Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Pinchas Hager of Borşa. [Borşa], 1934.
The letter is addressed to R. David Sperber Rabbi of Braşov, thanking him for money he sent as a wedding gift. It was written close to Shavuot, and the rebbe adds blessings: "May we merit receiving the Torah and keeping it with much goodness and pleasure".
Rebbe Pinchas Hager of Borşa (d. 1941) was the son of Rebbe Baruch Hager of Vizhnitz. In 1893 he settled in Borşa, Maramureş, where he established his court numbering hundreds of Chassidim. He was famed as an outstanding Torah scholar well versed in kabbalistic teachings, a wonder-worker and a great philanthropist. His son, R. Yitzchak Meir, succeeded him as rebbe in Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), until he and his family perished in the Holocaust.
The recipient of the letter, 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.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and creases. Minor marginal tears.