Lengthy handwritten halachic responsum (5 pages), pertaining to the laws of Yayin Nesech, signed by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), author of Yitav Lev. [Place and date not indicated].
Written by a scribe, with a signature in a different handwriting: "So says Yitav" (presumably handwritten by the Yitav Lev). The Yitav Lev would occasionally sign his name only as "Yitav" (acronym of Yekutiel Yehuda TeitelBaum). In his responsa book Avnei Tzedek, 18 responsa conclude with this signature (see for instance: Orach Chaim sections 109 and 111, Yoreh De'ah section 46, and more). His book on the Torah is entitled Yitav Lev based on his acronym, and he was known by this name for posterity. This responsum was originally addressed to his disciple R. Moshe Shimon Roth Rabbi of Gyüre. This manuscript does not contain the opening lines of the letter with the name of the recipient, and is in reality a copy of the original responsum (the author presumably affixed his signature at the end of the responsum, in confirmation of the copy's accuracy). At the beginning of the responsum, inscription in a later handwriting: "Printed in Yoreh De'ah section 59", and indeed, this responsum is printed in Responsa Avnei Tzedek, Yoreh De'ah, section 59 (Lviv, 1885-1886).
Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nisan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Drohobych and 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 follower of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz (he arranged a meeting between his teacher and his grandfather the Yismach Moshe, who attested that the Rebbe of Ropshitz was a truly G-d fearing man). 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 (Sátoraljaújhely). One of the community leaders stipulated that he may not serve as rebbe, accept money as Pidyon from his Chassidim, nor deliver lengthy sermons, and following the refusal of the Yitav Lev, a government sanction was procured to banish the Rebbe from the city. He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet, 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 earnt worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessing 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 Tov on the Torah, and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.
His son and successor was Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Rabbi of Sighet, author of Kedushat Yom Tov, father of Rebbe Chaim Tzvi (rabbi of Sighet and author of Atzei Chaim) and Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum (rabbi of Satmar).
4 leaves (2 double leaves, 5 written pages). 21 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Folding marks. Margins of each page delineated (in pencil) in preparation for being written on.

Letter (over 11 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (Satu Mare). [Satmar, ca. 1934-1944].
Letter of wedding congratulations and Passover wishes, addressed to his cousin R. Yoel Ashkenazi. Written on the Rebbe's official stationery, with the printed heading: "Yoel Teitelbaum Rabbi of Satu Mare and the vicinity" (the letter was presumably written during his tenure as rabbi of Satmar, 1934-1944).
In this letter, the Rebbe blesses his relative, R. Yoel Ashkenazi of Tiberias, on the occasion of his daughter Leah's wedding: "…Inasmuch as the day of his daughter Leah's nuptials has come, I hereby extend my congratulations. May G-d help their union be successful… and may he merit to see from them blessed and upright descendants, and reap much pleasure and satisfaction from them and from all his offspring. May he celebrate a Kosher and joyful Passover, in accordance with his desire and the desire of his friend who seeks his wellbeing with much love, Yoel Teitelbaum".
Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979), a leader of his generation, president of the Eda HaCharedit and leader of American Orthodox Jewry, one of the founding pillars of Chassidic Jewry after the Holocaust.
Born in Sighet, he was the son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov, and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev, who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. After his marriage to the daughter of Rebbe Avraham Chaim Horowitz of Polaniec, he settled in Satmar and taught Torah and Chassidut to an elite group of disciples and followers. He served as rabbi of Irshava, Karaly (Carei; from 1925), and Satmar (Satu Mare; from 1934), managing in each of these places a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. During the Holocaust, he was rescued through the famous Kastner Train, and after a journey through Bergen-Belsen, Switzerland and Eretz Israel, he reached the United States, where he established the largest Chassidic group in the world – Satmar Chassidut, until today the dominant faction in American Orthodox Jewry. He was a leading opponent of Zionism and of the founding of the State of Israel, and zealously led crucial battles for the preservation of the unique character of the Jewish people and its holiness, fearful for the honor of the Torah and the future of faithful Jewry. He was renowned as an exceptionally charitable person; his door was open to the poor and his ear attentive to the needy from every stream of the Jewish people. An outstanding Torah scholar, he responded to many halachic queries, and his writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.
Recipient of the letter: R. Yoel Ashkenazi (1884-1970), a prominent Slonim Chassid in Tiberias. He was the cousin of the Rebbe of Satmar (Rebbetzin Chana Teitelbaum, the Rebbe's mother, was the daughter of R. Yoel Ashkenazi Rabbi of Zlotchov – author of Responsa Mahari Ashkenazi, Munkacs 1893. Her brother R. Baruch Ashkenazi was the father of R. Yoel Ashkenazi, recipient of this letter). The two cousins were named Yoel after their common grandfather. Over the years, the two maintained a close friendship, and corresponded extensively. When the Rebbe of Satmar visited Eretz Israel, he stayed by his cousin in Tiberias, and they enjoyed together interesting conversations. In his youth, R. Yoel had the merit of frequenting the courts of foremost and elder rebbes, and every utterance and practice he heard or observed were engraved in his sharp memory. Rebbes, Chassidim and men of stature would come to R. Yoel to hear his recollections. R. Yoel Ashkenazi was renowned for his wisdom, wit and rare sense of humor, and those standing in his vicinity were always seen joyful and laughing. A Tiberian tradition ascribes him the prank of writing the famous note containing the formula: "Na Nach Nachm Nachman MeUman", supposedly written by R. Nachman of Breslov to R. Yisrael Odesser. This is mentioned several times in the writings of R. Eliezer Shlomo Shick, who wrote: "R. Yoel Ashkenazi was the cousin of the holy rabbi of Satmar… he was a cheerful person, and saw how the young man Yisrael Ber Odesser was being harassed, he therefore inserted a note in his Likutei Moharan… it was only a well-intentioned prank which R. Yoel Ashkenazi orchestrated in attempt to cheer up R. Yisrael Ber Odesser…" (Asher BaNachal, part 79, p. 116).
[1] leaf, official stationery. 23.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. Folding marks. Marginal tear, not affecting text. Verso strengthened with tape to one of the folding marks.

Letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Shalom Moskovitch of Shotz, addressed to Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. Harrogate (spa town in northern England), [ca. 1950s].
Interesting letter regarding the success of the Rebbe of Satmar in his educational enterprises and in his battle against "our enemies".
The letter opens with flowery titles of honor, including the blessing "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree" in allusion to Rebbe Yoel's surname – Teitelbaum, which means palm tree.
At the beginning of the letter, Rebbe Shalom acknowledges the receipt of a letter and blessings from Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, praying and hoping that "May his blessings be approved in Heaven for grace, kindness and mercy". The Rebbe concludes the letter with his name and that of his mother (as customary in a kvittel): "Signing with blessings, Shalom son of Feiga Moskovitch of Shotz".
In the body of the letter, R. Shalom inquires whether R. Yoel spoke to the chief rabbi (of Great Britain) regarding some communal matter, and what the outcome was. He continues: "May G-d have mercy on the Jewish people and on Eretz Israel, and seek it always, even in its destruction, and may we merit the true Redeemer soon with mercy". The Rebbe of Shotz blesses the Rebbe of Satmar with health and with success in his educational enterprises: "May he be blessed with longevity in good health, so that he may raise all the children as if he bore them, may they flourish and bear fruit above and below, and the land shall be filled with knowledge, and may our enemies see and be abashed" (with these words, the Rebbe of Shotz wished to comfort the Rebbe of Satmar for the loss of all his descendants in the Holocaust, alluding to the saying of the sages that "Whoever teaches his friend's son Torah, is considered as if he bore him").
Rebbe Shalom Moskovitch of Shotz (1877-1958), scion of Rebbe Michel of Zlotchov and R. Meir of Premishlan, and foremost rebbe in the previous generation. An outstanding erudite in all realms of Torah and noted halachic authority, he was ordained in his youth by the Maharsham of Berezhany and even remained in the latter's home for nine months to observe him in practice. A holy kabbalist, he served G-d with utter devotion and was renowned for the wonders he effected with his awesome prayers, just like a child begging his father. A disciple of the Rebbe of Shinova and the Rebbes of Belz. He served as rabbi of Shotz (Suceava) from 1903, and was the teacher of R. Meir Shapiro of Lublin, initiator of the Daf HaYomi. From 1927, he served as a Rebbe in London. He authored many books on the Talmud and on the Torah, on Chassidism and other topics. He earned a widespread reputation for his greatness and holiness, and was revered by the foremost rebbes of his generation. His diligence was exceptional, he would study Torah for many hours, interrupting his study only to eat or perform a mitzva. He nonetheless conducted an open house in London, and people from all sects and ranks of society came to receive his blessing, counsel and ruling. R. Shalom of Shotz waged war on the Zionist movement, and even published a sharp polemic booklet named Open Letter – To the Government of the State of Israel (London, 1950), which he sent to all the ministers in the Israeli government (see Kedem Auction 65, item 335).
In his will, he pledged to arouse Heavenly mercy on whoever would visit his gravesite, light two candles in memory of his soul, and undertake to strengthen himself in a mitzva or in Torah study (at his behest, this promise was printed on the structure over his grave in three languages: Hebrew, Yiddish and English).
[1] leaf, official stationery (approx. 20 autograph lines and signature). 20 cm. Very good condition. Folding marks.