Auction 050 Part 1 Satmar: Rebbes and Rabbis of Satmar-Sighet, Hungary and Transylvania
Four volumes and printer’s sheet from library of Rebbe Chaim Halberstam, Rosh Av Beit Din, dayan and posek in Satmar, with his stamps, signatures and a lengthy gloss in his handwriting:
1-2. Maayenei HaChochmah, on Tractate Bava Metzia, Part I – Mahadura Kama, and Part II – Mahadura Batra, by R. Aryeh Leib Zünz. Warsaw: Shalom Shachna Munk, 1895. Two parts in two volumes. Ownership signatures on title pages of both parts: “Chaim Halberstam”; “Chaim Halberstam of Ratzfert, now in…” (partially cut off); stamp on the title page to Part I: “Chaim Halberstam, residing here in Satmar”.
Part I: [2], 135 leaves. Part II: [2], 2-71 leaves. Missing final 8 leaves. At the beginning of Part II appears the title page to Part I (the title page was originally bound with this part, since the Rebbe’s signature appears at the top of both title pages). 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and damage. Inscriptions and stamps. New bindings.
3. Minchat Kohen, on the laws of Bein HaShemashot, by R. Avraham Pimentel. Lemberg (Lviv): Uri Ze’ev Salat, 1892. His stamps on title page and other leaves, from his period of residence in Ratzfert in his youth: “Chaim Halberstam Ratzfert”; and his stamp on the title page from his period of residence in Satmar: “Chaim Halberstam, residing here in Satmar”.
On the endpapers, signatures of two of his sons: “Mordechai Dov Halberstam” [R. Mottele Halberstam, son-in-law of R. Avraham Steiner of Kerestir, served as Rabbi in Tiszalök and later opened his own Beit Midrash in Miskolc; perished in the Holocaust]; “Yaakov Yitzchak Halberstam” [R. Chaim’s third and youngest son, in 1943 married daughter of R. David Yaakov Brisk, Av Beit Din of Tiszadada; perished in the Holocaust].
On the front endpaper is a Kvittel inscription for a complete recovery written by one of his followers. On title page and additional leaves, stamps of “R. Moshe HaKohen Gross – Geneva” [R. Moshe Gross, an important Belz Chassid, 1916-1980]. Inscription on title page: “I bought this book from R. Avraham Shmuel Schreiber, here in Kamenets”.
[1], 2-88 leaves. 25.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and damage. Repaired with paper. New leather binding.
4. Chanukat HaTorah, collection of novellae by R. Heshel of Cracow. Piotrków: Shlomo Belchatowski, [ca. 1900-1910 – stereotype of first edition, 1900]. Ownership inscription on title page, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam during his period of residence in Ratzfert in his youth. Many stamps on title page and other leaves of the Beit Midrash of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer Halberstam in Ratzfert.
[1], 5-16 pages; 91, 90-114 pages. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and tears. Stamps. New leather binding.
5. Leaf from Tractate Gittin, Piskei HaRosh [small format, apparently from one of Lemberg editions ca. 1860-1870, p. 99a]. On the margins of the leaf is a lengthy handwritten gloss signed “Chaim Halberstam”.
[1] leaf. 22 cm. Good condition.
Rebbe Chaim Halberstam (1885-1942), firstborn of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer of Ratzfert (1862-1944). Named for his illustrious paternal grandfather, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. At a young age he married the daughter of Rebbe Avraham Shalom Pinchas HaLevi Rottenberg of Wolbrom. He was famed for his great holiness and intense prayer, and he was known as a great Torah scholar and posek. He was very beloved by his maternal grandfather, Rebbe Mordechai Dov Twersky of Hornostaipil, who appreciated his great learning and corresponded with him on halachic matters (printed in Emek HaChochmah and Shoshanat HaAmakim). In Shoshanat HaAmakim, his grandfather calls him “my dear grandson, beloved to my heart, nice and pleasant vine, branch full of wisdom, with erudition and right reasoning”, and the like. At the age of 57 he fell sick and did not recover. His funeral took place in Satmar, and he was eulogized by the leader of the local community, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, and others. His son, R. Alter Meir David took his place as dayan. All his descendants perished in the Holocaust. Opening: $250
Teshuot Chaim, on Rashi's commentary to the Torah, by R. Chaim Yeshayah Halbersberg, author of Misgeret HaShulchan. Lublin: Nechemyah Herschenhorn and Shlomo Shimon Streisberger, 1923.
