Letter handwritten by R. Eliyahu Guttmacher, with his full signature. [Greiditz (Grodzisk Wielkopolski)], 1851. Yiddish.
Familial letter addressed to his son in Pleschen (Pleszew; presumably his eldest son R. Tzvi Hirsh, who served as rabbi of Pleschen). The letter opens with blessings "May joy and gladness reach my son". R. Eliyahu Guttmacher mentions another son, Yaakov, in the letter. The letter concludes with his full signature: "So are the words of your father, Eliyahu son of R. Sh., residing in Greiditz".
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz (1796-1875), disciple of R. Akiva Eger, served as rabbi of Pleschen (Pleszew) until 1841, thereafter moving to serve in the Greiditz rabbinate. His eldest son, R. Tzvi Hirsh, succeeded him as rabbi of Pleschen. Famed as a holy kabbalist, in his senior years his name spread throughout the Jewish world as a wonder-worker, with amazing stories circulating of the great miracles and salvations attained through the blessings of "der Greiditzer Tzaddik" (the Tzaddik of Greiditz), "from all countries people came to seek his blessings and prayers, each one according to his needs" (Igrot Sofrim, at the foot of letter 29).
After his eldest son, R. Tzvi Hirsh Rabbi of Pleschen, died in his lifetime childless (in 1871), he published his son's books Nachalat Zvi and Ken Meforeshet (Lviv, 1873). In the introduction to Ken Meforeshet, R. Eliyahu promises: "If someone seeks deliverance from G-d… he should study a Mishna with the Rav (Bartenura), Tosafot Yom Tov and my son's commentary and then stand to pray in any language he is comfortable in… detailing his request so he will be answered…".
[1] leaf (approx. 5 autograph lines). 14.5X16.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light stains. Postmarks and part of the address inscribed on verso.