Certificate of appointment for R. Meir Perles Rabbi of Karaly (Carei), invitation to serve as rabbi of Munkacs, signed by 38 notables and community leaders. Munkacs (Mukachevo), 22nd Tevet [1863].
Large sheet of paper. Written by a scribe, with the signatures of the leaders and notables of the Munkacs community at the foot of the leaf, and the wax seal of the Munkacs community.
The leaders of the Munkacs community present their invitation to come serve as rabbi of "Our community, the illustrious community of Munkacs, and the Bereg county", signed by thirty-eight community leaders and notables. With a red wax seal. Part of the certificate is written in form of a poem, forming the acrostic "Meir Perles". This appointment of R. Meir Perles as rabbi of Munkacs was not ultimately realized.
R. Meir Perles (1811-1894), disciple of the Chatam Sofer, was the son-in-law of R. Yitzchak Fränkel Bach Rabbi of Santov and Karaly. Following his father-in-law's passing, he succeeded him in 1835 as rabbi of Karaly, until his own demise. In his youth, he still merited studying in Pressburg under the Chatam Sofer for approximately six months, and in this short period he earnt his teacher's affection. His teacher the Chatam Sofer described the great pleasure he took in studying his novellae, which he composed at the young age of 18: "…the outstanding student, … Meir, of holy descent… my eyes lit up with his sharp pilpul and great erudition, how he connects various topics… I will not refrain from responding to him and showing my love for him…" (see: Kinstlicher, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 309-310). In Karaly, he headed a prominent yeshiva, where he edified many students, including leading Hungarian rabbis. R. Meir was exceptionally diligent, and in his will, he requested to inscribe on his epitaph: "Here lies Meir Perles, who fulfilled 'you shall study it day and night', from his early youth until the end of his life" (Hagahot Mohari Kert, Bnei Brak 1961, pp. 170-171).
Until 1873, R. Meir was amongst those who advocated for the schism in Hungarian Jewry, but in 1873, he changed his opinion on the matter, and joined those who categorically opposed the schism. The zealots did not forgive him for this move, harassing and persecuting him for it (Alei Zikaron, 43, Shevat 2018, p. 7; 45, Nisan 2018). This certificate of appointment was sent to him from Munkacs, which was renowned for its zealous Chassidim, in 1863, while he was still known as a zealot (ultimately, R. Chaim Sofer, author of Machaneh Chaim, who was renowned for his extraordinary zeal, was appointed rabbi of Munkacs in 1867).
This certificate of appointment was hitherto unknown, and the biographers of R. Meir do not mention this rabbinic position he was offered from the Munkacs community.
[1] sheet of paper. 49.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears to folds, affecting text. Marginal tears, not affecting text.

Interesting letter, handwritten and signed by R. "Meir Katz of Hőgyész", to his teacher R. Bendit Goitein Rabbi of Hőgyész (author of Kesef Nivchar). Mohács (Baranya county, Hungary), 1827. On the verso, notes of Torah thoughts and Torah novellae (two columns, approx. 43 lines), handwritten by the recipient of the letter, R. Bendit Goitein.
R. Meir Katz, who had travelled to Mohács to study Torah, relates that before he left Hőgyész, R. Bendit's wealthy sister had pledged to support him and his brother R. Shmuel, and he now requests that she raise the stipend, due to inflation - "…since my only aspiration is to delve in G-d's Torah day and night, to fill myself with knowledge of the Talmud and halachic literature, to soar onwards and upwards, as I disclosed to the rabbi of Bonyhád, who granted me a recommendation…". R. Meir Katz apologizes for not coming to Hőgyész to discuss this matter with his teacher in person, out of concern for wasting time which could be spent studying Torah.
This letter documents the history of Torah learners in Hungary in the early 19th century, who would travel to various towns to study Torah, earning support with the help of letters of recommendation which they received from various rabbis.
R. Bendit Goitein (1770-1841), renowned Torah scholar, rabbi of Hőgyész and author of Kesef Nivchar, was a leading rabbi of his times in Hungary. He was born in Kojetín, Moravia, and was a close disciple of R. Moshe Münz, Rabbi of Alt-Ofen (Óbuda). After his marriage, he lived in Yarmit (Balassagyarmat), and received rabbinic ordination from the rabbi of the town, R. Ze'ev Wolf Boskowitz, author of Seder Mishna. After R. Ze'ev Wolf left the city, R. Meir Eisenstädter (Maharam Ash) succeeded him as rabbi, and R. Bendit was appointed dayan in his Beit Din. In ca. 1799-1800, R. Bendit went to serve as rabbi of Hőgyész, a position he held for 45 years, establishing there a prominent yeshiva. His book Kesef Nivchar, published in Prague in 1827, earned him world renown until this day. The book summarizes various Talmudic topics, bringing together all the sources on the topic, starting from the words of the Talmud and including the teachings of foremost Acharonim. This book became a fundamental and essential work in Hungarian yeshivot in subsequent generations (as the Chatam Sofer foresaw in his approbation to the book: "This book will become a guide to Torah students"). After toiling for some ten years on a revised edition of this work, R. Bendit passed away before he succeeded in publishing it, and the manuscripts of the second edition were lost during WWII. Parts of his writings which were preserved by the family were published in Zichron Avot (Bnei Brak, 1971), though this letter and the notes on its verso were not included.