Copy of R. Moshe Aryeh (Rama) Freund, from his tenure as dayan and posek in Satmar (after the Holocaust). His stamps (somewhat faded) at the beginning of the book: "Moshe Aryeh Freund, dayan and posek of Satmar". Stamp of R. Yitzchak Hershkovitz.
R. Moshe Aryeh Freund (1904-1996), son of R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Bonyhád and grandson of Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Freund of Năsăud. Served as dayan and posek in Satmar and Av Beit Din of Năsăud. After the Holocaust, he served for a short time as Av Beit Din of Satmar. He later immigrated to Jerusalem and served as dean of the Satmar Yitav Lev yeshiva and as a posek in the city. After the passing of his teacher, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar in 1979, he took up his position as Rosh Av Beit Din of the Edah HaCharedit, and after the passing of the Minchat Yitzchak in 1989, he was appointed to his position as Gaon Av Beit Din of the Edah HaCharedit.
[1], 2-52 leaves. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and mold stains. Minor defects. Stamps. New leather binding.
Torat Chatat by R. Moshe Isserles (the Rama), with Minchat Yaakov and Torat HaShelamim by R. Yaakov Reischer, Vikuach Mayim Chaim by R. Chaim son of Betzalel of Friedberg (brother of the Maharal of Prague), Damesek Eliezer by R. Eliezer son of Yehoshua of Szczebrzeszyn (Shebreshin), and additional commentaries. Piotrków: Yitzchak Shlomowitch, 1903. Divisional title pages for Torat HaShelamim, Vikuach Mayim Chaim and Damesek Eliezer.
Copy of R. Moshe Aryeh (Rama) Freund, from his tenure as dayan and posek in Satmar (after the Holocaust). His stamps appear on the title page and margins of other leaves: "Moshe Aryeh Freund, dayan and posek of Satmar".
This copy was previously in possession of his father, R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Radna and Huedin. On the margins of the title page, an ownership inscription (partially cut off) handwritten by his son, R. Moshe Aryeh Freund: "…the Tzaddik R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Randa and the region, Aryeh".
Handwritten glosses on the margins of several pages.
R. Moshe Aryeh Freund (1904-1996), son of R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Bonyhád and grandson of Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Freund of Năsăud. Served as dayan and posek in Satmar and Av Beit Din of Năsăud. After the Holocaust, he served for a short time as Av Beit Din of Satmar. He later immigrated to Jerusalem and served as dean of the Satmar Yitav Lev yeshiva and as a posek in the city. After the passing of his teacher, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar in 1979, he took up his position as Rosh Av Beit Din of the Edah HaCharedit, and after the passing of the Minchat Yitzchak in 1989, he was appointed to his position as Gaon Av Beit Din of the Edah HaCharedit.
His father, R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Radna and Huedin (ca. 1873-1940), son of Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Freund of Năsăud, son of R. Moshe Aryeh Freund, leader of Sighet community. In his youth he lived in Sighet and attended the Yitav Lev of Sighet. In 1906 he was appointed Av Beit Din of Radna, and after the passing of his father-in-law R. Ze'ev Goldberger in 1917, he accepted a position as Rabbi in Huedin, where he served for about twenty years. He traveled often to Sanz Tzaddikim, and particularly kept the company of his teacher, the Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova. After his passing, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar eulogized him as "unique in his generation in the trait of humility" (Mara DeUvda, III, p. 290). His novellae are printed in Ateret Yehoshua on the Torah and Talmud.
[2], 67; [1], 2-21; 11; 11; 9, [1]; [2], 3-26 leaves. Approx. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Creases and tears. Open tears on the margins of the title page and on first two pages, affecting text, restored with paper (verso of title page pasted to a blank leaf). Stamps. New leather binding.
