Large collection of letters by Hungarian rabbis, from the archive of R. Eliyahu Menachem Goitein Rabbi of Hidjess (Hőgyész), grandson and successor of the Kesef Nivchar. [Hungary, 19th century].
• Leaf containing four letters sent to "Our master, teacher and rabbi" R. Tzvi Goitein in 1831, from his disciples: An interesting letter handwritten and signed by R. Shmuel Sonnenfeld; letter of Torah thoughts handwritten and signed by "Yosef Leib son of Moshe"; letter of Torah thoughts handwritten and signed by "Aharon Felzenburg of Nitra"; letter handwritten and signed by R. "Yitzchak Porit".
• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Freund-Grieshaber, disciple of the Chatam Sofer. [Gyönk, 1868]. In the letter, he mentions in passing a thought he heard from his teacher the Chatam Sofer, who remarked that pilpul is considered the crown of the Torah. At the end of the letter, he writes in a somewhat enigmatic way, about buying copies of "the renowned book which is a great necessity for upholding Torah observance". He writes that he agreed together with R. Avraham Pollak to purchase ten copies of the book, and is willing to absorb the cost if he does not succeed in selling them. It is unclear which book he is referring to. This letter was published in Zichron Avot, 1971 (section 81), together with a letter which R. Eliyahu Menachem had sent earlier to R. Moshe Freund. That letter also mentions the book only in elusive terms, yet it appears that R. Azriel Hildesheimer, close friend of R. Eliyahu Menachem, was also involved in this matter.
• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Shaul Friedenthal head of the Bonyhád Beit Din, addressed to R. Eliyahu Menachem Goitein Rabbi of Hidjess. At the foot of the letter, a draft of the reply letter appears, handwritten and signed by R. Eliyahu Menachem Goitein. Bonyhád and Hőgyész, Adar I 1867. [In the book Zichron Avot, section 71, is a lengthy correspondence between R. Shaul Friedenthal, other rabbis and R. Eliyahu Menachem, on the topic discussed in these letters. The published letters are dated: Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I 1867, 2nd Adar I, 14th Adar I and 20th Adar II, however, this letter from R. Friedenthal dated 8th Adar I 1867
was not included).
• Official stationery paper of R. Eliyahu Menachem Goitein Rabbi of Hidjess - four pages of autograph Torah novellae in his handwriting.
• Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Fischer. Siófok, 1875. Including two pages of Torah novellae handwritten by R. Eliyahu Menachem.
R. Tzvi Hirsh Goitein Rabbi of Hidjess (d. 1859), son and successor of R. Bendit Goitein Rabbi of Hidjess, author of Kesef Nivchar (1770-1841) and son-in-law of R. Eliyahu Teller of Komárom. The son and successor of R. Tzvi Hirsh was R. Eliyahu Menachem Goitein (1837-1902). Torah novellae of these three generation of rabbis of Hidjess were printed in the book Zichron Avot (Bnei Brak, 1971), but most of these writings were not included in the book.
R. Moshe Freund-Grieshaber (also known as R. Moshe Paks, 1797-1873), leading disciple of the Chatam Sofer. Son of R. Yitzchak Itzek Grieshaber-Freund Rabbi of Paks. After his marriage in 1815 to the daughter of a wealthy man from Gyönk, he settled there, delving in Torah and worship of G-d without needing to serve as rabbi. Several of the Chatam Sofer’s responsa are addressed to him (see: Kinstlicher, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 358-360).
R. Shaul Friedenthal (d. 1883) was the head of the Bonyhád Beit Din, a position he held for 50 years (since 1833). Son of R. Yehuda Leib Lisa Rabbi of Rechnitz, and son-in-law of R. Shmelke Meisels Rabbi of Jelšovce (1781-1855). In 1856, he published Geviat Shmuel - ethical will of his father-in-law R. Shmelke Meisels and eulogies.
R. Yaakov Fischer of Siófok (d. Tevet 1910), son-in-law of R. Yedidya Gotleib-Fischer (1810-1896), disciple of the Chatam Sofer, who served as rabbi of Stuhlweissenburg (Székesfehérvár; see: Kinstlicher, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 157-159).
5 paper items, containing more than 10 letters and various novellae. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition.

Handwritten leaf, "Morenu" certificate given to "R. Avraham son of the late… R. Leib, grandson of the renowned R. Avraham", signed by the Prague rabbis: R. Shlomo Yehuda Rappaport, R. Shmuel Freund and R. Efraim Leib Katz Teveles. Prague, Tishrei 1845.
