Passport of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar – United States, 1950s – With his Photograph and Signature – ...

Passport of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar – United States, 1950s – With his Photograph and Signature – Documentation of his Two Trips to Eretz Israel via European Countries
Passport of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, with his photograph and signature. United States, 1950s.
American passport issued in Washington, on 21st May 1952 (renewed on 2nd June 1954, expired on 20th May 1956). Identifying details of the Rebbe, bearer of the passport, are recorded on p. 3 (in print) – Place of birth: Rumania; Date of birth: 13th January 1887; Occupation: Rabbi; together with other details such as height, hair and eye color. The Rebbe's signature (in English) appears at the bottom of the page. On p. 4, the Rebbe's photograph is affixed, stamped "Department of State, Washington", with another signature of the Rebbe.
The passport contains two entrance visas to the State of Israel, completed by hand, and many stamps. The stamps document the Rebbe's two trips to Eretz Israel, and the places he visited on the way.
His first journey to Eretz Israel: 6th July – 6th August 1952. On his journey towards Eretz Israel, he travelled through various European countries and cities: Cherbourg (France), Brussels (Belgium), Basel and Chiasso (Switzerland), Bari (Italy) and Piraeus (Greece). On his return trip to the United States, he passed through Napoli and Bardonecchia (Italy), Dover and Southampton (England). A handwritten inscription appears on one leaf (with the stamp of the Haifa customs), indicating that the Rebbe was carrying with him a small Torah scroll.
His second journey to Eretz Israel: 28th June – 3rd August 1955. While heading for Eretz Israel, he passed through European countries and cities: Southampton and Dover (England), Paris (France), Switzerland, Venice (Italy), Piraeus (Greece). On his return trip to the United States: Piraeus (Greece), Napoli, Genoa and Brenner (Italy), Salzburg (Austria) and France.
Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979) was the youngest son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov (1836-1904), and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region.
He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. At a young age, he was appointed rabbi of Irshava. In 1925, he was appointed rabbi of Karaly (Carei; in place of R. Shaul Brach who went to serve as rabbi of Kashoi), and in 1934, of Satmar (Satu Mare). In all the places he served as rabbi, he also maintained a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of the faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was one of the founding pillars of the Torah world in the generation following the Holocaust. After his escape from the Holocaust, he reached America and established the Satmar Chassidic community – the largest Chassidic community in the world. He served as president of the Eda HaCharedit in Jerusalem, and as leader of Orthodox Jewry in the United States and throughout the world. His writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.
Passport, 48 pages. Approx. 15.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Some leaves within plastic sheet protectors. Fabric cover.