Tehillim with commentary Imrot Tehorot, by R. Eliezer HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Tarnogród. Sighet: Moshe Blumenfeld and his son-in-law Yechiel Michel David, [1900]. Two title pages (second title page is expanded).
The first Chassidic commentary on Tehillim to be printed, by R. Eliezer HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Tarnogród (died 1806). Disciple of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov and R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, and a peer and disciple to the Chozeh of Lublin and the Maggid of Kozhnitz.
Includes approbations from first edition, including that of R. Aryeh Leibush Lipschitz, author of Aryeh DeVei Ila’i, Av Beit Din of Vishnitsa (son-in-law of Yismach Moshe of Ujhel), who tells in his approbation that he met the author in his youth: “…I merited to enjoy his light and I knew him then in my youth… and he was full of delight and truthful sharpness… whoever saw him recognized the great light of his holiness and temperance, as I knew for a fact while I lived in Shinova…”.
Copy of R. David Moskowitz, Rabbi of Bonyhád – his stamps on the title page and endpapers: “David Moskowitz – Kerestir” - R. David Moskowitz of Bonyhád (1909-1985) was born in Kerestir (Bodrogkeresztúr). Son-in-law (by his first marriage) of the Vayaged Yaakov of Pápa. After the Holocaust, he served as rabbi of Bonyhád and Miskolc. In the 1950s, he immigrated to Jerusalem, serving as posek in the Edah HaCharedit. Reputed as a holy, pious and ascetic man, wondrous stories of his holiness and fiery fear of God abound. He edited the books of his teachers, the Levush Mordechai of Mád and the Keren LeDavid of Satmar. A leading Belzer chassid, he was also close to the Skver, Dushinsky and Satmar Chassidic courts (in the period between the passing of Rebbe Aharon of Belz and the appointment of the current Rebbe, Belz chassidim would gather to pray during the High Holidays in the Belz yeshiva in Jerusalem, and would honor the rabbi of Bonyhád with conducting the Mussaf prayers – prayer usually led by the Rebbe).
[9], 8-431, [1] leaves. Without additional leaf of approbations and [11] leaves with names of pre-subscribers, which were added only to some prints. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Creases and wear. Light damage. New leather binding.
Tehillim with commentary Olelot Yehudah by R. Yehudah Greenwald, Av Beit Din of Satmar, author of Zichron Yehudah, with "Iggeret Musar of the Ramban" and "Tzetel Katan of R. Elimelech". Satmar: Meir Leib Hirsch, 1927. First edition.
The present copy was owned by the author's nephew, R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, dayan and posek of Satmar, who gave it as a wedding gift to R. Avraham son of the philanthropist R. Moshe Shiman [R. Moshe Shiman is mentioned in the list of donors at the end of the book]. At the top of the title page is a handwritten dedication: "wedding gift to… Avraham son of the philanthropist R. Moshe Shiman from her for his wedding day, and may they be a good match and merit to build a faithful Jewish home… from his friend, Avraham Chanoch Friedman, local dayan and posek"; under the dedication appears his stamp: "Avraham Chanoch Friedman, dayan and posek of the orthodox community, Satmar".
The approbation of this R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman is printed at the beginning of the book, attesting that he gave R. Chaim Tzvi Zimmend, "a faithful and very dear student of R. Yehudah Greenwald", the author's manuscript on Tehillim: "I hereby give him this column as proof that I happily gave him copies of the commentary Olelot Yehudah on Tehillim which the holy author left behind".
In the list of signatories in the city of Carei at the end of the book appear the names of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar and his son-in-law R. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum.
Rabbi Avraham Chanoch Friedman (1866-1944; perished in the Holocaust), son of the Chatam Sofer's daughter, close disciple and confidant of his uncle Rabbi Yehudah Greenwald, who adopted him as a son and married him to his niece. He edited and published the works of his teacher Rabbi Greenwald and of his grandfather the Chatam Sofer. He served for decades as a dayan and posek in Satmar (from 1905), directed a large yeshiva in it, and served as Rabbi of the Machazikei Torah Ashkenazi synagogue in the city. He was a supporter of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum's appointment as Rebbe of Satmar.
