Bidspirit auction | Letter of the Holy Rebbi

Letter of the Holy Rebbi Alter Meir David Yechiel of Wolbrom – 1909. Very Rare! - Postcard entirely in the holy handwriting and signed by the holy Rebbi Alter Meir David Yechiel of Wolbrom. He writes to his grandson, Rabbi Menachem Binyamin Ben Zion Halberstam of Rottenberg, that he was delayed in Częstochowa, because he is awaiting news about the health of his Mechutan, [the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg, Av Beit Din of Wodzislaw], and he blesses him with a speedy and complete recovery. Częstochowa, 1909. His Holy handwriting is Extremly Rare! Has never appeared at public auction. The Holy Rebbi Alter Meir David Yechiel Rotenberg was born in 1842 to his father, the holy Rebbi Yitzchak Menachem Rottenberg of Apta, after ten years of waiting for children, thanks to the blessing of the holy Rebbi Yissachar Ber of Radoshitz. He was named after his grandfathers, Rebbi Meir of Apta and Rebbi David of Lelov. In his youth, he fell ill, and the name Alter was added as a segulah for longevity. He married the daughter of the holy Rebbi Moshe of Karev, son of the holy Sar Shalom of Belz. At the time of the engagement, the groom was only about eight years old. All his life, he tirelessly traveled to the righteous sages of his generation, and they all honored him greatly, showing him great respect and appointing him to lead the holy nation. When he was around thirty years old, after his father’s passing, he was by Maran the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, who gave him a kvittel along with a pidyon nefesh of ten Ranish. Out of awe for his revered teacher, he did not dare to read his own name in front of him. The Divrei Chaim then instructed him to read the kvittel aloud in his presence and blessed him, saying: ”I bless you that with this power, you will bring salvation to the Jewish people.” Maran the Divrei Chaim also greatly praised his lineage, as he was a grandson of the Ohr LaShamayim of Apta. Indeed, throughout his life, many wonders were seen through him. Childless couples were blessed with children through his prayers, those who received his blessings were exempted from military service, and both the poor and the downtrodden were blessed with wealth. He ascended to his ancestral position in Wolbrom, where his father's Chassidim continued to follow him, along with followers of his grandfather, Rebbi Moshe of Lelov. His Chassidim were numerous, and under his leadership, shtibelach of Wolbrom Chassidim were established in many towns across Poland. He excelled in his divine service, practicing frequent self-affliction and fasting, and especially immersing in the mikveh, even when the water was freezing. He was well known for his wise counsel, and many merchants sought his advice regarding their business matters. Numerous miracle stories were told about him. He passed away in 1911. His sons-in-law were the holy Rabbi Itzik'l Rubin of Sosnowiec and the holy Rebbi Aharon Halberstam, Av Beit Din of Biała-Bielsko. His son, the righteous Rabbi Pinchas Shalom, was the father-in-law of the holy Rabbi Moshele Rokeach, son of Maran Rebbi Aharon of Belz. His grandson Rebbi Menachem Binyamin Ben Zion Rottenberg Halberstam (1881–1957), the Sanzer Rebbe of New York , was a descendant of the illustrious Sanz and Kshanov dynasties. His lineage included: Rebbi Aharon of Biala-Bilitz, Rebbi Yosef Zev of Kshanov, son of Rebbi David of Kshanov, Rebbi David of Kshanov, son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. On his maternal side, he descended from Rebbi Alter Chaim of Walbrum, adopting the surname ”Rottenberg” from this branch. Born in 1881. In his first marriage (1899), he became the son-in-law of Rebbi Mordechai Zev Halevi Sternfeld-Horowitz (who was himself the son-in-law of Rebbi Yaakov Tzvi of Pariszów). In his second marriage (1903), he became the son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg, rabbi of Wodzislaw, who was a nephew of the Chiddushei HaRim. He served as rabbi and Rebbe in Wodzislaw, and later, around 1922, emigrated to America. A scion of several prominent Chassidic dynasties, his genealogy intertwined with the great tzaddikim of Ropshitz, Sanz, Or Lashamayim, Belz, and Apta. Rebbi Rottenberg established his court in New York after emigrating to the United States. Revered as a spiritual leader, he presided over his beit midrash and served as the president of the Union of Rebbes (Agudas HaAdmorim).