Bidspirit auction | Autograph Letter of R’ Menachem

Autograph Letter of R’ Menachem Mendel Halberstam of Pristik ZY”A Regarding the Rumors Surrounding Slivovitz and the Rabbinic Assembly in Hungary An autograph letter, entirely in the ksav yad of R’ Menachem Mendel Halberstam of Pristik ZY”A, bearing his signature. Written to hanagid he’chassid R’ Avraham Chaim Frenkel of Limanov, who had inquired regarding the rinun that had spread about a certain slivovitz. The Rebbe replies that a rinun had in fact circulated regarding almost all types of slivovitz, and refers to a gathering of rabbonim that had taken place in Hungary on this matter. He relates that he contacted R’ Shmuel Dovid HaKohen Friedman, Dayan of Chust, to clarify what had emerged from that asifah — in the name of the Arugas HaBosem, Av Beis Din, who had been present there — and he speaks with clear importance of the reply he received from the Dayan of Chust. In his words: ”...וידע אשר על כל השליוויטצען יצא רינון, חוץ מונקאטשער וראברעטער, ולא על שליוויטץ של ר' דוד לבד, כי אם על כולם בשוה... בכן שאלתי את פי ידידי ר' שמואל דוד נ”י מו”ץ דק”ק חוסט איך להתנהג, ומה שיצא מאסיפת רבנים באונגארן, כי הרב מחוסט נ”י היה ג”כ שם... נא לשלוח לי בחזרה את המכתב של הרב ר' שמואל דוד נ”י כי נחוץ לי מאוד...” R’ Menachem Mendel of Pristik R’ Menachem Mendel Halberstam, Av Beis Din of Pristik (1870–1926), was a grandson of R’ Dovid of Kshanov, son of Maran the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was also a son-in-law of his uncle, the Rebbe of Shinova. Gedolei ha’dor testified about him that he was a “tzaddik yesod olam, ” yet in his anavah he refused to conduct himself as an Admor. Among his descendants were gedolei Torah and tzaddikim, including his son, the gaon of Kalushitz. The Recipient The recipient of the letter, R’ Avraham Chaim Frenkel of Limanov, was a grandson of the Rebbe of Ropshitz and among the prominent chassidim of the Rebbe of Shinova.