[4], 256, [10] leaves. 22.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Open tear on the margins of leaf 89, affecting the margins of the text. Stamps. Gilt edges. Fine new leather binding.
Variant – in the present copy, [10] leaves are printed at the end of the book in which many more names are added to the list of "donors" and "signatories"; in most copies only [4] leaves are printed.
Letter (on a postcard) handwritten by R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman, dayan and posek of Satmar and grandson of the Chatam Sofer. Satmar, September 7, 1934.
Sent to Baden, Switzerland, addressed to his relative R. Moshe Bollag (son-in-law of R. Moshe Bunam Krauss, Av Beit Din of Baden, author of Minchat Moshe, nephew of R. Avraham Chanoch and great-grandson of the Chatam Sofer): "When the sound of the shofar is heard, may he be inscribed for good life immediately in the book of the righteous, and many good and sweet years and all good, to my dear… R. Moshe, son-in-law of my nephew…".
At the beginning of his letter R. Avraham Chanoch sends his thanks and blessing for the donation of 70 francs he sent: "With thanks for your goodness and righteousness in concealing my name from my family, and may God give me my livelihood from His full and wide hand that we never be ashamed and shamefaced, and with your charity may you merit to perform mitzvot and good deeds in wealth, honor and long life". He goes on to send him new year blessings: "And so I bless you and your family with new year blessings, to merit Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah, and may God bring you and your household a good, sweet new year, and may He send blessing and success in all your endeavors, Amen… Avraham Chanoch Friedman".
R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman (1866-1944; perished in the Holocaust), grandson of the Chatam Sofer and close disciple of R. Yehudah Grünwald, who adopted him as a young boy and married him to his niece. He edited and published of the writings of his teacher R. Yehudah Grünwald and his grandfather the Chatam Sofer. He served for decades as dayan and posek in Satmar (starting 1905), led a large yeshiva there and served as Rabbi of the Machazikei Torah Ashkenaz synagogue in the city. He was a supporter of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum's appointment as Rabbi of Satmar.
Postcard. Approx. 15x10.5 cm. Good condition. Light wear. Stamps and postmarks. Stamp (in Latin characters) of R. Avraham Chanoch.
Interesting assorted collection of fefteen letters from rabbis, Chassidim and pious laymen from Satmar, including Beit Din rulings, signed and stamped by the dayanim. [Satmar and surroundings, 1916-ca. 1950.] Hebrew and Yiddish.
• Letter of R. Eliyahu HaLevi Epstein of Satmar to R. Yosef Leib Sofer, Av Beit Din of Paks. Satmar, [1916]. The letter contains a fascinating description of the 1890 Seder night with R. Eliezer Zusman Sofer, Av Beit Din of Paks: "…While he was reciting the Hallel with purity and beauty, it was as if his worldly existence were nullified… Our legs were shivering and our hair was standing at its edge while we heard the express words of the greatest of the great…" [part of the letter is printed in Mizkeret Paks, II, p. 82]. At the bottom part of the leaf is a Kvitel inscription for a blessing with his and his mother's name, and the names of his wife and children.
• Lengthy Torah letter to R. Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich of Şimleu Silvaniei. One and a half pages, handwritten (not signed; on official stationery of the Jewish community of Șomcuta Mare). Apparently written by one of the town rabbis. [Șomcuta Mare], Isru Chag Shavuot [1931].
• Permission for an agunah to remarry, handwritten, signed and stamped by R. Eliyahu Leichtag, "dayan and posek of the Orthodox community of Satmar", with signatures of the dayanim who comprised the Beit Din: R. Shimshon Rosenberg ("Shimson son of R. Yehudah Leib Rosenberg") and R. Yaakov Leib Frankel ("Yaakov Leib Frankel, author of Gevurat Aryeh and Migdanot Maharil"). Satmar, 27 Shevat, 1932.
