Auction 050 Part 1 Satmar: Rebbes and Rabbis of Satmar-Sighet, Hungary and Transylvania
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Letter handwritten by R. Yehudah Yitzchak Frankel, Av Beit Din of Sanok (disciple of R. Hirsch of Rimanov and R. Shalom of Kaminka), to his Mechutan, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev of Sighet. Sanok, [13 Sivan], 1880.
On the margins of the leaf, the Yitav Lev added three lines in his own handwriting – a Torah teaching about the redemption: "…For the time of redemption is in Nisan, and a generation in which [the Temple] was not built is considered like one in which it was destroyed. If so, it is considered as if destroyed in Nisan, and likewise after Tishrei, since one opinion holds the redemption will be in Nisan, and another opinion holds it will be in Tishrei. And both of these opinions are true, as the holy rabbis explain; therefore we need to fast after them". The Yitav Lev apparently heard this teaching from his grandfather, the Yismach Moshe of Ujhel, since this teaching is worded similarly in Yismach Moshe on the Festivals (leaf 86, Maamar Taanit Bahab).
R. Yehudah Yitzchak Frankel opens his letter with extensive praise for the Yitav Lev: "Prince of the Torah, fountain of wisdom and knowledge, righteous and lofty, holy man, master and father of Israel… the holy Menorah, man of God, son of holy men, pious and abstinent… R. Yekutiel Yehudah… Av Beit Din of Sighet and the province".
In the letter itself, R. Yehudah Yitzchak asks for the Yitav Lev's approbation to his books Me'at Mayim and Mechir Chalav, which he printed at that time (1880): "…I ask him to have a look at the printed writings I sent, and to share with me some of his goodness and kindness by giving his testimonial to my printed writings". He adds that he asked his Mechutan, the son of the Yitav Lev, R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa, to speak with him at greater length on the matter: "I was terribly afraid to bother you with a lengthy letter, so I laid it all out to my Mechutan, your son the Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa, to present to you". R. Yehudah Yitzchak signs his letter with the words: "The words of him who sits in the dust at your holy and pure legs, asking your forgiveness – his Mechutan, Yehudah Yitzchak son of Chanah, Av Beit Din of Sanok".
Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nisan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – rabbi of Tolcsva who immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, who drew him especially close and disclosed to him Heavenly revelations which he had perceived with Divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as rabbi of Ujhel. He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), capital of the Maramureș region, and founded there a large yeshiva, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. Amongst his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries a suckling, and overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he earned worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessings and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson R. Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with Divine Inspiration and through his exceptional wisdom. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and amazing stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, he edified upstanding and reputable disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is renowned for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the Festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.
The sender of the letter to the Yitav Lev, R. Yehudah Yitzchak Aryeh Leibush Frankel (Teomim), Av Beit Din of Sanok (1824-1893), son of R. Chaim Mordechai Frankel-Teomim, Av Beit Din of Lesko (descendant of the Kikayon DeYonah and the Baruch Taam). Close disciple of Rebbe Shalom Rosenfeld of Kaminka. He also kept the company of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch of Rimanov. He was a disciple and peer of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, who esteemed him highly and corresponded with him in many responsa. The Divrei Chaim writes to him in one of his responsa: "I esteem him highly among all the great rabbis of this province… I know he is a great man of the generation… Let him not avoid taking a rabbinical position… because he is worthy of it, for God gave him wisdom and knowledge" (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Even HaEzer 74). In his additional responsa, the Divrei Chaim expresses his love and appreciation for him, calling him "my friend, the rabbi, the great luminary, the sharp, the perfect, the pious, the famous", "the great Gaon, the sharp, the famous who fears God", and more. Late in life, the Divrei Chaim told his grandson, Rebbe Shlomo of Bobov (the first) to consult with the Rabbi of Sanok in halachic matters: "Send my words to the Gaon of Sanok; if he agrees, do so" (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Yoreh Deah 32). Rabbi Yehudah Yitzchak served at first in his father's place as Rosh Av Beit Din of Lesko. In 1858 he was appointed Av Beit Din of Sanok and served as such for 35 years. He was known as a holy Torah scholar. He occupied himself prolifically with charity and hospitality. He owned a large and important library. After his death, the people of his city built a tomb on his gravesite as a place of prayer and salvation. He left behind many writings, most of which were lost in the Holocaust. During his life he managed to publish his grandfather R. Yehudah Leibush's novellae on Bava Metzia in Shnei Tzemidim, along with his own novellae – Mechir Chalav on Halachah, and Me'at Mayim on Aggadah (Przemyśl, 1880). His son R. Yaakov Shlomo married the granddaughter of the Yitav Lev – the Rebbetzin Devorah daughter of R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa.
[1] leaf. Approx. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Folds. Stains, creases and light wear. The letter was published in Kerem Shlomo (Adar 2000, p. 85).
Official document, Kihirdetése Bizonyítvány – declaration regarding marriage of a Jewish couple. Sztropkó, August 5, 1886. Hungarian.
The document is signed by R. Moshe Yosef Teitelbaum of Ujhel during his tenure as Av Beit Din of Sztropkó and the region. In the margins of the document appear his signature (in Latin characters): "Teitelbaum M. J", and his official stamp (in Hebrew): "Moshe Yosef Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sztropkó".
R. Moshe Yosef Teitelbaum of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely, 1845-1897), son of the Yitav Lev of Sighet (grandson of the Yismach Moshe of Ujhel) and son-in-law of Rebbe David Halberstam, Av Beit Din of Chrzanów (son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz). He was a member of the household of his grandfather-in-law, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, for some years, where he rose in Torah and service of God, and was a sharp Torah scholar in his Beit Midrash. At that time, he served as dean of the yeshiva for youth in Sanz together with two grandsons of the Divrei Chaim – Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam of Bobov (the first), and Rebbe Moshe Halberstam of Bardejov. R. Moshe Yosef was later appointed Rabbi of Zborov, and in 1880 he was appointed Rabbi of Sztropkó. In 1892 he was accepted as Rabbi of the "Sephardic Community" in Ujhel, where his grandfather the Yismach Moshe had previously served. R. Moshe Yosef was known for his fiery sermons and golden tongue motivating his listeners to repent. Some of his disciples in Ujhel later gained fame as great Hungarian rabbis, including R. Shaul Brach, Av Beit Din of Košice and R. Yehoshua Buxbaum, Av Beit Din of Galanta. After his passing, his son R. Berechiah Teitelbaum was appointed in his place as Rabbi of Ujhel, and after him his son-in-law R. David Dov Meisels, author of Binyan David. R. Moshe Yosef is mentioned several times in Responsa Avnei Tzedek by his father the Yitav Lev. He left behind many works that were not printed. His book Milei DeMeitav was printed posthumously.
[1] double leaf. Approx. 34 cm. Good condition. Folds. Tears on folds. Creases and light wear.
Lengthy letter (4 pages) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor (grandson of the Yitav Lev of Sighet). Nyírbátor, [9 Av], 1929.
Written on the Rebbe's official stationery: "Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of the Orthodox community of Nyírbátor and the region". The letter was sent to the leaders of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot in Jerusalem, and deals with various matters related to the management of the Kollel in Eretz Israel and elsewhere, and the split of the Kollel.
Rebbe Naftali tells how the "accursed Zionists" falsely reported to the Slovakian authorities that the president of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot, R. Akiva Sofer, Av Beit Din of Pressburg, was in contact with foreign states against the interests of his own state. In response, he continues, discussions were held whether to split the Kollel into two – one for Hungary and one for Czechoslovakia. While "the rabbi of Piešťany" [R. Yissachar Shlomo Teichtal] supported the suggested split, the president of the Kollel, R. Akiva Sofer of Pressburg, opposed it.
Rebbe Naftali describes a visit he made to R. Sofer of Pressburg's house, noting his impressions of his personality and his approach to the matter. R. Sofer was familiar with all the particulars of the Kollel, and mentioned he had the statutes of the Kollel in manuscript written by the Ktav Sofer.
Further on appear various reprimands on the Kollel's management, but Rebbe Naftali adds his fond memories from his visit in Jerusalem, and describes his great love for the people of Jerusalem and how he misses those days and their time spent together.
Rebbe Naftali gives the leaders of the Kollel rebuke and guidance and conveys the words of R. Sofer of Pressburg: to bring the yeshiva students closer together, to dispense with anger and forgive all grudges. He asks their forgiveness for his harsh rebuke, assuring them it was from his love for them and his desire to improve their condition.
Rebbe Naftali also mentions "the terrible tragedy that took place in the Holy Land" [the 1929 Hebron massacre; the present letter is dated 9 Av, 1929, before the outbreak of the massacre on 17 Av, 1929, but as Rebbe Naftali writes in his letter, this lengthy letter was written over the course of many weeks, and much of it was written after the end of the massacre on 23 Av, 1929].
In the letter are mentioned other personages including: R. Yisrael Ze'ev Label, who traveled to Eretz Israel for the sake of the Kollel; R. Yom Tov Yekutiel Zalman Weber of Jerusalem; and other Kollel directors in Jerusalem. The letter likewise mentions the artist R. Shlomo Zalman Zweig, who worked in the office of the Kollel in Jerusalem, drawing and coloring certificates for donors.
As a postscript, R. Naftali writes why he was unable to travel to Vienna – he did not want to be suspected of being a member of Agudat Yisrael.
R. Naftali Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor (1867-1938), second son of Rebbe Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Volova (Mizhhiria), and grandson and disciple of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum of Sighet, the Yitav Lev. Son-in-law of his uncle R. Moshe Yosef Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely; son of the Yitav Lev). Served as Av Beit Din of Nyírbátor for forty years, starting in 1898, and led with determination, love and integrity. A prominent rebbe in his times, and head of the Orthodox Bureau in Hungary. He was a close friend of his cousin Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Satmar, and although he was older than him, he honored him and followed his advice as though his student and follower. He is mentioned in some of the letters of the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs, who worked together with him to bolster Judaism and oppose the Zionist movement and religious parties Agudat Yisrael and Mizrachi.
[2] leaves (4 written pages). Approx. 29 cm. Good condition. Folds. Light stains.
Letter (3 pages), handwritten and signed by Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Volova, a few weeks after he escaped Volova during the Holocaust and reached Nyírbátor as a refugee. Nyírbátor, Motzaei Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot [13 Tishrei], [October] 1941. German (apparently due to censorship).
Written on Rebbe Aharon's official stationery. Sent to "my dear nephew R. Zalman Leib Teitelbaum" [apparently one of his nephews named R. Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, who had previously managed to reach safety]. He asks him to attend to sending food to family members in the German occupied territories, and the protectorates in Hungary and Romania.
In his letter he writes that he has currently been in Nyírbátor for several weeks [in late 1941 Rebbe Aharon was forced to flee Volova due to the German occupation and the expulsion of foreign nationals. He reached Nyírbátor and began to serve in place of his brother R. Naftali, who had passed away in 1938]. Rebbe Aharon recounts how he visited Satmar on the way there, and met R. Aharon [the son of the recipient of the letter] who was suffering from starvation, and he urges him send him food packages. He goes on to ask him to attend to his brother R. Yitzchak Teitelbaum of Rzeszów [the uncle of the recipient of the letter] and to make sure he is sent him (kosher) food packages from the United States.
On the last page, R. Aharon writes his own address in Nyírbátor and that of his brother R. Yitzchak Teitelbaum in Rzeszów – "in the German occupied territory".
This letter was apparently sent to the United States [or reached there]. On the leaf is a stamp with the seal of the Ahavat Torah yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York.
Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Volova, author of Tehillot Aharon (1881-1944; perished in the Holocaust), the youngest son of Rebbe Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Volova, and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev of Sighet. He was a son-in-law of the Berach Moshe of Satmar. In 1905 he was appointed head of the Volova Beit Din, and there he directed an important yeshiva for young students. After his father's passing in 1924, he began to serve in his place as Rabbi of Volova. In 1941, after the passing of his brother R. Naftali Teitelbaum (in 1938), he was appointed to his place as Rabbi of Nyírbátor. He led his community for forty years, and stoutly opposed Haskalah and Zionist ideas. He was a fierce opponent of Agudat Yisrael.
