Rare and Sacred: Blessings for Children, Life and Sustenance, Handwritten by the Beit Yisrael of Gur

Rare and Sacred: Blessings for Children, Life and Sustenance, Handwritten by the Beit Yisrael of Gur

"... A good, happy year ... May Hashem help in all matters for the good [regarding livelihood] and May Hashem help your daughters who are here, and may we hear only good tidings ... blessings for a complete recovery ..."

Sacred amulet: lengthy letter [approximately 60 words!] rare and loaded with blessings for children, health and sustenance. The letter was entirely written and signed by the sacred Admo"r Rabbi Yisrael Alter of Gur, who was considered sacred by the entire Jewish people, Mitnagdim alongside Chassidim. [No year indicated.]

The letter is addressed to one of the most special Chassidim of Gur, the gaon and Chassid Rabbi Ephraim Shraga Silverberg, referred to by the Beit Yisrael in his letter as "my dear friend." He was a son of the gaon Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Silverberg, rabbi of Pittsburgh. The Beit Yisrael, who was known for his brevity while speaking, and even more so in writing, unusually doubled and redoubled his blessings here:

• Children: "May Hashem help your daughters who are here. May all go smoothly, and may we hear only good tidings."
•  Health: "Blessings for a complete recovery for your mother, the Rebbetzin, may she be well."
• Sustenance: "A good, happy year ... May Hashem help in all matters for the good [regarding sustenance]"

According to the blessing for "a good and happy year" at the beginning of the letter, it can be understood that this letter was sent at the beginning of the year, in the days of segulah, the days of mercy and forgiveness. The Rebbe does not note the year on this letter, but from the blessing for recovery written by the Rebbe in the margins of the letter for the Pittsburgher Rebbetzin, the addressee's mother, we can deduce that the date of the letter is prior to 1968, when the Rebbetzin passed away.

It is told that manuscripts of gedolei Yisrael, even just a signature, can be used as tried-and-true amulets for protection, healing and success. How much more so a letter handwritten and signed by the leading tzaddik of recent generations, who was considered sacred by the entire Jewish people, in all its factions, and who was known as a wonder-worker whose words were always fulfilled, who grants important blessings in this letter for children, health and sustenance.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo"r Rabbi Yisrael Alter.

[1] leaf paper, 16x7 cm. Entirely handwritten and signed by the Beit Yisrael of Gur.

Very fine condition.