Letter from Rebbe Chanoch Henich of Alexander – Regarding a Trip to the Chiddushei HaRim in Ger, and a Move to ...

Letter from Rebbe Chanoch Henich of Alexander – Regarding a Trip to the Chiddushei HaRim in Ger, and a Move to Alexander – Proshnitz, 1864
Letter (over 20 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Chanoch Henich HaKohen" Rabbi of Proshnitz and Alexander. Proshnitz (Przasnysz), Sivan 1864.
Familial letter addressed to his grandson R. Yisrael Mordechai Morgenstern in Plotzk (Płock). The grandfather writes to his grandson that he did not manage to meet him (while travelling through Plotzk), since his grandson had already left to spend Shavuot in the court of the Chiddushei HaRim, Rebbe of Ger: "…Behold you are aware that I travelled immediately after Pesach, and when I returned in peace, you had already left to spend Shavuot in the court of Ger". The Rebbe describes his plans to move from Proshnitz to Alexander (Aleksandrów Łódzki): "And behold, I am planning with the help of G-d to move away from here, and settle in Alexander, may G-d grant success to my endeavor, for our good always". He relates that that his community at first strongly opposed his move: "It appears that the members of the community are granting their permission, since originally, they refused to accept it, and made every effort to prevent my departure, and now it seems that they have already calmed down". Further in the letter, he mentions the brother of the recipient, R. Pinchas Leib Morgenstern: "Your brother, my outstanding grandson R. Pinchas Yehuda Leibush". The Rebbe offers a vivid description of his worries, and relates to the messenger relaying this letter: "This friend of ours, who perceives my preoccupation now, as my head is filled with the people standing over me". The letter concludes with blessings: "May my words find favor before you, and may G-d guide us in the paths of justice with the blessing of life and peace. So are the words of your grandfather, who awaits G-d's speedy salvation. Chanoch Henich HaKohen".
On the verso of the letter, the address is handwritten by the Rebbe: "To Plotzk – to my dear grandson and friend… R. Yisrael Mordechai Morgenstern – From Proshnitz".
Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin of Alexander (1798-1870), leading disciple of R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. He held a rabbinic position for close to 40 years. He first served as rabbi of Alexander and Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, and from 1859, as rabbi of Proshnitz (in 1865, he retired from the rabbinate, and returned to Alexander as a private person). He was a descendant of R. Shmuel Schotten HaKohen of Frankfurt (the Maharshashach – who was also the grandfather of the Chatam Sofer). After he supported the Polish revolution in 1830, he was compelled to change his surname from Schotten to Levin. He was renowned in his youth for his prodigious brilliance, and for his Peshischa-Kotsk style of sharpness. All his actions were concealed, and with great wisdom. His sayings were penetrating and peppered with incisive humor, and he knew how to disguise exalted matters in jokes which only a precious-few would understand. He would frequently cite the saying of his teacher R. Bunim of Peshischa: "By us, all the negative commandments in the Torah can be condensed to one negative commandment – Do not be a fool! and all the positive commandments in the Torah can be encapsulated in one – be wise!".
While still a young man, his teacher the Yehudi HaKadosh appointed him as rebbe, by removing his spodik from his head and placing it on that of his young student, R. Henich, saying: "This spodik suits you well…". Following the passing of R. Bunim of Peshischa, R. Henich subjected himself to the authority of his colleague, Rebbe Mendel of Kotsk. After the latter's demise, R. Henich followed his (younger) colleague R. Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger. Only after the passing of the Chiddushei HaRim in 1866 did the elderly R. Henich agree to serve as rebbe, and lead the Chassidic courts of Kotsk and Ger. His disciples and relatives attested to the Divine inspiration he benefitted from, and the wonders and miracles which he performed. His nephew testified that he was present when souls came down to him from Upper spheres, to request a reparation. These accounts were recorded in the new edition of his book Chashava LeTova VeLikutim (published by Mossad HaRim Levin, Jerusalem, 1990), see there.
The foreword of the new edition contains a beautiful description of the Chassidic legacy which R. Henich transmitted to future generations, and his molding of the character of the Ger Chassidic dynasty: "Alexander of Rebbe Henich was concealed for about seventy years; in those years the Peshischa Chassidism branched out into seventy facets. For decades, he stood as a disciple before his colleagues, subjected himself to their authority and enjoyed the Peshischa elevation in the hidden parts of his soul, until the crown of leadership was placed upon him… R. Henich of Alexander combined in his leadership all the wellsprings deriving from Peshischa. With rare and unparalleled wisdom, he merged a following of elite, truth-seeking Chassidim into a single unit, and they together rose to high levels of Torah and worship of G-d. He brought Peshischa, Kotsk and Ger together under one roof, selecting the unique points of each of them - their light, to create a center of Torah, Chassidism, sharpness, holiness and total devotion".
He was one of the teachers of the Sfat Emet, Rebbe of Ger (grandson of the Chiddushei HaRim), whom he appointed as his successor. His descendants were leading members of the Ger court, and his grandson R. Chanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin Rabbi of Bendin was the son-in-law of the Sfat Emet. His disciples became the leading Torah scholars and rebbes of Poland, including: R. Ze'ev Nachum of Biala and his son Rebbe Avraham of Sochatchov author of Avnei Nezer; Rebbe Avraham of Porisov; R. Pinchas Menachem Justman Rabbi of Piltz; R. Yoav Yehoshua of Kintzk the Chelkat Yoav; R. Yitzchak Feigenbaum of Warsaw, and others. His teachings are recorded in his book Chashava LeTova.
[1] double leaf. Approx. 15.5 cm. Good condition. Wear and minor tears. Mounted on thin, transparent paper for preservation.
Provenance: Collection of Rebbe Yechiel Meir Morgenstern of Kotsk-Lomaz (1894-1974), son of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Lomaz (who lived for a time in Praga, near Warsaw). On the fourth page: Stamps of R. "Yechiel Meir son of the Rebbe of Praga" and his handwritten inscription "Letter no. 83".
A reproduction and a transcription of this letter were published in Michtavim VeIgrot Kodesh (New York, 2003, p. 40 – see enclosed copy).