. In his old age, when one of his disciples remarked that one can discern on him revelations of Divine Inspiration, he replied: "I don't know about Divine Inspiration, but I did study Torah under deprivation, and the sages state that whoever studies Torah under deprivation will be satiated from the splendor of the Divine presence". After the passing of his teacher, R. Moshe of Kobryn, in Nissan 1858, he established his court in Slonim, and most of the Kobryn Chassidim accepted his authority and began frequenting his court. He would conduct Tish not only on Shabbat and festivals, but also on weekdays. Like an ever-flowing wellspring, he delivered many extremely profound Chassidic discourses, and produced many compositions on all parts of the Torah (most were lost during the Holocaust). Some of his writings were published after his passing. His renowned books are Chessed LeAvraham, a profound, very abstract and impenetrable book on Kabbalah and philosophy; Yesod HaAvodah – on the topic of studying Torah for the sake of Heaven and Chassidic principles on the worship of G-d (in this book, he sharply criticizes the book Nefesh HaChaim by R. Chaim of Volozhin, primarily on his views on the study of Torah for the sake of Heaven; the original manuscript of this work reputedly states several times "contrary to the Nefesh HaChaim"); Be'er Avraham on Mechilta. After the Holocaust, his writings were published in additional volumes of Chessed LeAvraham and Be'er Avraham.
In 1870-1874, the Yesod HaAvodah sent an elite group of young, select disciples, including several grandsons and relatives, to Tiberias. This group was named Kollel Reisin, and the rebbe arranged fixed annual fundraising and trips of emissaries so that the members of the Kollel be free to fulfill their mission of studying Torah and worshipping G-d in peace and serenity. The rebbe corresponded continuously with this group on profound topics of Chassidut and worship of G-d. Some of these letters (such as the present letter) were printed after his passing in his book Yesod HaAvodah (in the letters section), as well as at the end of the book Be'er Avraham on the Torah.
[1] leaf. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears and folding marks, affecting text, professionally restored with paper. Ink faded. Some words illegible.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim, author of Divrei Shmuel, addressed to his friends, Slonim Chassidim in Brisk. Chortkov (Chortkiv), Chanukah [ca. 1883-1894].
This letter was written during the rebbe's stay in Chortkov, and it discusses the repayment of debts, loans and fundraising on behalf of the families of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias.
In his letter, the rebbe relates that he is currently in Chortkov, and he plans to go from there to Husiatyn, and later return to his town of Slonim. The rebbe requests that from now on, letters should be sent to him only "in envelopes… and they should be sealed as well, it was improper that you sent letters almost open. Blessing only rests on that which is hidden from the eye". He also writes: "I am silently waiting to know if G-d has granted my way success with His great help… we must rejoice and have faith in the kindness of G-d who shall never forsake His pious ones, they will be guarded forever; He conducts and arranges all occurrences, and from the one remnant of the flasks a miracle He will make for the roses, to raise the prestige of our Kollel [Kollel Reisin in Tiberias], on pillars of Torah, worship of G-d and lovingkindness, with love, fraternity, peace and truth".
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
Rebbe Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim, author of Divrei Shmuel (1850-1916), grandson and close disciple of the Yesod HaAvodah. He began serving as rebbe ca. 1883. He always led his flock with love and exceptional devotion. He was personally involved in the education and spiritual guidance of the youth and saved many from spiritual decline. For most of his life, he was engaged in raising funds for Kollel Reisin, supporting Belarus natives who had immigrated to Tiberias. His most remarkable accomplishment was the establishment of the Or Torah yeshiva in Tiberias. He was also one of the founders of Agudath Yisrael in 1912.
The Divrei Shmuel would often frequent the Tzaddikim and rebbes of his generation, such as the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and R. Mordechai Shraga Feivish of Husiatyn. He especially liked to travel to Rebbe David Moshe of Chortkov, whom he regarded as his prime teacher in all his affairs. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz once praised the Divrei Shmuel and stated that for more than three hundred years, a lofty soul like his had not come down to this world (R. Yitzchak David Lieder, Beit Deli, Jerusalem 2009, pp. 49-50). R. Chaim of Brisk testified that he is well versed in both Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud, Sifra, Sifri and Tosefta (R. Shmuel Aharon Lieder, Nitei Esh, p. 471). Regarding his exceptional diligence, it is retold that in his youth he spent six weeks by Rebbe Avraham of Tshechenov, and in that time he managed to review the entire Talmud.
