Two letters of Torah thoughts, handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Yitzchak Segal, dean of the Manchester yeshiva. [ca. 1910s-1920s].
The letters are addressed to R. Shraga Meir Leizerowitz of Kelm (who served as rabbi of Chevrat Shas in London for decades).
R. Moshe Yitzchak HaLevi Segal (1881-1947), a disciple of the Alter of Novardok. A founder of the Etz Chaim yeshiva in London, he also established the Manchester yeshiva, which he headed for some 35 years. His son and successor as dean of the yeshiva was R. Yehuda Ze'ev Segal (1911-1993, a holy Tzaddik and wonder-worker, who was very active in raising the awareness of the importance of guarding one's speech, and was known as the Chafetz Chaim of England).
R. Moshe Yitzchak was an outstanding Torah scholar and an exalted Tzaddik. He devoted himself to disseminating Torah, and many of the rabbis of that time were his disciples (including R. Shaul Wagschal of Gateshead, R. Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer, and others). Hegyonei Moharsha (p. 18, see enclosed copy) brings the wondrous testimony of two of his disciples, whose deceased father appeared to R. Moshe Yitzchak in a dream, requesting that he carefully supervise his orphaned sons. R. Moshe Yitzchak related the dream to them and asked them not to publicize it.
The recipient of the letter, R. Shraga Meir Leizerowitz (1840-1929), was a native of Kelm. He was a pious person and a kabbalist, close to R. Leibly Chassid of Kelm, to the foremost kabbalists of Lithuania (the Leshem, R. Aryeh Leib Lipkin of Kretinga, R. Aharon Shlomo Maharil, R. Yitzchak Meltzan and others) and to the leading disciples of R. Yisrael of Salant. After his marriage, he lived in Žagarė. R. Shraga Meir arrived in England in ca. 1891, where he served for many years a rabbi of Chevrat Shas. In his later years he immigrated to Jerusalem.
2 letters, one on postcard (14 cm), the second on official stationery (26 cm). Fair-good condition.

Confirmation of study, signed by R. Meir Arik, R. Menachem Mendel Babad and R. Avraham Mendel Steinberg. Vienna, January-February 1917. German.
The first half of the page contains a handwritten confirmation for the student Aharon Stauber of Seret, Bukovina, signed and stamped by R. Menachem Mendel Babad Rabbi of Gura Humora (Gura Humorului).
This is followed by an additional confirmation signed by R. Avraham Mendel Steinberg Rabbi of Brody, with the signature and stamp of R. Meir Arik, during his tenure as rabbi of Buchach.
On verso, typewritten notarial authorization of the signatories, with the signature and embossed notary's seal of Dr. Yosef Reiner.
All the authorizations, signatures and stamps are in German. With revenue stamps.
• R. Meir Arik (1855-Tishrei 1925), a leading Galician Torah scholar. He served as rabbi of Yazlovets, Buchach and Tarnów. He was a disciple of R. Yaakov of Rimalov (Hrymailiv) and of the Maharsham. From 1885, he served as rabbi of Yazlovets, in place of his teacher the Maharsham who moved to Berezhany. From 1912, he served as rabbi of Buchach. During WWI, he fled to Vienna, studying Torah there with his friend R. Yosef Engel. Following the war, he returned to Galicia and was appointed rabbi of Tarnów. Many of Poland's leading Torah scholars were his close disciples, the most renowned ones include R. Meir Shapiro of Lublin, R. Aryeh Tzvi Frumer – the Gaon of Koziegłowy, R. David Sperber – Gaon of Brașov, R. Yehuda Horowitz – Rebbe of Dzikov, R. Meshulam Roth author of Kol Mevaser, R. Reuven Margolies and R. Yehoshua Ehrenberg Rabbi of Tel Aviv.
He published many books, yet most of his manuscripts were lost in his escape to Vienna during WWI, including five large volumes of halachic responsa. His books include: Sheyarei Tahara on Mishnayot Order Taharot (Kolomyia, 1890); Minchat Kenaot on Tractate Sota (Lviv, 1894); Minchat Pitim on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah and Even HaEzer (Munkacs, 1898-1908); Tal Torah (Vienna, 1921); Responsa Imrei Yosher Part I (Munkacs, 1913), Part II (Kraków-Tarnów, 1925). Other books containing selections of his Torah thought and letters: Minchat Aharon – Me'irat Einayim (Brooklyn, 1978) and Imrei Yosher HaChadash – Tal Torah HaChadash (Jerusalem, 1997).
R. Meir Arik was a prominent Chortkov Chassid, deeply attached with bonds of love, fear and submission to his teachers Rebbe David Moshe and Rebbe Yisrael of Chortkov. The leading Torah scholars of his generation greatly revered him. Rebbe Maharid of Belz declared: "After Maharsham [of Berezhany], we don't do anything in our court without consulting R. Meir". R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski praised him: "Such a R. Meir, we don't have in Lithuania".
• R. Menachem Mendel Babad (1862-1930), rabbi of Gura Humora from 1890. He was the grandson of R. Yosef Babad author of Minchat Chinuch. A leading rabbi in Bukovina, he held his position for some 40 years. He was a Chassid of Chortkov.
• R. Avraham Menachem Mendel HaLevi Steinberg (1847-1928), author of Responsa Machazeh Avraham. A Chassid of Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura. He was a founder of Agudath Yisrael and a member of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. In 1869, he was appointed rabbi of Snyatyn and in 1907, of Brody.
[1] double leaf (2 written pages). 34 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming. Tears. Folding marks.

