Long letter (two pages; 42 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum of Sassov, to the house of his father-in-law, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. [Jerusalem, ca. winter 1947-1948.]
The letter is addressed to R. Yosel Ashkenazi, the famous attendant of his father-in-law, Rebbe Yoel of Satmar. Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa sends a detailed report on the status of the Yitav Lev yeshiva in Jerusalem (the letter appears to have been sent in winter 1947-1948, a few months after Rebbe Yoel and his attendant R. Yosel emigrated from Eretz Israel to the United States).
Written on Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa’s official stationery from his period of residence in Jerusalem: “Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Szemihaly, Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar – residing here in Jerusalem, Beit Yisrael HeChadashah”.
Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa starts by writing: “I was pleased to hear of my uncle and father-in-law’s health, may God grant him more strength and power to widen the holy domain in the name of the Torah, and may He bless him with lengthy days and years of life now and forever”.
The main part of the letter describes the development of the Yitav Lev yeshiva that Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa established in Jerusalem, in its first days: “I now inform you in detail of the goings-on and news of the yeshiva…” He describes in ten paragraphs the happenings in the yeshiva since the Rebbe and his attendant left Jerusalem – the state of the yeshiva students (new students, a student’s wedding); the yeshiva’s needs (providing winter clothing for students); money spent, donations received, and money donated personally for the Satmar Rebbe; a visit of R. Sachs to the yeshiva; and more.
Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa sums up his letter with a blessing: “I have already written all the goings-on and news of the yeshiva I remember since you traveled away, and may God allow us to give and receive good tidings and only good and kindness always – his loving relative, hoping for salvation from heaven soon, Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum”.
Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum of Sassov (1906-1966), son of Rebbe Chanoch Henich Mayer of Sassov-Keretsky and Rebbetzin Esther, daughter of the Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet. In 1924 married Rebbetzin Chaya Roiza, daughter of his uncle Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, in Orsheva. After the marriage, he lived near his father-in-law and uncle, and assisted him in directing his yeshivot in Orsheva, Carei and Satmar. He served in tandem as rabbi of Szemihaly (Bűdszentmihály) and Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar. During the Holocaust, both son-in-law and daughter attempted to rescue the Rebbe from the war. In late 1943 the Rebbe sent his daughter Chaya Roiza to Budapest to get certificates to immigrate to Eretz Israel for himself and his family, but they did not succeed in the task. They fled through Romania and reached Eretz Israel, and the Rebbe later managed to escape through the Kastner rescue train. Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa founded the yeshiva Yitav Lev in Jerusalem, and served as Rabbi of Beit Midrash Ohel Rachel of Satmar Chassidim in the city. During the 1948 War of Independence, Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa left Jerusalem and joined his father-in-law and uncle, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, in the United States (who had reached it about a year and a half earlier in 1946). His wife, Chaya Roiza, passed away in 1953 without children, and she was buried in a Tiberias cemetery. In 1955 he married the widow of R. Mordechai Pergamenski, and rebuilt Sassov Chassidut in the United States. In late 1963, he returned to Eretz Israel and built the Yismach Moshe neighborhood, where his son R. Yosef David Teitelbaum currently serves as Rebbe of Sassov.
R. Efraim Yosef Dov son of R. Shraga Feivish Ashkenazi (R. Yosel; 1911-2002), attendant and confidant of the rebbe of Satmar for close to sixty years, and his close assistant in all communal matters. R. Yosef was a particularly astute Torah scholar, great in Chassidut and fear of God. During the Holocaust, R. Yosef accompanied the Rebbe on his journey in the famous Kastner rescue train, and later immigrated with him to Eretz Israel, and immigrated to the United States shortly thereafter. He was the owner of the Yerushalayim publishing house in Williamsburg. He edited his Rebbe's books in Halachah and Aggadah and published them (see his introduction to Responsa Divrei Yoel). Author of She'erit Yosef on the Torah.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Folds. Pin holes. Minor stains.