The certificate, issued by the Prague Beit Din, bestows the title "Morenu" on the recipient, stating that he will thereafter be called "Morenu Rav Rabbi Avraham… when called to the holy Torah and every holy matter".
Official emblem at the head of the certificate.
R. Shlomo Yehudah (Solomon Judah) Rappaport (known by his acronym Shir; 1790-1867), a prominent rabbi and scholar who studied Torah and science, son-in-law of the author of Ketzot HaChoshen. Pioneer of the moderate Haskalah movement in Galicia and one of the founders of the Chochmat Yisrael movement. He authored numerous rabbinic biographies and essays in the field of Judaic studies. In his senior years, he served as rabbi of Prague, opposing the reform movement.
R. Shmuel Freund (1795-1860), renowned Torah scholar, head of the Prague Beit Din, author of Ir HaTzedek and more. Opponent of the reform movement in Prague. (See: Ishim BiTeshuvot Chatam Sofer, p. 389).
R. Efraim Leib Katz Teveles was a leading dayan in Prague. Colleague of R. Nachum Trebitsch. Together they edited the book Zera Yaakov by R. Yaakov Ginzburg (dean of the Prague Yeshiva and member of the Beit Din of the Noda BiYehuda).
In his letter to the Aruch LaNer, the Ktav Sofer writes (Igrot Sofrim, Letters of the Ktav Sofer, 5): "…The Prague community is famous and large. The head of the Beit Din is Rappaport, and another two dayanim, pious and great Torah scholars, R. Shmuel Freund and R. Efraim Leib Teveles…".
[1] leaf. 17 cm. Good condition. A few stains. Folding mark.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz (Grodzisk Wielkopolski). Greiditz, Tevet 1873. Yiddish.
Written on a postcard addressed to R. Refael Eliezer Holzbak. In this letter, R. Guttmacher acknowledges the receipt of donations on behalf of Eretz Israel, expresses his gratitude and extends his blessings (free translation from Yiddish): "I received for the benefit of our rabbis and brethren in the Holy Land… nine thaler, and I hope this great deed will grant you, all those who participated in this donation, a happy life from G-d, together with your families…".
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz (1796-1875), disciple of R. Akiva Eger, served as rabbi of Pleschen (Pleszew) until ca. 1840, thereafter serving as rabbi of Greiditz. His eldest son, R. Tzvi Hirsh, succeeded him as rabbi of Pleschen. Famed as a holy kabbalist, in his senior years his name spread throughout the Jewish world as a wonder-worker, with amazing stories circulating of the great miracles and salvations attained through the blessings of "der Greiditzer Tzaddik" (the Tzaddik of Greiditz), "from all countries people came to seek his blessings and prayers, each one according to his needs" (Igrot Sofrim, at the foot of letter 29).
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher was very active on behalf of Eretz Israel Jewry, and founded a yeshiva in Jerusalem named Chevrat Sukkat Shalom and Meor Yaakov. This yeshiva was established in the Shenot Eliyahu Beit Midrash which was located in R. Eliyahu Guttmacher’s courtyard in Jerusalem, purchased by his trustee R. Yaakov Mordechai Hirschensohn. R. Eliyahu financed the yeshiva until his final days. In addition, together with R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, he was a leading member of the Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel society, founded in Frankfurt in 1860. The goal of this society was to increase agricultural Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, by redeeming the land from non-Jews and settling instead Jewish farmers, who would work it, be sustained by it, and perform mitzvot pertaining to it. These two rabbis propagated this idea extensively in their books, writings, letters and sermons. They prove repeatedly in their books that these activities bring the Redemption closer and awaken Heavenly mercy and salvation.
Postcard. 14X9 cm. Good condition. Stains. Postmarks.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, addressed to his friend R. Eliyahu Guttmacher - "The Tzaddik of Greiditz", regarding the activities of their friend, R. Natan Friedland, on behalf of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel (The Society for the Settlement of Eretz Israel). Torun (Poland), 1870.
R. Tzvi Hirsch writes to his friend R. Eliyahu Guttmacher that their mutual friend, R. Natan Friedland, partner to their cause of settling Eretz Israel, seeks to acquire subscribers to their society (Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel, founded in 1860) and that he is on his way to visit him. R. Tzvi Hirsch also writes that he sent two letters with R. Natan, addressed to the German rabbis R. Ezriel Hildesheimer and R. Bamberger of Würzburg, and proposes that they sign a joint proclamation, at the beginning of R. Natan’s notebook, supporting the cause.