Large collection of 18 letters sent to R. David Sperber Rabbi of Braşov. Hungary, Galicia and Romania. [ca. 1900-1941].
Letters from prominent rabbis, Chassidim and various Torah scholars. Most letters contain Torah thoughts or halachic responsa.
The writers of the letters include: R. Binyamin Aryeh Weiss Rabbi of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), author of Even Yekarah; R. Shemaya Steinberg Rabbi of Premishlan (Peremyshliany); R. Moshe Weiss of Satmar (Satu Mare; 2 letters); R. Yekutiel Yehuda Rosenberger Rabbi of Ghiriş (Cîmpia Turzii); R. Chaim Gelernter Rabbi of Kutev (Kuty); R. Yehoshua Heshel Babad Rabbi of Yassi (Iași); R. Yosef HaKohen Schwartz of Grosswardein (Oradea; 2 letters); R. Yosef Ben Tzion Glick of Luduş; R. "Shmelke Sak – in the home of the rebbe of Kosov"; and others.
The recipient of the letters, R. David Sperber (1877-1962), leading Galician and Romanian rabbi. Born in Zablotov to a family of Kosov-Vizhnitz Chassidim, he was a close disciple of R. Meir Arik. He also studied under Rebbe Moshe Hager of Kosov, author of Ezor HaEmunah, and arranged the latter's writings for printing. He frequented the courts of the Chakal Yitzchak, rebbe of Spinka, and the Ahavat Yisrael of Vizhnitz. From 1908, he served as dayan and posek in Polien Riskeve (Poienile de sub Munte), and from 1922, as rabbi of Braşov (Kronstadt). He was renowned for the marriage permits he issued for agunot in the aftermath of the Holocaust. In the winter of 1950, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he became known as "the rabbi of Braşov", and served as a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and Chinuch HaAtzma'i. He authored Afarkasta D'Anya, Michtam LeDavid, Tehillah LeDavid, and other books.
18 letters (some on postcards). Size and condition vary.

Letter handwritten, stamped and signed by R. Akiva Sofer Rabbi of Pressburg, author of Daat Sofer. Pressburg (Bratislava), Tevet 1926.
Certificate and recommendation for a student of his yeshiva, R. Michael Schay, a native of Pressburg, who was travelling to the United States for his wedding. The rabbi of Pressburg praises his disciple and describes his success in his studies, as a young boy in the local boys' school and later in the great yeshiva of Pressburg: "…he was amongst the prominent students… to acquire understanding and knowledge… he studied diligently… and was beloved and popular amongst his peers, due to his proper actions and ways…". R. Akiva Sofer relates to his disciple's journey to the United States for the purpose of getting married there: "…and now that he has built a home for himself, and he is realizing the saying of the sages – 'some travel to their match', since he left his country and hometown to travel overseas, to set up his home near his father-in-law… may G-d be with him and he should succeed and strengthen himself… in Torah and fear of G-d, and may he continuously rise… Akiva son of R. S.B.S.".
R. Akiva Sofer (1878-1960), author of Daat Sofer, son of R. Simcha Bunem author of Shevet Sofer, who was the son of the Ketav Sofer. He served for 33 years as rabbi and yeshiva dean in Pressburg, since the passing of his father in 1907. In 1939, he fled to Switzerland, and during the Holocaust immigrated to Jerusalem, where he reestablished his yeshiva and community. He was a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah.
The recipient of the letter, R. Michael Schay (1894-1979, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, p. 648), a rabbi in New York. He studied under the Daat Sofer in the Pressburg yeshiva, and under R. Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky in Khust. He was the son-in-law of R. Alter Shaul Pfeffer, rabbi of the Hungarian Beit Midrash in New York. Following his wedding, he served as rabbi in New York, succeeding his father-in-law in 1936.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 23 cm. Good-fair condition. Minor dampstains, folding marks, with minor wear.

Letter (4 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Ze'ev HaLevi Soloveitchik, rabbi of Brisk. Brisk, Iyar 1921.
Addressed to the Brisker Relief Committee in the United States. The letter acknowledges receipt of funds for the "Talmud Torah" in Brisk: "As a sign and proof for the delegates of the Brisker Relief in New York… that I received for the Talmud Torah in Brisk the sum of… so says Yitzchak Ze'ev son of R. Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik".
The Brisker Rov – R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik (1886-1959), son of R. Chaim HaLevi of Brisk, and grandson of the Beit HaLevi. Already at a young age, still in his father's lifetime, he was considered one of the prominent Torah leaders of the generation. In 1918 (at the age of 31), he succeeded his forefathers as rabbi of Brisk, and with his Torah authority, he governed all religious matters in his city and the entire region. He managed to escape the Holocaust together with some of his children and immigrated to Jerusalem, where he reestablished his yeshiva. His authority was recognized by the entire Torah world in Eretz Israel and abroad.
[1] leaf. 21 cm. Good condition. At the foot of the letter, handwritten inscriptions from the members of the committee in the U.S. (recipients of the letter).