Letter signed by Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa). Sieniawa (Poland), Chanukah 1886.
Blessings of recovery for the residents of Téglás, who sent their names to be mentioned in prayer by the Rebbe (presumably following an epidemic):
"An abundance of goodness and imminent salvation to my friends the rabbis… residents of the Téglás village. I received your letter with the Pidyon Nefesh (redemption money) for the members of your community mentioned by name. May G-d have compassion on you, the healthy should not fall ill and the ill should recover speedily, and no misfortune should be heard in your boundaries nor in any Jewish town, only life, health and all the best…".
Written on his behalf by his scribe and attendant, the letter concludes with a line in the handwriting of the Rebbe: "So are the words of one who awaits good tidings amongst the entire Jewish people, Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam".
The first Shinova Rebbe, R. Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Rabbi of Sieniawa (1815-1899), was the author of Divrei Yechezkel and eldest son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. An outstanding Torah scholar, he was proficient in all realms of Torah, exoteric and esoteric, Halachic and Chassidic teachings. He was venerated in his role as rabbi and rebbe already during his father's lifetime. Progenitor of important Chassidic dynasties, with many of his sons and grandsons serving as rabbis and rebbes in various cities already in his lifetime. Holy and pure from his youth, he attended leading rebbes of his times and was considered their prominent disciple. He was famed for the miracles he performed, and reputedly instructed his disciples to save his letters, which would afford them protection and salvation.
[1] leaf. 22.5 cm. Fair condition. Tears to folding marks. Adhesive tape stains. Professionally mounted on thin paper for preservation. Stamp of the Rebbe: "Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Sieniawa".

Letter of good year and complete recovery wishes, with two lines handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yitzchak Yeshaya Halberstam. Kraków, Tishrei 1931.
Written on an official postcard from the Rebbe's court in Kraków, addressed to "the great rabbi… the chassid… Shlomo Gottlieb" in Tel-Aviv. The Rebbe informs him of receipt of the dollar he sent as Pidyon Nefesh and extends his warm blessings: "…and I pray… that G-d should send him His help, a complete and speedy recovery together with all infirm Jews, may the coming year be renewed upon him for good and for blessing together with all Jews, and may we hear and be informed of good tidings". Written by a scribe, with the addition of two lines handwritten and signed by the Rebbe: "The words of his friend who seeks his wellbeing with love, and blesses him with Gmar Chatima Tova, Yitzchak Yeshaya son of the pious rabbi of Sanz".
Rebbe Yitzchak Yeshaya Halberstam of Tshechov (1864-1943, perished in the Holocaust, Encyclopedia of Chassidism II, pp. 412-413) was the youngest son of Rebbe Chaim Halberstam, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. Son-in-law of R. Yechiel Heshel of Krilovitz (Murovani Kurylivtsi), and in his second marriage, of R. Yaakov Tzvi of Parysów. His father, R. Chaim of Sanz, stated that he possesses a holy soul. He absorbed Chassidism from his older brothers: R. Yechezkel Shraga of Shinova (Sieniawa), R. Baruch of Gorlitz (Gorlice) and R. David of Chrzanów; after his marriage he settled in Belz and learned Torah from the grandfather of his wife, Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz. At the age of nineteen, he was appointed rabbi of Tshechov and was since referred to as R. Yeshayale Tshechover. From Tshechov he moved to Satmar and later established his court in Kraków. He earnt the reputation of a righteous and pious miracle worker and thousands of followers flocked to his court. Upon German invasion of Kraków, he was sent to the ghetto. After escaping to Lviv, he wandered from place to place before settling in Bochnia. The Germans searched for him, eventually locating the bunker he was hiding in and murdering all its inhabitants. According to another version, he was murdered together with R. Meir of Vielipoli (Wielopole Skrzyńskie) in the town square, both wrapped in their prayer shawls.
Official postcard with letterhead: "Yitzchak Yeshaya Halberstam, Kraków"; the Rebbe's name and address are printed in Polish on the verso. 14.5X9.5 cm. Postage stamps and postmarks. Very good condition.
Enclosed: Photograph of the Rebbe strolling in a holiday resort, together with his attendants. Marienbad (Mariánské Lázně), [ca. 1930s].
14X9 cm. Good-fair condition. Damage to the corners of the photograph.

