A fine letter from the 'Mara d'HaGaavad', the esteemed Rabbi Yehoshua Shill, author of Minhagei HaChatam ...

A fine letter from the 'Mara d'HaGaavad', the esteemed Rabbi Yehoshua Shill, author of Minhagei HaChatam Sofer

A fine handwritten letter from Rabbi Yehoshua Shill, Av Beit Din of Pezinok and author of Minhagei HaChatam Sofer, addressed to Rabbi Baruch Kuhnstadt, Av Beit Din of Fulda.

The letter discusses his well-being, Torah discussions, and concludes with Rabbi Shill consulting Rabbi Kuhnstadt regarding a rabbinic position in the city of 'Sina Gagenferb' to succeed the late Rabbi Nevel, and asks whether Rabbi Kuhnstadt believes that "I am worthy of this mantle and whether it is fitting for me." [As far as is known, this rabbinic appointment did not come to fruition.]

The righteous and esteemed Rabbi Yehoshua Shill, may his memory be blessed, (martyred during the war), was a devoted disciple and close associate of the Daas Sofer of Pressburg, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a disciple and servant of the K'tav Sofer. Rabbi Shill led his community with great strength, initially serving as a rabbi in Vienna and later as the beloved rabbi of Pezinok (under the authority of Pressburg), where he fought valiantly against modern influences. As a disciple of the Sofer family, Rabbi Shill authored the famous work Minhagei HaChatam Sofer, which was warmly received by the great rabbis of the generation. In a letter from the author of Mishnat Sachir, he writes, "My dear friend, the esteemed and wise Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Shill, Av Beit Din of Pezinok, may he be blessed. I thank him for the gift he sent me, the sefer Minhagei Rabbeinu HaChatam Sofer which he collected, arranged, and reprinted..."

One of Rabbi Shill's most prominent disciples was the great leader of the Land of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, Av Beit Din of Jerusalem, may his memory be a blessing, who was born in the city of Shill and was a close disciple of Rabbi Shill in his yeshiva. Rabbi Weiss frequently mentioned his teacher, Rabbi Yehoshua, with deep fondness and admiration. In later years, Rabbi Weiss even reprinted Rabbi Shill's sefer Minhagei HaChatam Sofer with a beautiful introduction praising him. For more about their remarkable teacher-student relationship, see Rabbeinu HaGadol Amru (Chapter 4).

1 page, written on both sides, in good condition.