See enclosed material regarding the recipients of this letter.
[1] leaf. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Minor tears to folds, repaired with paper.
This letter was written during the rebbe's stay in Chortkov, and it discusses the repayment of debts, loans and fundraising on behalf of the families of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias.
In his letter, the rebbe relates that he is currently in Chortkov, and he plans to go from there to Husiatyn, and later return to his town of Slonim. The rebbe requests that from now on, letters should be sent to him only "in envelopes… and they should be sealed as well, it was improper that you sent letters almost open. Blessing only rests on that which is hidden from the eye". He also writes: "I am silently waiting to know if G-d has granted my way success with His great help… we must rejoice and have faith in the kindness of G-d who shall never forsake His pious ones, they will be guarded forever; He conducts and arranges all occurrences, and from the one remnant of the flasks a miracle He will make for the roses, to raise the prestige of our Kollel [Kollel Reisin in Tiberias], on pillars of Torah, worship of G-d and lovingkindness, with love, fraternity, peace and truth".
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
Rebbe Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim, author of Divrei Shmuel (1850-1916), grandson and close disciple of the Yesod HaAvodah. He began serving as rebbe ca. 1883. He always led his flock with love and exceptional devotion. He was personally involved in the education and spiritual guidance of the youth and saved many from spiritual decline. For most of his life, he was engaged in raising funds for Kollel Reisin, supporting Belarus natives who had immigrated to Tiberias. His most remarkable accomplishment was the establishment of the Or Torah yeshiva in Tiberias. He was also one of the founders of Agudath Yisrael in 1912.
The Divrei Shmuel would often frequent the Tzaddikim and rebbes of his generation, such as the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and R. Mordechai Shraga Feivish of Husiatyn. He especially liked to travel to Rebbe David Moshe of Chortkov, whom he regarded as his prime teacher in all his affairs. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz once praised the Divrei Shmuel and stated that for more than three hundred years, a lofty soul like his had not come down to this world (R. Yitzchak David Lieder, Beit Deli, Jerusalem 2009, pp. 49-50). R. Chaim of Brisk testified that he is well versed in both Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud, Sifra, Sifri and Tosefta (R. Shmuel Aharon Lieder, Nitei Esh, p. 471). Regarding his exceptional diligence, it is retold that in his youth he spent six weeks by Rebbe Avraham of Tshechenov, and in that time he managed to review the entire Talmud.
See enclosed material regarding the recipients of this letter.
[1] leaf. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Minor tears to folds, repaired with paper.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue
Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
November 24, 2020
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Unsold
Letter of blessings and inspiration about the spiritual duties during the upcoming festival of Sukkot, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Avraham Weinberg of Slonim (the second), author of Beit Avraham. Baranovitch (Baranavichy), Erev Sukkot 1932.
Written on the official stationery of the rebbe, with the letterhead: "Avraham Weinberg son of the late Rebbe Sh. of Slonim, Baranovitch". This letter was presumably sent to one of his sons-in-law, brothers-in-law or nephews.
The rebbe opens the letter with blessings for "Good life, blessed with livelihood and abundance, physical health… may you be blessed with all goodness forever, you, your family and offspring and all that is yours… life and blessing for eternity… Blessing them with a joyful, kosher and good festival, always".
Further in the letter, the rebbe extends his blessings for the upcoming festival of Sukkot, that G-d should spread over them His canopy of peace, and that they merit to find refuge under His wings, and benefit from an outpouring of pure faith. He continues to wish them that during this festival of joy, they should merit to accept upon themselves the yoke of Heaven with joy, and that the Sukkah and four species will unify their hearts with love and fear of His name.
At the end of the letter, the rebbe discusses matters pertaining to the management of the Or Torah boys' school in Tiberias, and familial matters.