Letter containing three lines handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Yissachar Dov of Belz". Belz, [no date indicated].
Letter confirming receipt of funds "for the Beit HaMidrash purposes", the first lines were handwritten by one of the Rebbe's attendants, and the three concluding lines are in the Rebbe's own handwriting, extending his blessings: "the words of his friend who awaits G-d's speedy raising of his prestige in all areas, and blesses him with all good. Yissachar Dov of Belz".
Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach – HaMaharid (1854-1926) was a foremost Chassidic leader of his times and leader of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia. The third Rebbe in the Belz dynasty, he was a son of Rebbe Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz and son-in-law of R. Zushe Twersky (son of Rebbe Aharon of Chernobyl). He settled in Chernobyl after his marriage and studied Torah. Known as an outstanding Torah scholar, he was held in high esteem by the leading Halachic authorities of his times (see for instance in Responsa Beit Yitzchak by R. Yitzchak Schmelkes of Lviv). In 1878, he returned to Belz from Chernobyl to assist his father and was appointed as the latter's successor in 1898, with thousands of Belzer chassidim accepting his authority.
During the course of his leadership, which spanned over thirty years, tens of thousands of followers joined his court. Belz Chassidism extended to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Transylvania, apart from the many thousands of Chassidim who flocked to him from all over Galicia and Poland. Belz Chassidism was unique for its community of hundreds of "sitters" - Torah scholars who sat unceasingly in the Belz study hall, studying Torah and Chassidism. His influence on Jewish life in Poland was extensive, and he headed the Orthodox Jewry public institutes including the Machzikei HaDat organization. He battled fiercely against all Enlightenment and Zionist movements, even opposing Agudat Yisrael. He banned any change in community procedures or in the study orders of the Boys' schools and study halls.
In 1914, with the outbreak of WWI, he escaped to Ratzfert (Újfehértó), Hungary, later settling in Munkacs (Munkachevo). In 1921, he returned to Galicia, first settling in Oleszyce near Jarosław, since Belz had been severely affected by the war, only returning to Belz in 1925, after his home and the Beit Midrash had been refurbished. This letter was written in Belz, but does not mention any date (it was possibly written between 1894-1914, or in 1925-1926, after he returned to his Beit Midrash in Belz).
[1] leaf. approx. 15 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Large marginal tears, not affecting text. Professionally restored, mounted on paper for preservation.
Letters bearing the handwritten signature of Rebbes of Belz are scarce.

"Seder Tefilla for the entire year with Kavanot HaAri", two parts in one volume, for weekdays and for the Holidays, by R. Shabtai of Raszków, disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov. Lemberg, 1866.
The top of the title page bears the signature "Feish Segal"; presumably, this is the signature of R. Meshulam Feish Segal, the first Tosher Rebbe. Another inscription [signature?] appears above this signature: "Feish Segal".
This siddur belonged to the Rebbe of Spinka, author of Imrei Yosef, and to his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana who served in the Spinka rabbinate and bears both their glosses. The title page and several other leaves are stamped "Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka". Signatures of his son-in-law "Yitzchak Isaac Adler" appear on the title page and on the preceding leaf. Another obscure signature appears on the title page: "Yosef ---".
The leaves of the siddur bear dozens of Kabbalistic glosses, apparently in the handwriting of R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of the Imrei Yosef of Spinka and hundreds of glosses handwritten by his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana R. of Spinka, author of Orchot Chaim (Siget 1888). The glosses of the Imrei Yosef are written in purple ink.
These glosses present comparisons with the kavanot printed in Pri Etz chaim and in Mishnat Chassidim. The glosses of the author of Orchot Chaim present novellae, explanations and many comments, questions and answers. A gloss on the Passover Haggadah which appears on p. 6a [of the last pagination] poses a Kabbalistic explanation of a custom that a woman assists her husband in raising the seder plate upon reciting Ha Lachma Anya. A gloss on p. 24 [ibid], alongside the words Lamud Hu of the piyyut E-l Bene in the Passover Haggadah states: "See my book Orchot Chaim Siman 480 Ot 2…". This gloss indeed appears in the book Orchot Chaim by R. Nacham Kahana. On p. 98b is a gloss in a third handwriting.
Names of people in need of prayer are inscribed in several places in the siddur. Presumably, the names were written by a Chassid who gave the siddur to the rebbe as a gift, so that the Rebbe should pray for them.
