Letter (15 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Shalom Moskowitz of Shotz, on a printed Shanah Tovah UMeirah card from the Rebbe. [London, Elul, ca. early 1950s].

On the verso of the card is a printed blessing from the Rebbe, forming the acronym "Shalom".

Shanah Tovah blessing addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, head of the London Beit Din. He reproaches him for not responding to his Shanah Tovah card the previous year, but excuses him as he "pushes away those who want to be his friends, and only to do the Torah's will, as the prayer of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk states… 'May we see each other's virtues and not their deficiencies'…".

The Rebbe concludes with blessings and his signature [using the word Shalom both as a blessing and his signature, as was his habit in many letters].

On the margins of the card is a short Shanah Tovah letter from the Rebbe's son.

Rebbe Shalom Moskovitz of Shotz (1877-1958), a descendant of R. Michel of Zlotchov and R. Meir of Premishlan; foremost rebbe in the previous generation. He was proficient in all areas of Torah, and a great posek. In his youth, he was ordained by the Maharsham of Berezhany and even lived in his home for nine months to attend to him. He served G-d devotedly and was a kabbalist, known for working wonders by his awesome prayers, like a son beseeching his father. He was a disciple of the Rebbe of Shinova and the Belz rebbes. He served as Rabbi of Suceava from 1903, and he was the teacher of R. Meir Shapiro of Lublin, the founder of Daf Yomi.

From 1927, he served as rebbe in London. He authored many books on the Talmud, Torah, Chassidut and more. He was highly esteemed by the great rebbes of his generation and word of his greatness and holiness spread all over the world. His diligence was rare; he would study Torah for hours and hours, stopping only for meals or mitzvah purposes. At the same time, his London home was wide open and people from all circles came to seek his blessing, ask for guidance and request halachic rulings. In his will, he pledged to arouse Heavenly mercy upon anyone who would visit his gravesite, light two candles in his memory, and undertake to strengthen himself in a mitzvah or in Torah study (at his request, this promise is printed at his gravesite in three languages: Hebrew, Yiddish and English). The Rebbe of Shotz fought against secularism and Zionism; when the state of Israel was established he published a polemical tract (London, 1950) demanding the leaders of the state allow religious Jews and Torah institutions to preserve their way of life.

His son (author of the second letter),
R. Yisrael Yaakov Moskowitz, predeceased his father (in 1954). Selected teachings of his were published in She'erit Yaakov (London, 1957).

Card: 11.5X7.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains.