Auction 66 Rare and Important Items
May 15, 2019 (your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.

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LOT 49:

Letter from Rebbe Moshe of Kobryn – Blessing for Offspring – Kobryn, 1853

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Sold for: $14,000
Start price:
$ 3,000
Estimated price:
$10,000-15,000
Auction house commission: 23%
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Letter from Rebbe Moshe of Kobryn – Blessing for Offspring – Kobryn, 1853
Letter of blessing for offspring, with the handwritten signature of Rebbe Moshe of Kobryn. [Kobryn, ca. 1853].
Letter written by a scribe, with the signature of R. Moshe of Kobryn. Addressed to R. David Eliyahu, one of the heads of Kollel Reisin (Belarus) in Tiberias. This letter is inscribed on a small piece of paper, as a continuation of the letter R. Moshe of Kobryn addressed to the heads and administrators of Kollel Reisin regarding the Kollel (see Kedem Auction 63, item 87), and consists of a personal note from the Rebbe to R. David Eliyahu.
In this letter, Rebbe Moshe of Kobryn blesses R. David Eliyahu and his wife Fruma with progeny. He mentions R. David Eliyahu's wife and praises her charitable activities, and blesses her with children in that merit. In the last line, the Rebbe added in his own handwriting: "His friend, who seeks his wellbeing and good, the aforementioned Moshe".
Rebbe Moshe Polier of Kobryn (1784-1858), a great Chassidic leader, and amongst the foremost righteous men in Lithuania. He was the close disciple of Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitz (Lyakhavichy), and prime teacher of the first Rebbe of Slonim, R. Avraham Weinberg author of Yesod HaAvoda. Supremely holy and righteous, he benefitted from Divine Inspiration and effected salvations. He loved his fellow Jew wholeheartedly. His worship of G-d was exceptionally devout, involving his entire being. He exerted himself in prayer to the extent of fainting. Reputedly, R. Yaakov Meir Padwa Rabbi of Brisk would advise Brisk residents: "Whoever wishes to pray during the High Holidays with a prayer leader possessing all the qualities which the sages require of a cantor, should travel to Kobryn", and indeed, many would travel to attend the prayer services led by R. Moshe of Kobryn. One of the travelers related that on Rosh Hashanah eve, the synagogue was filled to capacity, yet even those standing at the extremities of the synagogue heard clearly how "his teeth shattered in fear of G-d and of His glorious splendor", while he prayed Barchu (see: Torat Avot, Jerusalem 1989, pp. 294-295, section 121). The Beit HaLevi (whose father-in-law was a Kobryn chassid) reputedly acclaimed him: "Moshe is true and his Torah is truth".
Following the passing of his teacher Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitz, in 1810, R. Moshe frequented the court of the latter's son, Rebbe Noach of Lechovitz, and after the demise of R. Noach of Lechovitz in 1833, R. Moshe was appointed rebbe in Kobryn. His leadership is portrayed: "Many flocks gathered around him to thirstily drink his holy words, which with their passion and fieriness enthused the hearts of the Jewish people towards their Father in Heaven… and whatever exited his holy mouth was as if a man inquired of the word of G-d… still today, over sixty years following his passing, whenever his holy name is mentioned, one senses a respectful awe together with a concealed fear… and in his old age, he would frequent the court of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, and the righteous men of the generation cherished him greatly" (Or LaYesharim, Warsaw 1924, p. 63).
The recipient of the letter, R. David Eliyahu son of R. Natan Nata (1800s?-1869), son-in-law of the chassid and kabbalist R. Shaul HaLevi Harker of Tiberias (son of R. Tzvi Hirsh), was an administrator and manager of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias. His signature is affixed to the Kollel documents from 1817. When Sir Moses Montefiore visited Eretz Israel following the earthquake of 1837, R. David Eliyahu met with him on behalf of the Kollel, to attempt to earn his support for the Jewish community. (R. David Eliyahu had the merit of living in the house which hosted R. Nachman of Breslov during his stay in Tiberias in 1799. At that time, the house belonged to R. Tzvi Hirsh Harker, who bequeathed it after his passing to his son R. Shaul Harker, and the latter resided there together with his son-in-law, R. David Eliyahu).
[1] leaf. Approx. 8.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Faded ink. Wear and folding marks. Some words illegible. Mounted on thin paper for preservation.

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