Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Letter from the First Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Author of Tzemach Tzaddik
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Letter signed by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz, [ca. 1870s-1880s].
Written by a scribe and hand-signed by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager: "Menachem Mendel son of the Rabbi the Tzaddik". The letter, the beginning of which is lacking, deals with sending receipts for funds donated to Eretz Israel. Among other matters, he mentions the funds of Kollel Vizhnitz in Safed.
The first Rebbe of Vizhnitz, R. Menachem Mendel Hager, author of Tzemach Tzaddik (1830-1884), son of Rebbe Chaim of Kosov and son-in-law of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. He was appointed as rabbi of Vizhnitz, near Kosov, during his father’s lifetime. In 1854, after the passing of his father, author of Torat Chayim, he began serving as rebbe in Vizhnitz. At the same time, his elder brother R. Yaakov Shimshon was appointed rebbe in Kosov, and their third brother moved to Rădăuţi. R. Mendel soon became the most esteemed of the three brothers, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to his Beit Midrash in Vizhnitz. He was renowned as a wonder-worker and beloved by all. Known for his fiery prayers and generous distribution of charity (in his lifetime, he is said to have distributed tens of thousands of silver coins to the poor). He was highly esteemed by the great tzaddikim of his generation: R. Tzvi Hirsh of Liska, R. Shmuel Shmelke of Selish, his brother-in-law R. Mordechai Shraga of Husyatyn, and others. R. Chaim of Sanz said that "R. Mendele sacrifices his soul to G-d every moment…".
R. Menachem Mendel had a great influence in the regions of Maramureş and Bukovina, and all public matters were decided by him. Due to various problems in the Kosov Kollel’s collection and distribution of Eretz Israel funds, R. Mendel left and subsequently founded the Vizhnitz Kollel. He was very active in collecting funds for the needy population of Safed and Tiberias, and appointed R. Moshe Tzeiger, a noted Chassidic leader in Safed, as trustee of the kollel. Eventually, the Viznitz Kollel became the central kollel for immigrants from Bukovina and Eastern Galicia, also supervising the Lviv Kollel and the Kosov Kollel. This letter deals with the Eretz Israel funds sent to Safed.
[1] leaf. Approx. 6.5X10.5 cm. Fair condition. Trimmed margins; missing top of letter. Mounted on paper for preservation.
Written by a scribe and hand-signed by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager: "Menachem Mendel son of the Rabbi the Tzaddik". The letter, the beginning of which is lacking, deals with sending receipts for funds donated to Eretz Israel. Among other matters, he mentions the funds of Kollel Vizhnitz in Safed.
The first Rebbe of Vizhnitz, R. Menachem Mendel Hager, author of Tzemach Tzaddik (1830-1884), son of Rebbe Chaim of Kosov and son-in-law of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. He was appointed as rabbi of Vizhnitz, near Kosov, during his father’s lifetime. In 1854, after the passing of his father, author of Torat Chayim, he began serving as rebbe in Vizhnitz. At the same time, his elder brother R. Yaakov Shimshon was appointed rebbe in Kosov, and their third brother moved to Rădăuţi. R. Mendel soon became the most esteemed of the three brothers, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to his Beit Midrash in Vizhnitz. He was renowned as a wonder-worker and beloved by all. Known for his fiery prayers and generous distribution of charity (in his lifetime, he is said to have distributed tens of thousands of silver coins to the poor). He was highly esteemed by the great tzaddikim of his generation: R. Tzvi Hirsh of Liska, R. Shmuel Shmelke of Selish, his brother-in-law R. Mordechai Shraga of Husyatyn, and others. R. Chaim of Sanz said that "R. Mendele sacrifices his soul to G-d every moment…".
R. Menachem Mendel had a great influence in the regions of Maramureş and Bukovina, and all public matters were decided by him. Due to various problems in the Kosov Kollel’s collection and distribution of Eretz Israel funds, R. Mendel left and subsequently founded the Vizhnitz Kollel. He was very active in collecting funds for the needy population of Safed and Tiberias, and appointed R. Moshe Tzeiger, a noted Chassidic leader in Safed, as trustee of the kollel. Eventually, the Viznitz Kollel became the central kollel for immigrants from Bukovina and Eastern Galicia, also supervising the Lviv Kollel and the Kosov Kollel. This letter deals with the Eretz Israel funds sent to Safed.
[1] leaf. Approx. 6.5X10.5 cm. Fair condition. Trimmed margins; missing top of letter. Mounted on paper for preservation.
Chassidism - Letters, Documents and Manuscripts
Chassidism - Letters, Documents and Manuscripts