Certificate of appointment for R. Meir Perles Rabbi of Karaly (Carei), invitation to serve as rabbi of Munkacs, signed by 38 notables and community leaders. Munkacs (Mukachevo), 22nd Tevet [1863].
Large sheet of paper. Written by a scribe, with the signatures of the leaders and notables of the Munkacs community at the foot of the leaf, and the wax seal of the Munkacs community.
The leaders of the Munkacs community present their invitation to come serve as rabbi of "Our community, the illustrious community of Munkacs, and the Bereg county", signed by thirty-eight community leaders and notables. With a red wax seal. Part of the certificate is written in form of a poem, forming the acrostic "Meir Perles". This appointment of R. Meir Perles as rabbi of Munkacs was not ultimately realized.
R. Meir Perles (1811-1894), disciple of the Chatam Sofer, was the son-in-law of R. Yitzchak Fränkel Bach Rabbi of Santov and Karaly. Following his father-in-law's passing, he succeeded him in 1835 as rabbi of Karaly, until his own demise. In his youth, he still merited studying in Pressburg under the Chatam Sofer for approximately six months, and in this short period he earnt his teacher's affection. His teacher the Chatam Sofer described the great pleasure he took in studying his novellae, which he composed at the young age of 18: "…the outstanding student, … Meir, of holy descent… my eyes lit up with his sharp pilpul and great erudition, how he connects various topics… I will not refrain from responding to him and showing my love for him…" (see: Kinstlicher, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 309-310). In Karaly, he headed a prominent yeshiva, where he edified many students, including leading Hungarian rabbis. R. Meir was exceptionally diligent, and in his will, he requested to inscribe on his epitaph: "Here lies Meir Perles, who fulfilled 'you shall study it day and night', from his early youth until the end of his life" (Hagahot Mohari Kert, Bnei Brak 1961, pp. 170-171).
Until 1873, R. Meir was amongst those who advocated for the schism in Hungarian Jewry, but in 1873, he changed his opinion on the matter, and joined those who categorically opposed the schism. The zealots did not forgive him for this move, harassing and persecuting him for it (Alei Zikaron, 43, Shevat 2018, p. 7; 45, Nisan 2018). This certificate of appointment was sent to him from Munkacs, which was renowned for its zealous Chassidim, in 1863, while he was still known as a zealot (ultimately, R. Chaim Sofer, author of Machaneh Chaim, who was renowned for his extraordinary zeal, was appointed rabbi of Munkacs in 1867).
This certificate of appointment was hitherto unknown, and the biographers of R. Meir do not mention this rabbinic position he was offered from the Munkacs community.
[1] sheet of paper. 49.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears to folds, affecting text. Marginal tears, not affecting text.