Siddur and Tehillim of Rebbe David Moshe of Kretshnif, the Poel Yeshuot – With His Signatures and Signed ...

Siddur and Tehillim of Rebbe David Moshe of Kretshnif, the Poel Yeshuot – With His Signatures and Signed Handwritten Dedication
Siddur Nehorah Raba HeChadash, nusach Sefarad, with "commentary and simple kavanot". Bound with the book of Tehillim (with a separate title page for Tehillim). Warsaw, R. Avraham Kahana [ca. 1920s].
This comprehensive, small-format Siddur, belonged to Rebbe David Moshe of Kretshnif since his youth. It bears his signatures and an autograph dedication to his nephew, to whom he gifted the siddur in 1946.
The front and back flyleaves bear six of his signatures, two of which read: "David Moshe Rosenbaum, son of the tzaddik of Kretshnif". On the front flyleaf is a dedication handwritten and signed by him, dated Adar II 1946, Bucharest, in which he writes that he is giving the book to his nephew Yitzchak Izak: " I am giving this siddur as a gift to my nephew, the young man Yitzchak Izak'l. Monday night, Vayikra 1946, Bucharest. David Moshe".
R. David Moshe Rosenbaum, the third Kretshnif Rebbe (1924-1969), was the son of Rebbe Eliezer Zeev of Kretshnif (who perished in the Holocaust in Iyar 1944). During the Holocaust, he was sent with his father to the Auschwitz extermination camp. His father appointed him as his successor and promised that he would survive the Holocaust since the Jewish people need him. After the Holocaust he wed his niece, daughter of Rebbe Chaim Mordechai of Nadvorna (1903-1977), and was appointed Rebbe of the city of Siget. In late 1946, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem. After his home was demolished during the Israeli War of Independence, he moved to Rehovot and established his Beit Midrash in that city. Known as a miracle-worker, his home drew many Jews who turned to him for counsel and blessings, especially in medical and financial matters. He was particularly famous for his segulot for curing various ailments. Hundreds of Jews flocked to him each day and he also wrote letters (through his assistants) to those who sent him queries by post. His gravesite in Rehovot is a popular place for prayer, and many stories are told of salvation and miracles which took place after praying there.
The recipient of the siddur was apparently his nephew (his sister's son), R. Yitzchak Yehuda Yechiel Izak Rosenbaum, who was the son of Rebbe Chaim Mordechai Rosenbaum of Nadvorna. In 1946, R. David Moshe married R. Yitzchak Izak's sister, Rebbetzin Esther Rachel (R. Yitzchak Izak composed a special song in honor of his sister’s wedding, “V’hu KeChatan, which is still sung until this day at weddings in the courts of Nadvorna Rebbes). He was known for his holy conduct and admired as a gifted genius; it was anticipated that he would reach lofty heights, however his life was tragically cut short during his attempt to immigrate to Eretz Israel on the illegal immigrant ship Knesset Yisrael. In November 1946, the British authorities detained the ship on the shores of Eretz Israel and eventually sent all immigrants aboard to detention camps in Cyprus. During the course of the discussions regarding the fate of those aboard, the British opened fire on the ship, killing the young Yitzchak Izak. He was buried in the Hof HaCarmel cemetery in Haifa and his grave is frequently visited until this day (for further information about him and the story of his death, see: C.S. Sarne, Akedat Yitzchak, Bnei Brak 1987).
[1], 342 leaves; 33; [2], 3-8 leaves (disrupted foliation and misfoliation. This is a stereotype edition, based on different editions). Tehillim: [1], 2-79, 79-109 leaves. 13.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and signs of use. Tears, some of them open, with loss of text (large open tear on the page of Hadlakat Ner Chanukah; approx. half of the page is missing). Stamps. New leather binding.