Letter (15 long lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen of Aleksander. Warsaw, Iyar 1864.
Sent to his son, R. Yechiel Efraim Fischel HaKohen of Lodz, while he was travelling to visit his father in Warsaw. R. Chanoch Henich apologizes to his son for having to urgently travel to Ger (Gur) to receive advice from his friend and teacher, the Rebbe, author of Chiddushei HaRim: "… Therefore, I am traveling today to Ger, to receive advice… and after Shabbat, I will return here and am looking forward to rejoicing with you… to speak to you face to face…".
Written on a leaf folded in half. On verso, an inscription handwritten by R. Chanoch Henich: "To my beloved son… R. Yechiel Efraim Fischel HaKohen". On the page facing the letter – R. Chanoch Henich's personal stamp: " Chanoch Henich son of Pinchas HaCohen".
Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin of Aleksander (1798-1870), leading disciple of R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. He held a rabbinic position for close to 40 years. He first served as rabbi of Aleksander and Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, and from 1859, as rabbi of Proshnitz (in 1865, he retired from the rabbinate, and returned to Aleksander as a private person). He was a descendant of R. Shmuel Schotten HaKohen of Frankfurt (the Maharshashach – who was also the grandfather of the Chatam Sofer). After supporting the Polish revolution in 1830, he was compelled to change his surname from Schotten to Levin. Renowned from his youth for his prodigious brilliance, and for his Peshischa-Kotzk style of sharpness. All his actions were concealed and performed with great wisdom. His sayings were penetrating and peppered with incisive humor, and he knew how to disguise exalted matters with humor which only a precious-few would understand. He would frequently cite the saying of his teacher R. Bunim of Peshischa: "All the negative commandments in the Torah can be condensed into one negative commandment – do not be a fool! and all the positive commandments in the Torah can be encapsulated in one – be wise!".
While still a young man, his teacher the Yehudi HaKadosh appointed him rebbe by removing his spodik (tall shtreimel) from his head and placing it on that of his young student, R. Henich, saying: "This spodik suits you well…". About one year after the passing of R. Bunim of Peshischa, R. Henich subjected himself to the authority of his colleague, Rebbe Mendel of Kotsk. After the latter’s death, R. Henich followed his (younger) colleague R. Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger. Only after the passing of the Chiddushei HaRim in 1866 did the elderly R. Henich agree to serve as rebbe and lead the Chassidic courts of Kotzk and Ger. His disciples and relatives attested to the Divine inspiration he benefitted from, and the wonders and miracles which he performed. His nephew testified that he was present when souls came down to R. Henich from Upper Spheres, requesting reparation. These accounts were recorded in the new edition of his book Chashava LeTova VeLikutim (published by Mossad HaRim Levin, Jerusalem, 1990), see ibid.
The foreword of the new edition contains a beautiful description of the Chassidic legacy which R. Henich transmitted to future generations, and his molding of the character of the Ger Chassidic dynasty: "Aleksander of Rebbe Henich was concealed for about seventy years; in those years the Peshischa Chassidut branched out into seventy facets. For decades, he stood as a disciple before his colleagues, subjected himself to their authority and enjoyed the Peshischa elevation in the hidden parts of his soul, until the crown of leadership was placed upon him… R. Henich of Aleksander combined in his leadership all the wellsprings deriving from Peshischa. With rare and unparalleled wisdom, he merged a following of elite, truth-seeking Chassidim into a single unit, and they together rose to high levels of Torah and worship of G-d. He brought Peshischa, Kotsk and Ger together under one roof, selecting the unique points of each of them – their light, to create a center of Torah, Chassidut, sharpness, holiness and total devotion".
He was one of the teachers of the Sfat Emet, Rebbe of Ger (grandson of the Chiddushei HaRim), whom he appointed as his successor. His descendants were leading members of the Ger court, and his grandson R. Chanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin Rabbi of Bendin was the son-in-law of the Sfat Emet. His disciples became the leading Torah scholars and rebbes of Poland, including: R. Ze’ev Nachum of Biala and his son Rebbe Avraham of Sochatchov, author of Avnei Nezer; Rebbe Avraham of Porisov; R. Pinchas Menachem Justman Rabbi of Piltz; R. Yoav Yehoshua of Kintzk, the Chelkat Yoav; R. Yitzchak Feigenbaum of Warsaw, and others. His teachings are recorded in his book Chashava LeTova.
[1] double leaf. 16.5 cm. Tiny, close writing. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and folding marks. Mounted on thin transparent paper for preservation (slightly blurring the inscription on the back of the letter).
Provenance: Collection of Rebbe Yechiel Meir Morgenstern of Kotzk-Lomaz (1894-1974), son of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Lomaz (who resided for a while in Praga, near Warsaw). Stamps of Rabbi "Yechiel Meir son of the Rebbe of Praga" and an inscription in his handwriting: "Letter no. 87".
This letter and its picture were printed in the book Michtavim V'Igrot Kodesh, New York, 2003, pp. 36-37 (see enclosed material).