The letter was sent by R. Meir Katz, a close acquaintance of the Kesef Nivchar (and also apparently his relative), mentioned several times in Zichron Avot.
[1] leaf (written on both sides). Approx. 21 cm. Thick, greenish paper. Good condition. Folding marks.

Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Yitzchak Glick Rabbi of Tolcsva. Tolcsva, 1895.
Halachic responsum pertaining to the laws of vows and agreements sealed with a handshake. The letter discusses the case of a young man who shook on an agreement with his wealthy uncle, that the latter would help him with his wedding expenses, in exchange for learning Torah in the uncle's merit his entire life. This responsum was printed (with many changes) in the book of R. Avraham Yitzchak Glick - Responsa Yad Yitzchak (part II, section 73. See enclosed photocopy).
R. Avraham Yitzchak Glick, author of Yad Yitzchak (1826-1909), renowned Torah scholar and leading Hungarian posek. He served as rabbi of Tolcsva for over 50 years (from 1858) and was considered one of the foremost Halachic authorities in Hungary. Many rabbis took pride in the semicha they received from him, and in some Hungarian communities, a semicha from him was a precondition for rabbinical appointments. He studied the writings of his grandfather, the Maharam Banet (father of his father-in-law, R. Yeshaya Banet, rabbi of Kalov) extensively, and published his books: Responsa Parashat Mordechai, and others.
[1] double leaf (2 written pages, approx. 75 lines). 21 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Minor marginal tears.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yehuda Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar, to his disciple R. Yosef Shlomo Wachtenheim. Satmar, Tevet 1909.
Letter of recommendation and "Morenu" certificate accorded to a student of his yeshiva, Yosef Shlomo Wachtenheim, on the occasion of his wedding: "…who studied in our yeshiva for several consecutive years, all equal for the good, he rose onwards and upwards… and now, the day of his nuptials has come, and I wish to honor him with a crown which is becoming of him… Morenu Yosef Shlomo… I set my hand to this in the honor of the Torah, and in honor of this beloved student, here Satmar… Yehuda Grünwald". Alongside the signature, a faded stamp: "Yehuda Grünwald Rabbi of Satmar and the vicinity".
R. Yehuda Grünwald (1848-1920), author of Zichron Yehuda, a leading rabbi and yeshiva dean in Hungary. An outstanding Torah scholar, renowned since his youth as a holy, G-d fearing man. A disciple of the Ketav Sofer, and son-in-law of the latter's brother R. Yozpa Sofer son of the Chatam Sofer (his teacher the Ketav Sofer acclaimed him at his wedding as "Holy of Holies"). Already as a student, he was a close friend of his fellow students R. Chaim Sonnenfeld (later rabbi of Jerusalem) and R. Moshe Grünwald (later rabbi of Khust, author of Arugat HaBosem), and maintained close ties with them throughout his life. He served as rabbi of Sobotište and Bonyhád, and in 1898, was appointed rabbi of Satmar. Wherever he served as rabbi he also maintained a large yeshiva, which in Satmar numbered hundreds of students, many of whom later served as rabbis and dayanim in Hungary and Romania (his renowned disciples include: R. Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer Rabbi of Selish and Kraków; R. Shemaya Löw Rabbi of Kerestir; R. Chaim Betzalel Paneth Rabbi of Reteag; R. Moshe David Ostreicher Rabbi of Cimpa; R. Naftali Herztke Hönig Rabbi of Sharmash [Sărmaşu]; and others).
During his tenure as rabbi of Satmar, the community seceded from the Neologs, with the Orthodox faction maintaining control over the existing community institutions, while the Neologs established their independent community. This transformed Satmar into the stronghold of Orthodox Jewry in the region, headed by R. Yehuda Grünwald, who was renowned from his youth as a staunch defender of faithful Orthodox Judaism. When R. Yoel Teitelbaum settled in Satmar as a recently married young Torah scholar, he was held in high esteem by R. Yehuda Grünwald, who drew him close and supported him financially. When slanderers tried contending that R. Yoel was not truly needy, since he distributed much money to charity, R. Yehuda was moved, and exclaimed that in such a case, he was even more needy, and he thereafter increased his regular support. Years later, when R. Yoel served as rabbi of Satmar, he was very careful not to alter the halachic customs of the Shechita in the city, which were based on the holy instructions of the Zichron Yehuda.
[1] double leaf. 23 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light wear.