Bidspirit auction | “You should have rachmanus on

“You should have rachmanus on the כבוד of הרה״ק מסאטמאר שליט״א!” — the heilige R’ Itzikel of Peshvorsk זצוק״ל The Satmar mosdos polemic in Antwerp: A uniquely rare כתב יד קודש letter from the heilige R’ Itzikel of Peshvorsk זצוק״ל — truly one of a kind. A complete letter in his holy handwriting with his signature, written ביום ג׳ לסדר ויברך אתכם (פרשת דברים) , to the distinguished chassid R’ Getzil Berger ז״ל of London. Subject of the letter At that time, most Satmar chassidim in Antwerp were themselves in a מצב דחוק. Yet many from the broader community — בעלי בתים of means — were sending their children to the Satmar מוסדות, and this provided crucial support for the תלמוד תורה. However, when רביה״ק מסאטמאר went out in a מלחמת קודש against the impure elections, many of those families withdrew their children from the Satmar תלמוד תורה. The income of the cheder collapsed to the point of real סכנת סגירה. When this became known to R’ Itzikel, it pained him greatly. He composed a fiery letter, דברי אש קודש כדברונות, to save the תלמוד תורה while there was still time. In this confidential appeal to the well-known philanthropist, the chassid R’ Getzil Berger ז״ל and his dear sons, he urgently pleads that they send funds to rescue the cheder immediately: “ליקבה״ו [לשם יחוד קודשא בריך הוא ושכינתיה]  I am writing — no one knows of my writing…” “Since by you the כבוד of Satmar is precious , and when there is a כלל ענין of Satmar it is not too costly for you even several thousand dollars — I beg that you and your dear sons should have rachmanus on the holy כבוד of הרה״ק שליט״א.” Because of the urgency, he does not conceal matters but lays out the entire situation in detail. He elaborates at length on the great קדושה of רביה״ק מסאטמאר and the intense התנגדות against him: “Just as the world hates Satmar — כידוע, the greater the קדושה, the greater the התנגדות… and especially here, where they are the greatest antisemites toward Satmar, one must be חושש that they, ח״ו, should not take over all the children.” The heilige tzaddik concludes with a heartfelt ברכה and his holy signature: “ואברכו בברכת הדיוט, שיהי רצון שיהיה בבריאות השלימות עם זוגתו תחי׳ ויוצאי חלציו שיחיו, ויצליח בכל דרכיו על צד היותר טוב בכלל ישראל.”