[1] double leaf (3 written pages). 23 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Folds and creases. Tears and open tears. Repaired with tape.
![Letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum of Ecsed. [Ecsed (Nagyecsed), Rosh HaShanah eve, early 1940s].](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Ol50/59.jpg "Letter of Rabbi Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum of Nagyecsed (Grandson of th")
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum of Ecsed. [Ecsed (Nagyecsed), Rosh HaShanah eve, early 1940s].
The letter is written on official stationery: "Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum, rabbi and posek of Nagyecsed", signed – "Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum", and stamped – "Avraham Aharon – leader of yeshiva – N[agy]ecsed".
Request for help and assistance for the students of the yeshiva in Ecsed, sent to the head directors of "Chevrah Tomchei Torah" in New York. "Since I heard of your good reputation and your good deeds, that you support the Torah, how goodly and beautiful is your portion, and may our portion be with yours".
In his letter R. Avraham Aharon describes the difficult times in the city just before the Holocaust: "…Because of the oppression going on in our countries, our livelihood is continually diminishing every day because of the new persecutions coming all the time, as you surely know from the newspapers. Naturally it is understood that directing the yeshiva is also very difficult, and it cannot be described on paper how hard it is to direct the yeshiva with so little bread and water… So I come to request, please have pity and mercy and quickly support the yeshiva students with your charity… And may the merit of the Torah stand at your side to merit to revive the community and restore the pride of the Torah and those who learn it. Hoping for his request to be fulfilled and blessing you with a Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah and a good and blessed year sweet as honey, Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum".
R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum (perished in the Holocaust, 1944), rabbi and yeshiva dean in Ecsed (Nagyecsed, Satmar region). Son of R. David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ecsed, author of Divrei David (son of Rebbe Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum of Kolbuszowa, son of the Yitav Lev of Sighet). His father R. David Teitelbaum served for over thirty years as Av Beit Din of Ecsed (from 1912-1944). He established a yeshiva in his house's study for dozens of students. Towards the end of his life, his son R. Avraham Aharon assisted him with his duties as rabbi and took upon himself to direct the yeshiva. During this period, R. Avraham Aharon would often write his father's letters. R. Avraham Aharon and his father R. David perished in the Holocaust in 1944 together with all the members of their community.
The only one of R. David's six sons to survive the Holocaust was Rebbe Naftali Tzvi Teitelbaum, Rebbe of Ecsed in Boro Park (passed away 1974).
[1] double leaf, official stationery. 23.5 cm. Good condition. Folds. Pin holes. Light wear.
On the yeshiva in Nagyecsed, see: Hungarian Yeshivas in their Prime and in their Destruction, Part II, pp. 196-199 (Hebrew; the present letter is photographed there, p. 199); VaYityaldu Al Mishpechotam, Bnei Brak, 2004, pp. 85, 151.
Letter of Satmar dayanim, signed by city dayanim Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum (son-in-law of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Satmar) and R. Eliyahu Leichtag. Satmar, [8 Iyar], 1936.
Letter apparently written by R. Eliyahu Leichtag, dayan and posek of Satmar, and signed with his signature and that of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum: “Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer, Av Beit Din of Szemihaly”.
The letter was sent to the dayanim of the Beit Din of Grosswardein (Oradea), and it addresses a community member’s refusal to carry out the Beit Din’s ruling: “…the wealthy R. Mordechai Kalman of your community came to us complaining that R. Avraham… of your community refuses to carry out the ruling of the Beit Din that we already delivered last year… And as we cannot confirm from a distance if the matter is as he says, it is understood that it is the responsibility of that city’s dayan to invite them and determine who is in the right, and to force him to carry out the ruling as far as possible. We sign [8 Iyar], 5696 [1936] here in Satmar, Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, Eliyahu Leichtag”.
