Two Rare (Unpublished) Letters - From Rebbe Yosef of Radvil, and his son Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil-Ustila, to their ...

Two Rare (Unpublished) Letters - From Rebbe Yosef of Radvil, and his son Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil-Ustila, to their Son-in-Law/Brother-in-Law R. Yitzchak Wertheim Rabbi of Bender - 1864-1868
Two familial letters, signed by Rebbe Yosef Yungerleib of Radvil (Radyvyliv), including letters handwritten by his sons Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil and Rebbe Alexander Shmuel of Vishnevets, and his son-in-law Rebbe Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk. Addressed to their son-in-law/brother-in-law R. Yitzchak Wertheim Rabbi of Bender. Radvil, [1864-1868]. • Letter from Rebbe Yosef of Radvil, addressed to his son-in-law R. Yitzchak of Bender, dated "Wednesday, 5th Shevat 1864". Written by a scribe and signed by the Rebbe, with an addition handwritten by his son-in-law Rebbe Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk. The Rebbe writes to his son-in-law upon being informed that his daughter is pregnant. He requests of his son-in-law and daughter to fulfill their promise and come stay with him until after the birth. Since the letter was written at the height of the snowy Ukrainian winter, and considering that the distance between Bender in Moldova and Radvil in Volhyn (Volhynia, Ukraine) is some 600 kilometers, the Rebbe asks his son-in-law and daughter to travel by sleigh, and offers to sponsor the travel expenses, 50 silver rubles. The Rebbe signs at the end of the letter "Yosef son of the rabbi". Rebbe Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk, son-in-law of Rebbe Yosef and brother-in-law of R. Yitzchak, added two handwritten lines on the side of the letter, sending regards to his brother-in-law R. Yitzchak, and signing "Mordechai son of the rabbi". [1] leaf. Approx. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Filing holes. Folding marks. • Letter from Rebbe Yosef of Radvil addressed to his son-in-law R. Yitzchak of Bender, dated "Tuesday of Pinchas 1868, Radvil". Written by a scribe and signed by the Rebbe. At the foot of the leaf, three letters were added, handwritten by his sons Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil and R. Alexander Shmuel Rabbi of Vishnevets, and by his son-in-law R. Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk. The Rebbe writes to his son-in-law affectionately, describing how much he enjoyed receiving their letter with regards from his young grandson, and extends many heartfelt blessings. The letter is signed at the end in the Rebbe's own handwriting: "Yosef son of the rabbi". At the foot of the letter, Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil-Ustila, son of R. Yosef and brother-in-law of R. Yitzchak, added several handwritten lines, sending regards and blessings to his brother-in-law R. Yitzchak, and signing "Eliezer…" (the signature is partially torn). On the side of the letter, Rebbe Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk and R. Alexander Shmuel Rabbi of Vishnevets added several handwritten lines, inquiring of R. Yitzchak's welfare, and signing: "Mordechai" and "Alexander Shmuel son of the rabbi". [1] leaf. Approx. 30 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Filing holes. Large tears affecting text (including the signatures). Folding marks. Rebbe Yosef Yungerleib of Radvil (1818/1820-1875, Encyclopedia of Chassidut, II, pp. 100-101) was a descendant of the Maggid R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. He was reputed for his holiness and purity, his asceticism and fasts. He would immerse himself in a mikveh dozens of times every day. In Volhyn, he earnt the reputation of a wonder-worker benefitting from Divine Inspiration, and effecting salvations. He was close to R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, who attested that he possessed a lofty soul, and that his conception and birth were in holiness, even predicting that he would later perform salvations for the Jewish people. Reputedly, when Rebbe Nechemia of Bichov (son of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa) heard this, he gave R. Yosef a kvittel with his name, asking him to mention him in prayer. At the age of 18, R. Yosef was appointed Rebbe of Lanovitz (Lanivtsi), and in 1847, he moved to Radvil, upon the advice of his teacher R. Yisrael of Ruzhin. At the end of 1868, he moved to Vishnevets. His son-in-law and disciple, R. Yitzchak Rabbi of Bender, wrote a biography on his father-in-law named Kisei David, in which he quotes his teachings and holy practices. His son and successor - Rebbe Eliezer of Radvil-Ustila (1843-1893, Encyclopedia of Chassidut, I, p. 249), was rabbinically ordained by R. Shlomo Kluger. He served as rabbi of Radvil and Ustila (Ustyluh). Rebbe Avraham of Trisk described him as "one who effects salvations like myself". His son - R. Alexander Shmuel served as rabbi of Vishnevets (d. 1898. Encyclopedia of Chassidut, III, p. 511). His son-in-law, Rebbe Mordechai Lerner of Shumsk, led a large following of Chassidim throughout Volhyn (d. 1904. Encyclopedia of Chassidut, III, p. 212). Recipient of the letters - R. Yitzchak Wertheim Rabbi of Bender (d. 1911. Encyclopedia of Chassidut, II, p. 337), son-in-law of R. Yosef of Radvil and a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov. He left behind many writings, some of which were later published. As mentioned, one of his manuscript compositions was entitled Kisei David, regarding the life story of his father-in-law R. Yosef, his exalted holiness and stature. Letters and signatures from Rebbe Yosef of Radvil are extremely scarce! Immediately after his passing, his son R. Eliezer of Ustila searched for signatures of his father but to no avail. R. Yitzchak Landau (close attendant of Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz) writes in Zichron Tov, Piotrkow 1892, in the letters section, following letter 16: "and recently, his son [of R. Yosef], R. Eliezer [of Radvil-Ustila]… and pleaded me exceedingly that I should give him that letter [letter sent from R. Yosef to R. Yitzchak of Neshchiz - letter 16], saying that he does not have a single signature of his father, since the few letters he signed were sent to those they were addressed to, and it was not common for him to sign at all, only in a very few instances, and even then with extensive preparations". (R. Eliezer requested the letter his father sent to R. Yitzchak of Neshchiz from the attendant, since R. Yitzchak passed away childless, and all the letters he had received from leading Rebbes were given over to the attendant, who published them). To the best of our knowledge, these letters were never published.