Letter of Rebbe Shalom Moskowitz of Shotz-London – Blessings for Health and Segulah – "She Should Do This… For at ...

Letter of Rebbe Shalom Moskowitz of Shotz-London – Blessings for Health and Segulah – "She Should Do This… For at Least Thirty Years… And May She Soon Recover"

Letter (approx. 11 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Shalom Moskowitz of Shotz". London, Isru Chag [the day after Pesach, ca. 1940s-1950s].

Addressed to R. Yechezkel Abramsky, head rabbi of the London Beit Din, "the renowned rabbi with the heart of a lion, R. Yechezkel Abramsky".

The Rebbe writes that he heard that R. Abramsky's wife was suffering from a heart disease, and he empathizes with their pain, giving advice and a diet for a recovery, with many blessings: "Today I heard that your wife, the Rebbetzin, is weak with pain in her heart, and I am very pained. May G-d support her and may she recover soon; 'a valiant woman is the crown of her husband'. And although I have not been asked, I answer by writing her a Segulah, as follows. For a full month she should not drink any beverage with sugar, only with honey; in the second month, with sugar and not with honey; in the third month, only with honey, alternating in this way, since honey is a natural cure to the heart, of course from the good flowers. She should do this alternately for at least thirty years, and afterwards we will, if G-d wishes, speak further, and may she soon recover…".

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.

[1] leaf, official stationery. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains and folding marks.