A handwritten wedding letter-invitation. Two rows of signature in the handwriting of Rebbe Yitzchak Meir of Zhinkov, son of Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel "Rebbe of Apta". Zhinkov, Kislev [1854].
An invitation to his granddaughter's wedding, the daughter of his son Rabbi Meshulam Zusia of Zhinkov, with the bridegroom, Rabbi Yitzchak Yoel son of Rebbe Gedalia Aharon of Linitz on Thursday, the 9th of Kislev 1854, the last wedding that took place in the "holy court" of Rabbi Yitzchak Meir in Zhinkov, because he died that year. [An interesting story is told about setting the date of that wedding, see rumors and tales, at the end of the book Machshevet Nachum, (page 238): At the beginning of the year, Rebbe Yitzchak Meir sent a letter to his mechutan Rabbi Gedalia of Linitz, author of Chen Aharon in regard to the date of the wedding, which should have taken place during the month of Elul 1955. He wrote that if he wishes that his mechutan should be at the wedding, he must make the wedding earlier in the month of Kislev and so he did. After a number of months, on Rosh Chodesh Adar 1955, Rabbi Yitchak Meir died and it is known that he had foreseen the time of his death well in advance].
He ordered the invitation to be written in scribal writing saying: "¦ To the leaders of my congregation's community of Chemerovitz¦ I said, Do I hide from my beloved who are bound to me in our fathers' covenant with strong love and therefore I inform them of the day of my joy so that they too shall be joyous and happy on that day and G-d willing, on the day of your joy and festivity when you marry your children, my heart will be joyous and my soul will rejoice". Rebbe Yitzchak Meir added his signature in his own handwriting: "From one who requests peace and good for all his Jewish brethren, Yitchak Meir be Ish Chai Rebbi Heshel of Apta".
Rebbe Yitzchak Meir of Apta-Zhinkov (1776-1855) was one of the greatest Rebbes of his generation. The oldest son of Rebbe Yehoshua Heshel, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. When his father was yet alive, he managed all the matters of the "holy court" of his father, the "generation's Tzaddik" which was the most central of all Chassidic courts of that generation. After his great father's death, thousands of Chassidim flocked after him and he moved his beit midrash from Medzhibozh to Zhinkov. Like his father, he was notorious for his "ahavat Yisrael" and he brought the heart of his Jewish brethren near to their Father in Heaven. His long life was a chain of charity and loving-kindness, he would pray and do wonders for every Jew, who turned to him for prayer and salvation. He was the beloved mechutan of the great Chassidic houses of his generation, (Rabbi Yisrael of Kozhenitz, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzin, Rabbi Moshe Zvi of Savran, etc.). One of his granddaughters was the wife of Rabbi Yehoshua of Belz, who was very close to his distinguished grandfather. Many important dynasties of Rebbes and rabbis are descended from him. His son in law is Rebbe Yitzchak Yoel Rabinowitz the Rebbe of Linitz- Kontikoziva (1840-1885), in 1868, he succeeded his father while still living, as Rabbi and Maggid in Linitz. After the Russian government, who harassed the Chassidic Tzaddikim, expelled him to a desolate land, he settled his court in Kontikoziva in the Kherson region. His sons are Rebbe Yehoshua Heshel of Monasterishtche, Rabbi Pinchas of Kontikoziva [father of Rebbe Yisrael of Kherson and Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Kherson-Haifa] and Rabbi Meshulam Zusia of Orׁ‘l.
21.5 cm. Dair condition. Stains, wear to margins and folding marks. On verso, handwritten draft for wedding invitation from Chemerovitz, 1867