Prozbul document of R. Efraim Yosef Dov Ashkenazi, famed attendant of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, signed by the dayanim of the Beit Din, R. Moshe Yosefovitch, R. Eliyahu Pollock and R. Natan Yosef Meisels. 29 Elul, 1959.

Printed document with details filled in in handwriting: "R. Yosef Ashkenazi of Brooklyn came before us, the Beit Din undersigned… and we grant that he not remit any debt he is owed by any person… in accordance with the decree of the Sages. Signed 29 Elul, 5719".

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. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Folds.

Long letter (two pages; 32 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbetzin Chaya Roiza, daughter of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Sent to their relative in Switzerland, the attendant R. Yosel Ashkenazi. [Jerusalem, 1945.] Yiddish (and some Hebrew).

Letter from Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum’s only daughter still alive after the Holocaust (her two sisters had passed away earlier in 1921 and 1931). Her father the Rebbe and his attendant R. Yosel Ashkenazi were staying in Geneva, Switzerland at that time (after they were rescued in the Kastner train), and they were waiting to get an immigration visa to Eretz Israel. [His daughter, Rebbetzin Chaya and her husband R. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer-Teitelbaum, were rescued in a different way, and reached Jerusalem about a year earlier. They all later immigrated together to the United States.]

In her letter, the Rebbetzin describes at length her own and her husband R. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa’s efforts to get an immigration visa to Eretz Israel, and the high costs and bureaucratic difficulties, and her husband’s voyage to Safed to find documentary evidence that R. Yosel was born in Eretz Israel and emigrated with his father to Hungary in his youth.

Rebbetzin Chaya Roiza goes on to write her hopes that he would hear good tidings from his wife Pessel and his dear children, and she encourages him with the news that most Hungarian Jews were rescued and are now returning to Hungary: “The newspapers here write that most of the Jews are returning to Hungary! Near Vienna there are 170,000 Hungarian Jews, and in Budapest there are 150,000 Jews, but they can’t be contacted…”. She goes on to say that R. Yudel Schwartz and his children were rescued and are now in Satmar, and she asks if he has news from some family members.

In the last part of the letter she writes that she sent him a Tallit Katan: “It is not Turkish but made in Eretz Israel, because here we can only get local merchandise”. And she adds regarding getting an immigration visa for her father, the Rebbe: “Regarding the certificate for my father, we hope that with God’s help the matter will come to an end, but we have to wait a bit”.

She ends the letter with a request for him to write to her frequently, and she hints at problems with the British censor disposing of many letters – “because when one writes a lot, a little arrives” – and she signs the letter with wishes and blessings: “we hope every day to hear good tidings from you, may God help, and may we merit to hear good tidings from all our families – Chaya Roiza”.

On the margins of the leaf is written in pen: “Sent 28.5.45 – received 8.6.45”.

[1] leaf. 20.5x20.5 cm. Good condition. Folds. Minor stains. Pin holes in the margins.

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.

Lengthy letter (two full pages) handwritten and stamped by the Kabbalist R. Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz to his teacher Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Tel Aviv, 7 Adar, 1967. Hebrew and some Yiddish.

The letter is divided into five paragraphs. In the first, R. Yehudah Ze'ev writes that he wants to send him his Torah novellae, apologizing for disturbing him with them, since he remembers his teacher's love for the Torah and for his students. In a marginal note, he mentions how he merited to attend to him twice in the years before the war: "I merited to be a holy attendant twice – once when I mentioned my father was undergoing a surgery… on his right shoulder, and at 8 o'clock in the morning you spoke with me for a few minutes; and a second time when you were in Székelyhíd (Săcueni) for Shabbat I attended to you in the Mikveh and you spoke with me graciously, and I helped him put on his socks and shoes from Budapest".

He goes on to cite stories and memories from the period he attended to Rebbe Eliezer Fish of Bixad as well as a Torah teaching he learned from the Rebbe of Bixad in the name of the Yitav Lev of Sighet. He tells that the Rebbe of Bixad held him very dear. R. Yehudah Ze'ev writes (in Yiddish): Once, he told his son, R. Tzvikel, "Why do you not study like Yudel?" and pointed to me. And when his son left I said to him, "Rebbe, why did you say that? Now your son will be ashamed because of me". He answered: "I want him to be ashamed of you so that he will learn Torah day and night".