• Letter on a postcard, handwritten and signed by R. Yosef Shimon Pollak of Satmar, editor of the periodical Beit Vaad LaChachamim and author of Rashei Besamim. Satmar, 1929. Sent to his son in Budapest [apparently R. Moshe Yehudah Pollak, editor of the monthly periodical HaYeshivah]. In the letter, his father tells him of the Tishrei festivals in the company of his rebbe [apparently Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz] and the holy rabbi of Carei [apparently Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum during his tenure as Av Beit Din of Carei]: "Your brother Chaim Yehoshua traveled home… and he was [with Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum] in Carei on Chol HaMoed, and he honored him greatly and also inquired about you… And I am weary from travel… since I slept no night before 3:00, because we stood by the door many nights to merit to enter, and afterwards all the days of the festival the meals ended every night at 4:00 – and there was no rain during the festival… And what can I say, having seen his service day and night, and all his followers standing before him in fear – If God wills it, I will travel next Sunday to the Tzaddik of Carei [Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum] for him to sign permitting the agunah to remarry… Yosef Shimon".
• Letter on postcard, handwritten and signed by R. Yosef Shimon Pollak of Satmar, editor of the periodical Beit Vaad LaChachamim and author of Rashei Besamim. Satmar, 1936. Sent to R. Menashe Margaliot in Brooklyn, New York, regarding printing his novellae.
• Two letters from the "Beit Din Tzedek of the Orthodox community of Satmar and the region", signed by dayan and posek of Satmar R. Yishai Hecht Weintraub. Satmar, [Shevat and Adar] 1949. The letters deal with saving copies of Responsa Avnei Zikaron which were left sitting in the printing house of R. Meir Leib Hirsch in Satmar, "so that strangers not possess them and for the honor of the Torah not to be desecrated". The first letter was sent to the author, R. Alter Shaul Pfeffer, and the second letter was sent to his son, R. Meir Yehudah Pfeffer, who informed him that his father had long since passed away [R. Alter Shaul Pfeffer had passed away in the United States in 1936], and he asks the son to pay the expenses of recovering the books and sending them to him.
• Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by "Yissachar Dov son of R. Tz. of Veretzka (Nyzhni Vorota), grandson of R. A.A. of Brod". Request for help and financial assistance from R. Yitzchak Sodden, rabbi of Ohev Shalom synagogue in Brooklyn. Satmar, [13 Sivan], 1929. The author is the Chassid R. Yissachar Dov Weinberger (ca. 1871-1944, perished in the Holocaust), a Belz Chassid and leader of Satmar, descended from the Fränkel-Teomim family.
• Permission to marry, handwritten, signed and stamped by R. Yitzchak Klein, Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar [editor of the monthly Torah periodical Ohel Yitzchak and HaMaggid]. Satmar, [30 Adar], 1942.
• Three letters from the "Beit Din of the Orthodox community of Satmar and the region" – after the Holocaust, records of testimony on people who perished in the Holocaust and permission to remarry. One of them is signed by the three dayanim: Rosh Av Beit Din R. Moshe Aryeh Freund, R. Shlomo Zalman Friedman and R. Avraham Tzvi Weiss. Satmar, 1946-1947.
• Letter to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar from Mrs. Esther Wiesel. Satmar, [apparently after the Holocaust]. Yiddish. The letter is torn and incomplete. • Letter to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar from the mashgiach R. Yechiel Yehudah Wallengstein. [Ca. 1950s.] Yiddish.
• Letter signed and stamped by R. Yechiel Ausch, Av Beit Din of Vulcan and after the war dayan and posek in Satmar; a request for help and assistance for the upcoming Passover festival by R. Yitzchak Sodden, rabbi of Ohev Shalom synagogue in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, New York, [ca. 1950s]. Yiddish.
• Enclosed: Early facsimile of a letter (four large pages) by the Chassid R. Yirmeyahu Kahn (written in Iyar, 1963), in which he describes at length the Seder night and days of the Passover festival he spent with Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, and reviews the Torah teachings and novellae he heard from the rebbe at the time.
16 items. Varying size and condition. Overall good condition. One letter in fair condition.