A letter in Yiddish, handwritten and signed by Rebbetzin Freida Freidman, widow of Rebbe Yosef HaCohen of Rymanów, to the philanthropist Rabbi Abish Berman of Turka with a request for financial assistance following the past year's events. [World War I, c. 1915].
Rebbe Yosef Freidman of Rymanów (1844-1913), the youngest son of Rebbe Zvi Hirsh of Rymanów was orphaned as a child and raised by his stepfather Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhyn who remarried his mother, the righteous Rebbetzin Malka. After the death of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhyn, his mother remained in the Sadigura court with her young son and daughter. Her son Yosef was seven years old at the time and Rebbe Avraham Ya'akov, the elder Sadigura Rebbe guarded his education and molded his spiritual character to render him capable of succeeding his father Rebbe Zvi Hirsh of Rymanów. After his marriage with Rebbetzin Freida a descendent of the Ba'al Shem Tov, the elder Rebbe of Sadigura represented the bridegroom and Rabbi Yosef was part of his household and was treated with honor and love like a son and even signed his family name ”Freidman" like the rest of his family. In 1867, at the age of 23, the Sadigura Rebbe ordered him to move to Rymanów to succeed his father in leading the congregation and he lived there until his death in 1913.
Leaf 23.5 cm. Good condition, folding marks, few stains and wear.