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. After the Holocaust, he immigrated to Jerusalem, founded the yeshiva Yitav Lev, 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. He 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. Eliyahu Leichtag, dayan and posek of Satmar (perished in the Holocaust in 1944), son of R. Pinchas Leichtag, Av Beit Din of Huedin. In 1918 he was appointed as dayan and posek in the Satmar community. He served as dean of the Satmar yeshiva at the same time. He was intimate with Rebbe Yoel of Satmar, and prayed regularly in the Rebbe’s Beit Midrash.
Approx. 23x15 cm. Good condition. Folds and creases. Stains and minor wear.
Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum of Sassov (son-in-law of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar). Jerusalem, [24 Sivan], 1946.
Written on official stationery of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa from his period of residence in Jerusalem (after he was rescued in the Holocaust and immigrated to Eretz Israel): “Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Szemihaly, Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar – residing here in Jerusalem, Beit Yisrael HeChadashah”.
Letter of testimony to permit remarriage for R. Menachem son of R. Chaim Adler, whose wife and children perished in Auschwitz: “…I know him for a long time as a God-fearing, trustworthy man, and his words can be unquestionably relied upon. And I, the undersigned, have also heard from some people who were from his city who were with his wife and family in a ghetto, and were later sent together to the death camp Auschwitz… She stayed there… because she was occupied with little children, as is known that… women such as these went together with their families to the left side, may God save us and have mercy. And I sign as evidence here in Jerusalem… Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum”.
To the side of his signature appears his stamp: “Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Szemihaly, Rosh Av Beit Din of Satmar, in Jerusalem”.
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 getting them. 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.
[1] leaf, official stationery. Approx. 27 cm. Good condition. Folds and creases. Filing holes, affecting some letters in the text. Stains and wear.
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yechiel Yehudah Isaacson, Rabbi of Sighet (son-in-law of the Atzei Chaim of Sighet, brother of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar). Sighet, 25 Adar, 1947.
Written on his official stationery, with his signature and stamp. Sent to the Special Beit Din for Agunot founded in Budapest after the Holocaust – a clarification about two missing people in the Holocaust.
R. Yechiel Yehudah Isaacson (1921-1977), son of R. Avraham Yissachar Dov Isaacson, Rabbi of Polien-Riskeve (Poienile de sub Munte) and son-in-law of R. Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, the Atzei Chaim of Sighet (brother of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar). Disciple of R. Yehudah Segal Rosner, Rabbi of Székelyhíd (Săcueni). After the Holocaust, he served for a short period of time as She'erit HaPletah rabbi in Sighet, in place of his brother-in-law Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, the Berach Moshe. He later immigrated to Israel and served as rabbi of Achuzat Shmuel, Haifa. In his later years he immigrated to the United States and served as rabbi of the Magen Avraham community and dean of the Torat Emet yeshiva in Los Angeles.
[1] leaf, official stationery. Approx. 20x16 cm. Good condition. Folds. Browning of margins. Small marginal open tear.
Printed poster, "A time to eulogize" – a eulogy in Jerusalem for the passing of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, author of Kedushat Yom Tov, Av Beit Din of Sighet. Jerusalem, Adar 1904.
Announcement of eulogy that R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger was to deliver in memory of the Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet, in the Chassidic Beit Midrash Ohel Moshe Gershon Verechl in the Kollel Ungarn buildings in Jerusalem.
"A time to eulogize – for the departure of the ark of God, Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet. R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger will eulogize him… on the day of Moses' passing, 7 Adar, at 9:00 in the Chassidic Beit Midrash Ohel Moshe in the Kollel Ungarn building, and all the house of Israel will mourn…".
Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, the Kedushat Yom Tov (1836-1904), son and successor of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev. Disciple of his father and prominent disciple of Rebbe Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim, who once told his father the Yitav Lev that "he has made him into a perfect utensil". The Rebbe of Shinova reputedly said of him "he remained holy from his arrival in this world until his departure to the next world". He succeeded his father after the latter's passing as Rabbi of Sighet and leader of the Chassidim. Under his leadership, the Sighet Chassidut flourished and numbered thousands of Chassidim. He was a foremost leader of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region, an uncompromising zealot and a fierce opponent of the Zionist movement. His work Kedushat Yom Tov on the Torah and the festivals was published after his passing. His sons were Rebbe Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, author of Atzei Chaim, who succeeded him as Av Beit Din and rebbe of Sighet, and Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, author of VaYoel Moshe, who served as Av Beit Din and rebbe in Satmar. R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1837-1922), author of Lev HaIvri, son-in-law of R. Hillel Lichtenstein of Kolomyia, disciple of the great Hungarian rabbis and a zealous opponent of the Reform and Haskalah movements. In 1870 he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he continued his struggle against the "innovators". He worked to support the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel; he was embroiled in a controversy with the Old Yishuv when he contested the Chalukah system, and he was involved in additional controversies.
[1] leaf. 30 cm. Good condition. Folds and creases. Tears to folds, reinforced with tape to reverse side. Small marginal open tears.
Very rare – only copy known to us. Does not appear in the catalog of the National Library of Israel.
Printed leaf – notice on the kosher certification given to wine produced in Fiume, Italy (today: Rijeka, Croatia), signed by great rebbes and rabbis of Hungary and Galicia. Sighet: Wieder, 10 Tevet (January 1), 1901.
The notice relates to the kosher status of wine imported from Fiume, Italy (today: Rijeka, Croatia), and warns to buy only from vendors with a kosher certification signed by the two supervisors – R. Moshe Ze'ev Abraham of Satmar, and R. Moshe Yitzchak Levi of Grosswardein (Oradea). [In order to determine the kosher status of wine imported from the distant Fiume, Italy, several rabbinical conferences were held, on which see Responsa Arugat HaBosem (Orach Chaim 94-95) and Igrot Shapirin (pp. 160-163).]
The notice is signed by twenty-two of the greatest Rebbes and halachic decisors of Hungary and Galicia at the time: the Kedushat Yom Tov, Rebbe of Sighet; Rebbe Moshe Panet of Deyzh; the Darchei Teshuvah of Munkacs; Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam (the first) of Bobov; Rebbe Moshe Halberstam of Bardejov; the Maharsham of Berezhany; the Arugat HaBosem of Khust; the Zichron Yehudah of Satmar; the Harei Besamim of Stryj; R. Avraham Menachem Mendel HaLevi Steinberg, Av Beit Din of Brody; R. Yeshayah Silberstein, Av Beit Din of Vác; and others. On the reverse side of the notice are Torah inscriptions handwritten by R. David Sperber of Brașov [from his youth].
[1] leaf. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Folds and creases. Stains and wear. Small tears and open tears to margins (affecting name of printer).
"Call for assistance!" – a printed poster for the establishment of the Tomchei Yeshivot Society, signed by important Transylvanian rebbes and rabbis, including rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Grosswardein (Oradea): Glanzer, 21 Adar II, 1929.
Public appeal to establish the Tomchei Yeshivot Society in Transylvania. The goal of the society was to establish a special monetary fund to provide assistance for yeshiva deans and improve the conditions of life of poor yeshiva students by providing a stipend and establishing special dormitories and cafeterias (to replace the custom of yeshiva students dining on particular days with various community members).
The society was established consequent to the decision of the assembly of rabbis and representatives of the Orthodox communities of Transylvania which was held with great ceremony in Grosswardein (Oradea) in Adar, 1929. During the assembly, a dispute arose as to where the society would be located – while the initiators of the idea, headed by R. Yosef Seltzer, forcefully argued that the society's activities should be centered in Grosswardein, since the well-to-do community would have the resources necessarily for the venture's success, other important Transylvanian rabbis and rebbes, led by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Carei, opposed the move, since they were suspicious of the heads of the community in Grosswardein, a majority of whom were members of Mizrachi.
The public appeal is signed by many important Transylvanian rebbes and rabbis: Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (at the time Av Beit Din of Carei); Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager, Av Beit Din of Vishova; R. Shmuel Zalman Weinberger, Av Beit Din of Marghita; R. Yehudah Segal Rosner, Av Beit Din of Săcueni; Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam of Klausenburg; R. Mordechai Brisk, Av Beit Din of Tășnad; R. Yisrael Freund, Av Beit Din of Hunedoara; and more.
[1] leaf. 34 cm. Good condition. Folds. Stains and light wear.
