Letter handwritten by R. Yehudah Yitzchak Frankel, Av Beit Din of Sanok (disciple of R. Hirsch of Rimanov and R. Shalom of Kaminka), to his Mechutan, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev of Sighet. Sanok, [13 Sivan], 1880.

On the margins of the leaf, the Yitav Lev added three lines in his own handwriting – a Torah teaching about the redemption: "…For the time of redemption is in Nisan, and a generation in which [the Temple] was not built is considered like one in which it was destroyed. If so, it is considered as if destroyed in Nisan, and likewise after Tishrei, since one opinion holds the redemption will be in Nisan, and another opinion holds it will be in Tishrei. And both of these opinions are true, as the holy rabbis explain; therefore we need to fast after them". The Yitav Lev apparently heard this teaching from his grandfather, the Yismach Moshe of Ujhel, since this teaching is worded similarly in Yismach Moshe on the Festivals (leaf 86, Maamar Taanit Bahab).

R. Yehudah Yitzchak Frankel opens his letter with extensive praise for the Yitav Lev: "Prince of the Torah, fountain of wisdom and knowledge, righteous and lofty, holy man, master and father of Israel… the holy Menorah, man of God, son of holy men, pious and abstinent… R. Yekutiel Yehudah… Av Beit Din of Sighet and the province".

In the letter itself, R. Yehudah Yitzchak asks for the Yitav Lev's approbation to his books Me'at Mayim and Mechir Chalav, which he printed at that time (1880): "…I ask him to have a look at the printed writings I sent, and to share with me some of his goodness and kindness by giving his testimonial to my printed writings". He adds that he asked his Mechutan, the son of the Yitav Lev, R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa, to speak with him at greater length on the matter: "I was terribly afraid to bother you with a lengthy letter, so I laid it all out to my Mechutan, your son the Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa, to present to you". R. Yehudah Yitzchak signs his letter with the words: "The words of him who sits in the dust at your holy and pure legs, asking your forgiveness – his Mechutan, Yehudah Yitzchak son of Chanah, Av Beit Din of Sanok".

Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nisan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – rabbi of Tolcsva who immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, who drew him especially close and disclosed to him Heavenly revelations which he had perceived with Divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as rabbi of Ujhel. He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), capital of the Maramureș region, and founded there a large yeshiva, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. Amongst his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries a suckling, and overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he earned worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessings and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson R. Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with Divine Inspiration and through his exceptional wisdom. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and amazing stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, he edified upstanding and reputable disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is renowned for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the Festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.

The sender of the letter to the Yitav Lev, R. Yehudah Yitzchak Aryeh Leibush Frankel (Teomim), Av Beit Din of Sanok (1824-1893), son of R. Chaim Mordechai Frankel-Teomim, Av Beit Din of Lesko (descendant of the Kikayon DeYonah and the Baruch Taam). Close disciple of Rebbe Shalom Rosenfeld of Kaminka. He also kept the company of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch of Rimanov. He was a disciple and peer of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, who esteemed him highly and corresponded with him in many responsa. The Divrei Chaim writes to him in one of his responsa: "I esteem him highly among all the great rabbis of this province… I know he is a great man of the generation… Let him not avoid taking a rabbinical position… because he is worthy of it, for God gave him wisdom and knowledge" (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Even HaEzer 74). In his additional responsa, the Divrei Chaim expresses his love and appreciation for him, calling him "my friend, the rabbi, the great luminary, the sharp, the perfect, the pious, the famous", "the great Gaon, the sharp, the famous who fears God", and more. Late in life, the Divrei Chaim told his grandson, Rebbe Shlomo of Bobov (the first) to consult with the Rabbi of Sanok in halachic matters: "Send my words to the Gaon of Sanok; if he agrees, do so" (Responsa Divrei Chaim, Yoreh Deah 32). Rabbi Yehudah Yitzchak served at first in his father's place as Rosh Av Beit Din of Lesko. In 1858 he was appointed Av Beit Din of Sanok and served as such for 35 years. He was known as a holy Torah scholar. He occupied himself prolifically with charity and hospitality. He owned a large and important library. After his death, the people of his city built a tomb on his gravesite as a place of prayer and salvation. He left behind many writings, most of which were lost in the Holocaust. During his life he managed to publish his grandfather R. Yehudah Leibush's novellae on Bava Metzia in Shnei Tzemidim, along with his own novellae – Mechir Chalav on Halachah, and Me'at Mayim on Aggadah (Przemyśl, 1880). His son R. Yaakov Shlomo married the granddaughter of the Yitav Lev – the Rebbetzin Devorah daughter of R. Avraham Aharon Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Kolbuszowa.

[1] leaf. Approx. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Folds. Stains, creases and light wear. The letter was published in Kerem Shlomo (Adar 2000, p. 85).