Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Alter Yisrael Shimon of Novominsk". [Warsaw, ca. 1920s].
Addressed to the wealthy Mr. Levin-Epstein of Warsaw. The rebbe requests to meet with him, and writes: "I beg his honor to forgive me for troubling him to come to me tonight between five and six, since I have something urgent I must discuss with him in person, and I am convinced that he will surely fulfill my request…".
Rebbe Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow (1874-1933), author of Tiferet Ish, was a leading rebbe in his times. He served as dean of the Novominsk yeshiva established in 1896 by his father Rebbe Yaakov of Novominsk, which numbered close to two hundred students. In 1902, he was appointed his father's successor as rebbe of Novominsk. During WWI, he moved to Warsaw, where he resided until the end of his life, and established his Beit Midrash. He maintained close ties with the Imrei Emet, rebbe of Ger, and assisted him in establishing the Agudath Israel movement, and in his battles against reading secular newspapers. His love for his fellow Jew was legendary. His prayers were extremely passionate and full of feeling. He was an outstanding Torah scholar, renowned for his exceptional diligence and phenomenal memory. He would study twenty-one chapters of Mishnayot every day (finishing the six orders of the Mishnah every month), and would then be available to the public who came seeking his salvations, blessings and counsel. After reception hours, he would go to his yeshiva and deliver a lecture to his disciples. He left behind many manuscripts, most of which were lost in the Holocaust, and only a small part of them were published in his book Tiferet Ish.
His descendants include prominent rebbes and rabbis, including his renowned grandson R. Yaakov Perlow, the current Novominsker Rebbe, president of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in the United States and leader of the Agudath Israel of America.
Small card. Approx. 7X10.5 cm. Approx. 8 autograph lines. Very good condition.

Letter from Rebbe Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, author of Atzei Chaim, rabbi of Sighet. Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), [1912].
Addressed to R. "Yitzchak Aharon of the Kollelot of Jerusalem", regarding the distribution to those supported by Kollel Sighet in Jerusalem, which at that time was headed by the rebbe. Written by a scribe, with one line handwritten and signed by the rebbe: "His friend, who seeks his wellbeing with great love, Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum".
Rebbe Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, author of Atzei Chaim (1880-1926), son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, the Kedushat Yom Tov. In 1904, he succeeded his father as rabbi of Sighet and as rebbe of the Sighet Chassidic court. He was the son-in-law of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He frequented the courts of the Tzaddikim of his generation, in particular his uncles Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga of Shinova and R. Baruch of Gorlitz, as well as Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz. He was an outstanding Torah scholar, exceptionally holy and G-d-fearing. Reputedly, he never forgot anything he learned, and he was renowned from his great perspicacity. Shortly following his appointment at the age of 24 (!) as rabbi and rebbe of Sighet (capital of the Maramureș county), he became known as one of the leaders of Hungarian Jewry, who established the national policies of the Orthodox bureau of the country. He had a great impact over almost all Orthodox communities in Hugnary, whether in Chassidic or Ashkenazi circles. His opinion bore weight regarding the appointment of rabbis, dayanim and shochetim, especially in communities with a dominant constituency of Sighet Chassidim (Sighet was the largest and principal Chassidic court in Maramureș). He was the older brother and prime teacher of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar.
Enclosed is a printed receipt of "Kollel Sighet", which was headed by the Atzei Chaim, filled-in by hand for the sum of one Korona, in Tishrei 1916. With the signature and stamp (on verso) of R. Yonatan Binyamin Salomon, dayan and posek of Mitl Apsa (Serednje Vodyane).
Letter (official stationery of the Rebbe): [1] double leaf. 23 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Folding marks. Several holes to blank part of leaf. Receipt: 10 cm. Fair condition. Stains, tears and wear.

Draft of a halachic responsum regarding the kashrut of chicory, handwritten (3 pages, approx. 66 lines) and signed by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Irshava, [presumably written between 1922-1925].
Draft of a lengthy halachic responsum handwritten by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, with his (abridged) signature. The responsum discusses the kashrut of chicory. Chicory was used in those days as a cheap alternative to coffee, and was produced from ground chicory root. During the production, the factories would mix in two percent of lard. The concern regarding the kashrut of chicory aroused a great polemic (see articles by R. Yechiel Goldhaber in Yeshurun, vol. 19-20). In his responsum, the Rebbe reviews the development of the polemic, the opinions of those who allow it and those who prohibit it, notes the concerns and raises many reservations on the leniency of those who permit it. The Rebbe further writes: "And in truth, even in a case when there is a suitable kashrut certification… who can venture to be lenient in a case where the Rebbe of Shinova [Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam] and other leading Torah scholars were stringent and absolutely forbade it, with the stringent opinions being many…". The Rebbe concludes his responsum with a blessing: "And fortunate is the one who eschews forbidden foods… may G-d protect him in all his ways, and may he merit much blessing from G-d".
This responsum was published in Responsa Divrei Yoel (part I, Yoreh De'ah, section 54), with the omission of four polemic lines at the end of the responsum, which in this draft were crossed-out by the Rebbe. These lines contain criticism of some of those who were lenient: "And I am surprised that there are many G-d fearing Jews, who used to frequent the courts of the Rebbe of Shinova, or those of his sons and disciples, and accept his directives. How could they rule for themselves, to permit something he, together with other great and holy men, categorically forbade". Another difference between this manuscript and the printed version is the position of the final three lines after the signature, which in the printed book were inserted in the first section.
This draft contains the Rebbe's deletions and emendations (which were incorporated in the final printed version).
Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979), a leader of his generation, president of the Eida HaChareidit and leader of American Orthodox Jewry, one of the founding pillars of Chassidic Jewry after the Holocaust. Born in Sighet, he was the son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov, and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev, who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. After his marriage to the daughter of Rebbe Avraham Chaim Horowitz of Polaniec, he settled in Satmar and taught Torah and Chassidut to an elite group of disciples and followers. He served as rabbi of Irshava, Karaly (Carei; from 1925), and Satmar (Satu Mare; from 1934), managing in each of these places a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. During the Holocaust, he was rescued through the famous Kastner Train, and after a journey through Bergen-Belsen, Switzerland and Eretz Israel, he reached the United States, where he established the largest Chassidic group in the world - Satmar Chassidut, until today the dominant faction in American Orthodox Jewry. He served as president of the Eida HaChareidit in Jerusalem. A leading opponent of Zionism and of the founding of the State of Israel, he zealously led crucial battles for the preservation of the unique character of the Jewish people and its holiness, fearful for the honor of the Torah and the future of faithful Jewry. He was renowned as an exceptionally charitable person; his door was open to the poor and his ear attentive to the needy from every stream of the Jewish people. An outstanding Torah scholar, he responded to many halachic queries, and his writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.
[2] leaves (3 written pages). Approx. 23 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.