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
Rebbe Avraham Weinberg of Slonim (the second), author of Beit Avraham (1884-1933), was the son of the Divrei Shmuel. He began leading the Slonim Chassidut in 1916, expending great effort to rebuild the Chassidut after WWI. In 1918, he founded the Torat Chessed yeshiva in Baranovich together with his close friend R. Moshe Midner. The yeshiva was a unique combination of the Lithuanian style of learning together with Chassidic fervor in worship of G-d. He lived in Bialystok until 1929, and then in Baranovich. He is particularly famous for the intense excitement and exalted devotion which characterized his prayers and Tish. His prayers and discourses made an impact on his listeners for the rest of their life. "Any discourse uttered by his holy mouth in holiness and purity was like an assault on the inner enemy... He would rock the entire inner soul of a person... cause an emotional turnaround, lighting up the eyes of those who go in the darkness... with the light of a life of holiness, the light of the holy Shabbat, the light of Torah and faith" (from the foreword of his close disciple, the Netivot Shalom, to his book Beit Avraham). Likewise, he was renowned for his holiness, purity and absolute abstinence from any worldly matters. "In regard to his holiness and asceticism, he belonged to previous generations, and great things are retold about him in these matters, beyond the scope of human understanding" (ibid.). R. M. of Slonim wrote about him after his passing: "He overcame his evil inclination more than Yosef HaTzaddik" (based on Gittin 57a). His lectures were recorded and published in his famous book Beit Avraham, by his close disciple the Netivot Shalom. Just like his father the Divrei Shmuel, the Beit Avraham was devoted with his heart and soul to the support and maintenance of the institutions of the Or Torah yeshiva in Tiberias, to its Torah scholars and students. To that end, he wandered from city to city to raise funds, enabling them to sit studying Torah and worshipping G-d with peace of mind. He visited Eretz Israel twice, in 1929 and in 1933. During the course of these visits, the Chassidim grew exceptionally attached to him, and until the end of their lives they would tearfully speak of these visits with great longing and yearning.
[1] leaf. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Minor tears to folds and upper and lower margins, slightly affecting a few letters.
Written on the official stationery of the rebbe, with the letterhead: "Avraham Weinberg son of the late Rebbe Sh. of Slonim, Baranovitch". This letter was presumably sent to one of his sons-in-law, brothers-in-law or nephews.
The rebbe opens the letter with blessings for "Good life, blessed with livelihood and abundance, physical health… may you be blessed with all goodness forever, you, your family and offspring and all that is yours… life and blessing for eternity… Blessing them with a joyful, kosher and good festival, always".
Further in the letter, the rebbe extends his blessings for the upcoming festival of Sukkot, that G-d should spread over them His canopy of peace, and that they merit to find refuge under His wings, and benefit from an outpouring of pure faith. He continues to wish them that during this festival of joy, they should merit to accept upon themselves the yoke of Heaven with joy, and that the Sukkah and four species will unify their hearts with love and fear of His name.
At the end of the letter, the rebbe discusses matters pertaining to the management of the Or Torah boys' school in Tiberias, and familial matters.
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
Rebbe Avraham Weinberg of Slonim (the second), author of Beit Avraham (1884-1933), was the son of the Divrei Shmuel. He began leading the Slonim Chassidut in 1916, expending great effort to rebuild the Chassidut after WWI. In 1918, he founded the Torat Chessed yeshiva in Baranovich together with his close friend R. Moshe Midner. The yeshiva was a unique combination of the Lithuanian style of learning together with Chassidic fervor in worship of G-d. He lived in Bialystok until 1929, and then in Baranovich. He is particularly famous for the intense excitement and exalted devotion which characterized his prayers and Tish. His prayers and discourses made an impact on his listeners for the rest of their life. "Any discourse uttered by his holy mouth in holiness and purity was like an assault on the inner enemy... He would rock the entire inner soul of a person... cause an emotional turnaround, lighting up the eyes of those who go in the darkness... with the light of a life of holiness, the light of the holy Shabbat, the light of Torah and faith" (from the foreword of his close disciple, the Netivot Shalom, to his book Beit Avraham). Likewise, he was renowned for his holiness, purity and absolute abstinence from any worldly matters. "In regard to his holiness and asceticism, he belonged to previous generations, and great things are retold about him in these matters, beyond the scope of human understanding" (ibid.). R. M. of Slonim wrote about him after his passing: "He overcame his evil inclination more than Yosef HaTzaddik" (based on Gittin 57a). His lectures were recorded and published in his famous book Beit Avraham, by his close disciple the Netivot Shalom. Just like his father the Divrei Shmuel, the Beit Avraham was devoted with his heart and soul to the support and maintenance of the institutions of the Or Torah yeshiva in Tiberias, to its Torah scholars and students. To that end, he wandered from city to city to raise funds, enabling them to sit studying Torah and worshipping G-d with peace of mind. He visited Eretz Israel twice, in 1929 and in 1933. During the course of these visits, the Chassidim grew exceptionally attached to him, and until the end of their lives they would tearfully speak of these visits with great longing and yearning.
[1] leaf. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Minor tears to folds and upper and lower margins, slightly affecting a few letters.
Category
Chassidut – Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogue