A Wealth of Content: Letter from the Admo"r Rabbi Naftalche of Bobov to the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Salant

A Wealth of Content: Letter from the Admo"r Rabbi Naftalche of Bobov to the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Salant

Letter with important and interesting content about the importance of a man's exile from his home, similar in Hashem's eyes to the nisayon of the akeidah, by the Admo"r Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Halberstam of Bobov. New York, the first day of selichot, 24 Elul 1982. The rebbi served a short term [about four years] until his passing, and letters from him are rare.

The letter is addressed to the gaon Rabbi Moshe Salant, one of the prominent personalities of Jerusalem of yesteryear, who, despite his being a mitnaged, was appointed by the Bobover Rebbe to serve as head of Bobov Chassidut's central kollel in Jerusalem. As can be understood from the letter, Rabbi Moshe Salant was due to set out for Australia to raise funds for Bobov institutions. In his letter, the Bobover Rebbe describes to Rabbi Moshe Salant the huge merit he accumulates for himself as a messenger (meshulach) wandering in foreign lands, especially on Shabbats and Yamim Tovim, and this is his golden wording:

"Chazal compare the nisayon of the akeidah to the nisayon of 'Leave your land, your birthplace and your father's home' - leaving behind one's social circle, surroundings and family and the comforts of home, and travelling to far-away lands, and so much more so for Shabbat Shabbaton Kodesh Kodashim ... which, as attested by the Sefer HaChinuch with respect to cities of refuge, involves the tremendous distress of exile ... Yet [your] great wisdom certainly knows that everywhere Jews are exiled, the Shechinah is there with them ... and the sanctity of holidays and festivals are not location-dependent mitzvahs. In every place, the Shechinah hovers in sanctity and joy" and the Rebbe continues on and on in this way. A wealth of fascinating Chassidic content.

In the margins of the title page, and from the Rebbe's deep appreciation to the Lithuanian gaon who is about to pick himself up on behalf of the Bobov institutions, the rebbe grants his blessings with unusual abundance "May [you] radiate with honor and may all [your] heart's desires be fulfilled for the good. May the verse about those who fear Him lacking nothing be fulfilled for [you]. May [you] have nachat from your family and from all [your] disciples ... Hoping that [you] succeed in [your] mission and share only good news with us always, Naftali Tzvi Halberstam."

Manuscripts by tzaddikim over the generations, especially their signatures, are used as tried-and-true amulets for all matters, and how much more so the gefe"n blessings and such explicit blessings for wealth, signed by the Admo"r of Bobov, who was known to enact salvation as his blessings were fulfilled.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo"r, the Rebbe Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Bobov.

[1] leaf paper. Approximately 22x28 cm. The rebbe's official stationery, with his signature.

Fine-very fine condition. Light aging stains. Fold marks.