Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Alter Yisrael Shimon of Novominsk". [Warsaw, ca. 1920s].
Addressed to the wealthy Mr. Levin-Epstein of Warsaw. The rebbe requests to meet with him, and writes: "I beg his honor to forgive me for troubling him to come to me tonight between five and six, since I have something urgent I must discuss with him in person, and I am convinced that he will surely fulfill my request…".
Rebbe Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow (1874-1933), author of Tiferet Ish, was a leading rebbe in his times. He served as dean of the Novominsk yeshiva established in 1896 by his father Rebbe Yaakov of Novominsk, which numbered close to two hundred students. In 1902, he was appointed his father's successor as rebbe of Novominsk. During WWI, he moved to Warsaw, where he resided until the end of his life, and established his Beit Midrash. He maintained close ties with the Imrei Emet, rebbe of Ger, and assisted him in establishing the Agudath Israel movement, and in his battles against reading secular newspapers. His love for his fellow Jew was legendary. His prayers were extremely passionate and full of feeling. He was an outstanding Torah scholar, renowned for his exceptional diligence and phenomenal memory. He would study twenty-one chapters of Mishnayot every day (finishing the six orders of the Mishnah every month), and would then be available to the public who came seeking his salvations, blessings and counsel. After reception hours, he would go to his yeshiva and deliver a lecture to his disciples. He left behind many manuscripts, most of which were lost in the Holocaust, and only a small part of them were published in his book Tiferet Ish.
His descendants include prominent rebbes and rabbis, including his renowned grandson R. Yaakov Perlow, the current Novominsker Rebbe, president of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah in the United States and leader of the Agudath Israel of America.
Small card. Approx. 7X10.5 cm. Approx. 8 autograph lines. Very good condition.