Letter of the "Yenuka", Rebbe Yisrael Perlow of Karlin-Stolin. Stolin, [Elul, ca. first decade of 1900s].

Scribal writing with the Rebbe's signature – "Yisrael son of R. Asher". Sent to his relative R. Asher HaLevi, who had sought the Rebbe's counsel on a surgery. The Rebbe advises him to take only medicine, if there is a possibility of recovery without a surgery; otherwise, he advises him to rely on the doctors' opinion and undergo the surgery, preferably in Berlin.

The Rebbe continues with a blessing for a complete recovery and a Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah, concluding with his signature.

Rebbe Yisrael Perlow of Karlin-Stolin, known as "the Yenuka" (1868-1921), orphaned from his father R. Asher of Stolin and appointed rebbe at the young age of four and a half (!). Son-in-law of R. David Twersky of Zlatopil. He passed away at the age of 53, and was buried in Frankfurt, thus earning the appellation of "the Frankfurter" amongst Karlin Chassidim. He left behind six sons – Rebbe Moshe of Stolin, Rebbe Avraham Elimelech of Karlin, Rebbe Yochanan of Lutzk, Rebbe Yaakov of Detroit, R. Aharon of Warsaw and R. Asher of Stolin – along with four daughters. All his descendants were killed in the Holocaust, apart from his sons Rebbe Yaakov Chaim Perlow, who passed away in Detroit, United States in 1946, and Rebbe Yochanan Perlow of Lutzk and the United States (1900-1956), grandfather of the present rebbes of Karlin-Stolin and Lutzk, the last surviving lines descending from the Yenuka.

[1] double leaf. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Dark stains and folding marks.