R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer (1795-1875), a prominent Torah scholar, disciple of R. Akiva Eger, of R. Yaakov Rabbi of Lissa, author of Netivot HaMishpat, and of his uncle, R. Yehuda Leib Kalischer, head of the Lissa Beit Din. He served as rabbi of Torun without receiving a salary. Author of Moznayim LaMishpat on Choshen Mishpat (Krotoszyn, 1855), Tzvi LaTzaddik - glosses on the Mishnah and Shulchan Aruch, Even Bochan, Emuna Yeshara and more.
He was one of the first activists and advocates of Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, writing the books Derishat Tzion (Torun, 1866) and Shelom Yerushalayim (Torun, 1868) on this subject. His book Derishat Tzion was reprinted in several editions after the founding of the Chovevei Zion movement, he is considered the spiritual fathers of Chibat Zion and many streets in Israel are named after him.
He worked hand in hand with R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz, "The Tzaddik of Greiditz", promoting the settlement of Eretz Israel. They exchanged a prolific correspondence and together initiated various activities strengthening the settlement in the Holy Land, including the founding of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel in Frankfurt an der Oder (in 1860). R. Tzvi Kalischer and R. Eliyahu Guttmacher were the heads of Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel and together signed its proclamations. One of the main activists promoting the society’s cause was R. Natan Friedland (1808-1883), disciple of R. Yosef Zundel of Salant. R. Natan was active in promoting the settlement of Eretz Israel even before he met R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, believing that the Redemption must happen naturally (following the view of the Vilna Gaon’s disciples). He travelled to many towns and villages, spreading his ideas. During his travels, he met R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, and found in him a friend and partner to his ideas, working with him from then on. R. Natan acted as the envoy of R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer and R. Eliyahu Guttmacher, recruiting supporters to Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel by sending letters to various communities, campaigning and more.
[1] leaf. Approx. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and folding marks. Tear to bottom of leaf, affecting several letters and damaging the end of the signature, repaired with tape.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Azriel Hildesheimer. [Berlin, Nisan 1888].
Addressed to R. Binyamin Posen of Amsterdam. R. Azriel Hildesheimer writes to him: "…so I received… the precious gift he kindly sent to me, and that is the second and third supplement to the book Or Zarua on Nezikin, please accept my thanks… for honoring me with this beautiful gift. And my prayer is that G-d strengthen and fortify him, his dear brother and all his associates, to raise and increase the prestige of Torah and fear of G-d… His friend, who honors and esteems him… Azriel Hildesheimer".
The books Or Zarua by R. Yitzchak of Vienna were first published based on manuscripts between 1862 and 1890, in four parts. Part III and IV on Order Nezikin were printed in Jerusalem in 1887-1890 by R. Binyamin Posen of Frankfurt am Main and Amsterdam. At the beginning of Part III (on Tractates Bava Kama, Bava Metzia and Bava Batra, printed in 1887-1888), he printed the approbation of R. Azriel, and at the beginning of Part IV (on tractates Sanhedrin and Avoda Zara), printed in 1890, he included a magnificent dedication to R. Azriel on the occasion of his seventieth birthday that year (this dedication was included in some copies only, on the page following the title page).
R. Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899), rabbi, posek and leader. A foremost rabbi in his times, he stood at the helm of Orthodox Jewry in Germany. He was a close disciple of R. Yaakov Ettlinger - the Aruch LaNer in Altona (who refers to him in Responsa Binyan Tzion as "my son"), and studied under Chacham Bernays (R. Yitzchak Bernays) of Hamburg. In 1848, he founded a yeshiva in Halberstadt, and in 1851, he was appointed rabbi of Eisenstadt, where he also served as yeshiva dean and established a unique educational system. In 1869, he began serving as rabbi of the Adath Israel Orthodox community in Berlin, where he founded a yeshiva. In 1874, he opened the Rabbinical seminary, which edified generations of rabbis, educators and community leaders. Just like his teacher the Aruch LaNer, he was titled "Nesi Eretz Israel". He was renowned for his wide-ranging efforts on behalf of German Jewry, and for his extensive activities on behalf of Russian Jewry. He authored many novellae and halachic responsa, which were published in the books Responsa of R. Azriel (2 volumes), Chiddushei R. Azriel - on the Talmud (3 volumes) and others.
Postcard. 14X9 cm. Good condition. Stains. Postmark from Berlin.