Auction 106 A. Einstein, Zionism, Jewish Art, letters of Rabbis and Rebbes and Collection of letters to Sir Moses Montefiore from the archive of the late Rabbi Avraham Shisha - London
Mar 6, 2018 (Your local time)
Israel
 3 Shatner Center 1st Floor Givat Shaul Jerusalem
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LOT 48:

Letter from the Admor Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl to his Son-In-Law Rabbi David Moshe of Chertkov

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$13,000 - $15,000
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Letter from Rabbi Aharon Twersky, the Admor of Chernobyl, to his son-in-law, Rabbi David Moshe of Chertkov.

Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. 20x12 cm. Written by a scribe, with a signature in the Admor's hand.

Contents: The letter was sent to his son-in-law the Admor Rabbi David Moshe of Chertkov, whom he calls 'My dear son-in-law, the pious rabbi, the renowned holy candle for the sake and glory of Israel ...' his daughter Feiga, his grandchildren, and all those who accompany them. The letter is laden with blessings and concludes in his usual manner: "words of Aharon son of the renowned Rabbi Mordechai".

Background: Rabbi Aharon Twersky of Chernobyl was born in 1787 as the eldest son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl. His mother was the daughter of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin, the rabbi's namesake. Rabbi Mordechai had eight sons who all became famous Admorim and illuminated Russian Jewry. His distinguished father highly praised Rabbi Aharon, and likened his seven sons to the seven branches of the menorah, and Rabbi Aharon was an aspect of Aharon who prepared the candles. As a child he was always in the shadow of his great grandfather Rabbi Menachem Nachum, the disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. His father obligated him to be involved in the dynasty's leadership matters from his youth, and he traveled extensively throughout the cities of Russia.  

Upon his father's passing, Rabbi Aharon inherited his place as the Admor and Maggid of Chernobyl. He was the firstborn of the brothers, all of whom served as Admorim in different cities, and treated him with tremendous honor and respect. He was among the leaders of Russian Jewry, president of Kollel Volhyn's charity fund named 'Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes,' and worked hard to fortify settlements of the Land of Israel. He merited unusually long life and was considered to be the eldest of the tzaddikim of the generation and the leaders of the Chassidic world, so that all were in awe of him. He passed away in 1872 and was buried next to his grandfather, Menachem Nachum, as per his request.

His son-in-law, Rabbi David Moshe of Chertkov, son of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, was the first Admor of Chertkov. There was great love between father-in-law and son-in-law, as is apparent in the letter before us. It is told that when Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl came to visit his son-in-law, who was in the midst of a large audience, he requested entrance and referred to himself as 'the king's father-in-law.' The letter mentions his grandson, Rabbi Nachum Mordechai [born in c.1849], the son-in-law of his uncle Rabbi Shalom Yosef of Sadigura. Rabbi Nachum died in his youth in the year 1870, during his father's lifetime. The letter contains a blessing that they would merit joy with him, perhaps the intention being upon his bar mitzvah.

Condition: Moderate. light tears with blemish to solitary letters. stains and creases.