R. Meshulam Feish Segal Lowy (I), born in Moravia, the first Tosher Rebbe (1821-1873) was a leading Hungarian Rabbi renowned for his holiness and ability to perform wonders. During his formative years, the Enlightenment movement and Torah abandonment spread throughout Moravia rousing him to leave home and study in Hungarian yeshivas headed by the Maharam Ash and R. Avraham Shaag. After his wedding, he moved to the village of Nyirvasvari (Eshvor) near Nyírbátor [famed for its illustrious kabbalists and G-d-fearing Jews whom the Komarno Rabbi called "Fire and light scholars", a play on the name of the place Esh ("fire" in Hebrew) "v'or" ("and light" in Hebrew)], near his father-in-law, who was a disciple of the Kaliver Rebbe and of the Rebbe of Komarno. R. Meshulam Feish had ties to prominent Chassidic Rebbes in Hungary and Galicia: The Rebbe of Liska, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Mohari of Zhydachiv, the Rebbe of Komarno, the Rebbe of Roslavl, and others. His primary rebbe was R. David of Dynow who ordained him as rebbe.
R. Lowy served as Rabbi and Av Beit Din in Nyirtass (near Kleinwardein [Kisvárda]) and was renowned for his fiery enthusiasm and his fervent prayers serving G-d. Prominent rebbes of his times (R. David of Dynow and R. Asher Anshel Yungreiss of Csenger) sent people seeking deliverance to R. Lowy relying on his pure prayers and the merit of his Torah study and holiness. Revelations of Ruach HaKodesh are known to have appeared in his Beit Midrash. Reputedly, all his wonders were performed at the time he danced on Shabbat. The entire week he fasted, yet no suffering could by detected on his countenance [see Pe'er Meshulam for many stories about his wonders and the great elevation felt by those in his proximity].
R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of Imrei Yosef of Spinka (1838-1909), was the first Spinka Rebbe, forefather of the dynasty of Spinka rebbes. A prominent Torah scholar and Chassid, disciple of the Maharam Ash, Rabbi of Uzhhorod (Ungvár) and others. He was close to the Sar Shalom of Belz, to R. Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz and to R. Chaim of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim. However, his primary rebbe was his relative, R. Yitzchak Isaac of Zhydachiv - the Mahari, who considered R. Yosef Meir his most illustrious disciple.
In 1870, his teacher the Mahari of Zhydachiv appointed him rebbe, but he refused to officiate as rebbe during his teacher's lifetime. Only in 1876, after R. Chaim of Sanz ordained him rebbe, did he begin receiving Chassidim in his hometown of Săpânța in the Maramureş region. His name quickly spread throughout Hungary and Galicia and thousands of Chassidim became his followers including many prominent Torah scholars, such as R. Shalom Mordechai Schwadron the Maharsham of Berezhany, and others.
He was reputed for his amazing proficiency in revealed and hidden Torah. The Spinka Chassidism preserved the Zhydachiv version of prayer and conduct. His fervent prayers inspired the Chassidic multitudes, and are described as prayers with superhuman exertion. Stories are told of the amazing wonders he performed, through his blessings and counsel which were given with Ruach HaKodesh. His son, the Mahari of Spinka, attests that "his blessings worked many wonders and that many childless women bore children as a result of his prayers and his prayers cured the ill… I can almost say that every word which was emitted from his holy mouth was answered…". After his death, his grave is renowned as a site for prayer and deliverance. In 1972, his remains were brought to Eretz Israel and buried in the special plot of Spinka Chassidim in the Segula cemetery in Petach Tikva.
R. Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka (1861-1908), son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef, officiated as Rabbi of Spinka from 1885. Renowned for his book Orchot Chaim on the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, an anthology (similar to the Pitchei Teshuva). His book contains glosses and many additions by the Maharsham of Berezhany. The Aderet wrote supplements titled Over Orach which are printed at the end of R. Kahana's book. He died at a young age in the lifetime of his father-in-law. His son-in-law R. Yitzchak Isaac Adler officiated as Rabbi of Seredneye.
[56], 57-130, [4], 104; 114 leaves. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains to some leaves. Title page is repaired with paper. Tears to several other leaves, slightly affecting text, some repaired. New leather binding.