Seven Letters from the Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka – Selish, 1936-1938

Seven Letters from the Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka – Selish, 1936-1938

Seven letters on postcards, by Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Weiss, the Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka. Three of them contain words added in handwriting by the Rebbe and his signature, and the other four are handwritten, stamped and signed by his attendant R. Chaim Blech. Selish (Vynohradiv), Elul 1936 to Cheshvan 1938.

The seven letters are written by a scribe (the attendant), on official postcards of the Rebbe. In three of the letters, the Rebbe added approximately a line and a half in his handwriting and with his signature: "Seeking his welfare and hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik". The other four letters are signed by the attendant R. Chaim Blech, with his official stamp in Hebrew and Latin characters: "Chaim Blech, in the holy service – Blech Chaim – Szaploncza".

Addressed to one of the Rebbe's followers, R. "Yitzchak Menachem Mendel son of Rivkah/Brachah Rivkah" [R. Yitzchak Menachem Bloch of Landskrona, Sweden]. The letters contain blessings and advice on various issues.

In the first letter from 1936, the attendant writes in the name of the Rebbe: "Your letter reached the Rebbe… In the merit of observing Shabbat, may G-d help you with bountiful blessing and success", and he goes on to advise him on educating his son to learn Torah: "And regarding your son, make sure to raise him to study Torah only and not to study secular disciplines. If possible, in his home, and if impossible, send him to the Frankfurt yeshiva under the supervision of R. Horowitz, since I heard that there they study Torah and fear of G-d. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In the second letter from Kislev 1936, the attendant writes in the name of the Rebbe: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying for G-d to raise your pride and grant you bountiful blessing and success to be able to make a kosher mikveh and raise your children to study Torah with riches and honor. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In the third letter from 10th Nisan 1937, he writes: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying for G-d to raise your pride and grant you and all your family bountiful blessing and success to be able raise your children according to the ways of Torah and fear of G-d…". He concludes with Pesach blessings: "And may you celebrate the upcoming Festival of Matzot in a joyful and kosher manner… Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

In his fourth letter from Cheshvan 1937, he writes: "Your letter reached the Rebbe, and he is praying to G-d for your salvation, and his advice is to stay there and try to make a kosher mikveh, and you can receive money for this great mitzvah from other sources as well, and may G-d bring about your success, and may the evil decree be annulled, and may G-d help all of your family with health and success, and may you raise them all to Torah. Signing and stamping in his name, Chaim Blech".

From the fifth letter onwards the Rebbe began to add his signature at the end of the letters (and the letters are therefore worded in first person). In the letter from Iyar 1938 the Rebbe writes: "Your letter as well as the pidyon reached me, and I am praying for Baruch son of Chanah for G-d to help set you free, but you should accept the yoke of heaven and the Torah". He goes on to write to him regarding his son's Torah education: "And regarding your son Shlomo Shraga, fulfill the words of the Sages at the end of Kiddushin: 'I leave behind every trade and I teach my son only Torah', etc. This is what you should do, teach him Torah yourself or send him to the Nitra or Pressburg yeshiva in our country to be taught Torah, and may G-d help you and bring you success with the rest of our fellow Jews. With blessings and prayers – seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

In the sixth letter from 28th Sivan 1938, the Rebbe writes: "Your letter reached me, and I agree for you to leave behind the knife and not to be a shochet, and may G-d bring you a kosher livelihood there or elsewhere, because He sustains all and gives bread to all flesh. In accordance with the blessings and prayers of one seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

In the seventh letter from "Monday Vayera" (Cheshvan) 1938, the Rebbe advises him at length on the proper conduct towards a local rabbi. He advises him to sign a document to obey the rabbi, as the document could not bind him to transgress the Torah, only to obey the rabbi insofar as his instructions do not violate the Torah. He adduces a proof from the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite who signed a document to obey Jeroboam without intention to listen to him if he would instruct him to transgress the Torah. The Rebbe concludes: "I am praying for G-d to raise your pride and bring about your sustenance comfortably so you can study Torah in peace and relaxation, in accordance with the blessings and prayers of one seeking his welfare, hoping for salvation, Yitzchak Eizik".

Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Weiss of Spinka (1875-1944), only son of the Imrei Yosef, founder of the Spinka dynasty, and son-in-law of Rebbe Yissachar Berish Eichenstein of Veretzky-Zidichov, author of Malbush LeShabbat VeYom Tov. In World War I he relocated to Munkacs and from there to Selish (Vynohradiv), which thereupon became the center of Spinka Chassidut, numbering thousands of followers in the Carpathian region. He perished in the Holocaust along with most of his family. In his lifetime he printed only his famous introduction to his father's Imrei Yosef and several responsa published at the end of his father's book, entitled Ben Porat Yosef. His other writings survived miraculously and were printed in the United States after the Holocaust in Chakal Yitzchak (on the Torah and responsa).

7 postcards. 14.5-15X10.5-11 cm. Varying condition, good to fair-good. Stains. Folding marks, tears and wear. Tears to folds of six postcards, repaired with old tape, with stains.