Further in the letter, paragraph 2, R. Yehudah Ze'ev asks the Satmar Rebbe to send him the books of his ancestors, the Yismach Moshe and the Yitav Lev, which he is unable to purchase himself. In paragraph 3, R. Yehudah Ze'ev asks for assistance for his friend, the kabbalist R. Yitzchak Shmuel Weinstock, son of the kabbalist R. Moshe Yair Weinstock. He notes that R. Weinstock traces his ancestry to the Chozeh of Lublin and the Rebbe of Lelov.

In paragraph 4, he asks the Rebbe to mention him in his "pure prayer", and writes that his father was also one of the Rebbe's followers, "a Chassid in heart and soul, but we are naturally of the quiet type of people". He adds what his father said of the Rebbe: "Even a hundred and twenty years from now, people will say the Rebbe was as great as Moshe Rabbeinu".

In the final paragraph 5, R. Yehudah Ze'ev signs with many blessings and wishes, and asks in the margins of the letter to also mention the kabbalist R. Meir Segal Landau and his son R. Asher Segal Landau in his prayer.

The letter is written on official stationery: "Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz, son of R. Yechiel Tzvi, Tel Aviv, Eretz Israel". The kabbalist R. Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz (1921-2010) was a hidden Tzaddik of the generation, an outstanding Torah scholar, both in hidden and revealed realms. Born in Satmar, he studied under Rebbe Yoel of Satmar and R. Yehudah Rosner, Av Beit Din of Székelyhíd (Săcueni), author of Imrei Yehudah. After surviving the Holocaust, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, and upon the advice of the Chazon Ish, worked at nights in paving roads, living alone in a single-room apartment in Tel Aviv. There he joined a group of kabbalists studying under R. Yehudah Leib Ashlag, the Baal HaSulam – R. Yehudah Tzvi Brandwein, R. Moshe Yair Weinstock and R. Yosef Weinstock. In contrast to them, he remained anonymous for many years, yet maintained close ties with the foremost Torah leaders, rabbis and rebbes of the generation, such as Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam of Sanz-Klausenburg and others, who held him in high regard and considered him one of the thirty-six hidden Tzaddikim. For many years he succeeded in concealing his greatness, yet in his final years, when he resided close to his relatives in Bnei Brak, numerous stories of wonders he had performed began circulating, and many flocked to him in quest of blessings and salvation. His writings were published in the books Kol Yehudah Baal HaKetavim, VeZot LiYehudah, Yizal Mayim MiDaleyav, Or Levi Ziv Yehudah, and others.

[1] leaf, official stationery. Approx. 30 cm. Good condition. Folds and minor creases. Small open marginal tear (not affecting text).

Four letters handwritten and signed by R. Shmuel Meir HaKohen (Maharsham) Hollander, to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. [Tel Aviv, ca. 1950s.]

Two letters on official stationery, another letter on aerogram, and a lengthy letter (6 large pages, written on both sides) on normal paper.

The letters deal with printing books and approbations to them, requests for financial assistance, his children's marriages, names to be mentioned in prayer, and more. In the lengthy letter, R. Shmuel Meir has a learned discussion on divorce laws, and discusses at length the halachic and theoretical considerations regarding autopsies in Israel.

R. Shmuel Meir HaKohen Hollander (1889-1965), son of R. Natan David, Av Beit Din of Amsana (Mszana Dolna) and son-in-law of R. Shalom Hager of Storozhynets. A great scholar and a faithful Chassid, he was a disciple of Rebbe Shlomo (the first) of Bobov, and was close to the rebbes of Belz, Ruzhin, Vizhnitz and Sanz. From 1913, he served as Av Beit Din and posek in Chernivtsi, and after the Holocaust he immigrated to Israel where he served as the Rabbi of the Neve Tzedek neighborhood and the Kehal Chassidim synagogue in Tel Aviv. He kept a voluminous correspondence with the great contemporary scholars. He was an intimate associate of the Rabbi of Tchebin (Trzebinia), Rebbe Aharon of Belz and the Chazon Ish (see Pe'er Hador, IV, p. 191 for a photocopy of a responsum of the Chazon Ish to Rabbi Hollander). Some of his novellae were printed in Shem HaKohen (responsa and sermons), Maharsham HaKohen on the Torah and many articles. [His teachings are cited often in the MiGedolei HaTorah VeHaChassidut series and elsewhere.]

4 letters (6 leaves). Varying size and condition. Overall good condition.