Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Letter of Recommendation Addressed to the Haflaa – Support for a Yeshiva Student Studying in Frankfurt am Main
Opening: $500
Sold for: $625
Including buyer's premium
Letter addressed to R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish-Horowitz Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main. [Ca. 1772-1805].
Letter handwritten and signed by "[Meir M---?] son of the late R. Wolf", addressed to "…the crown of wisdom, crown of Torah… a man in whom the spirit of G-d rests… R. Pinchas…" (address inscription on verso of the leaf). The letter mentions Frankfurt am Main as the community of the rabbi to whom the letter is addressed – R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, the Haflaa.
The writer of the letter was presumably a disciple or follower of the Haflaa, since he begins his request "as a disciple asks his teacher", and addresses the Haflaa as "…the crown of our head… our master and teacher…".
The writer requests that he lend assistance to his son, "Zalman", a yeshiva student who has been residing for the last few months in Frankfurt am Main, and has been suffering from hunger. The father describes how his sons chose to leave home, where they were provided for, and travel from one town to another to study Torah, "to find for themselves… a place of serenity to study assiduously", he stresses the qualities of his son, who is diligent in his Torah study, "…filled with fear of G-d… from his youth, his only goal was to serve G-d… with great diligence… following the path… of our holy ancestors".
The writer then praises the rabbi, recipient of the letter, as one who is "kind and giving to close ones and distant ones… and serves as father, patron and refuge to those who come to shelter under the wings of the yeshiva".
The recipient of the letter, R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish-Horowitz, author of the Haflaa (1731-1805), was a close disciple of R. Dov Ber Maggid of Mezeritch (under whom he studied together with his brother R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg). For over thirty years, he served as rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, then the largest Torah center in Germany. It was during his tenure in Frankfurt am Main that his disciple the Chatam Sofer studied under him.
[1] leaf. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks (the letter was folded for post). Ink fading and wear to folds, slightly affecting text.
Letter handwritten and signed by "[Meir M---?] son of the late R. Wolf", addressed to "…the crown of wisdom, crown of Torah… a man in whom the spirit of G-d rests… R. Pinchas…" (address inscription on verso of the leaf). The letter mentions Frankfurt am Main as the community of the rabbi to whom the letter is addressed – R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, the Haflaa.
The writer of the letter was presumably a disciple or follower of the Haflaa, since he begins his request "as a disciple asks his teacher", and addresses the Haflaa as "…the crown of our head… our master and teacher…".
The writer requests that he lend assistance to his son, "Zalman", a yeshiva student who has been residing for the last few months in Frankfurt am Main, and has been suffering from hunger. The father describes how his sons chose to leave home, where they were provided for, and travel from one town to another to study Torah, "to find for themselves… a place of serenity to study assiduously", he stresses the qualities of his son, who is diligent in his Torah study, "…filled with fear of G-d… from his youth, his only goal was to serve G-d… with great diligence… following the path… of our holy ancestors".
The writer then praises the rabbi, recipient of the letter, as one who is "kind and giving to close ones and distant ones… and serves as father, patron and refuge to those who come to shelter under the wings of the yeshiva".
The recipient of the letter, R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish-Horowitz, author of the Haflaa (1731-1805), was a close disciple of R. Dov Ber Maggid of Mezeritch (under whom he studied together with his brother R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg). For over thirty years, he served as rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, then the largest Torah center in Germany. It was during his tenure in Frankfurt am Main that his disciple the Chatam Sofer studied under him.
[1] leaf. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks (the letter was folded for post). Ink fading and wear to folds, slightly affecting text.
Rabbinical Letters
Rabbinical Letters