Three letters handwritten by R. Chaim Dov Grünfeld, attendant of Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, who signs "at the holy command of the Rebbe". Munkacs, [ca. 1930s].
Letters on postcards, each bearing the official stamp of the Rebbe –
"Oberrabbiner L. Spira Mukačevo".
Sent to the philanthropist R. Eliezer Bollag in Baden, Switzerland. Two of the letters carry varying blessings (written "at the command of the Rebbe" Minchat Elazar) for health, success and livelihood at length: "And I was commanded by the Rebbe to respond affectionately that he entreats and prays for you to have bountiful blessing and success in all your endeavors, and merit to raise all your offspring… in happiness, ease and all your wishes for good and blessing…"; "And I was commanded by the Rebbe to respond affectionately that he entreats and prays for you to have bountiful blessing and success in all your endeavors, and may the creator of cures send your wife a complete recovery, and may you merit to raise all your offspring… in happiness, ease and all your wishes for good and blessing…".
The third letter was written about ten days after the passing of the Minchat Elazar (2 Sivan, 1937). The attendant R. Chaim Dov Grünfeld describes in his letter the loss and grief, and tells of the printing of the Rebbe's ethical will and his desire to go on to print his works in manuscript, and he informs him of the appointment of the Rebbe's son-in-law R. Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz to succeed him as rebbe and rabbi:
"…Due to the bitterness and great grief for the fall of our crown, I was silent and could not take the pen in hand to respond affectionately, and my eye weeps tears for the terrible tragedy that has come to pass… Our only consolation is for his holy words to be fulfilled: that he will neither rest nor be at peace in heaven like the other Tzaddikim until our Messiah is sent, speedily in our days".
He goes on to write about the Rebbe's ethical will and printing his works in manuscript:
"…And I am sending you the holy ethical will that I printed… in which you will see his request of our fellow Chassidim… to help pay the debts and also to print his holy works… And I know that while he was alive you loved him fervently, and since the righteous even when dead are called alive, I ask you to make every effort to dedicate a worthy sum to these matters, in which merit he will advocate for you to be saved in all your wishes for good and blessing as he wrote in his holy handwriting in the above ethical will".
He goes on to tell of the new rebbe's appointment:
"…And I can also inform you that the Rebbe's son-in-law was chosen as Av Beit Din to take the position of his great father-in-law the Rebbe, and he is a new bottle full of aged wine…".
3 postcards. 14.5x9.5 to 14.5x10.5 cm. Good condition. Light wear. Marginal tear to one postcard.
Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs (1872-1937), the Minchat Elazar, was a leading Torah scholar, halachic and Chassidic authority. Son of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro, Av Beit Din of Munkacs, author of Shem Shlomo, he was born to the dynasty of Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, the Bnei Yissachar. He fought for the holiness of Judaism, and his halachic and kabbalistic teachings are studied all over the world. Author of Minchat Elazar, Shaar Yissachar, Nimukei Orach Chaim, Divrei Torah in nine parts, and more.
His son-in-law, Rebbe Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz (1915-1998), son of Rebbe Natan David of Parczew (Biala). Married the only daughter of the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, in a wedding recorded in the contemporary newspapers as the largest Jewish wedding in Hungary. Served as Av Beit Din of Munkacs and led the community for three years until the Holocaust. During the Holocaust he took an active part in saving Jews, while using his skills to find original means of rescue. After some travels he eventually reached Jerusalem. In 1945 he moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where he served as rabbi and taught in the local university. In 1963 he immigrated to Israel to serve as Rabbi of Holon. In 1976 he moved to Petah Tikva, where he established his Beit Midrash and wrote his books Binat Nevonim and Divrei Nevonim. His children from his first wife are the famous Rebbes of Munkacs and Dinov in the United States.
