Letter by Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen of Aleksander - Warsaw, Ca. 1860s

Letter by Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen of Aleksander - Warsaw, Ca. 1860s
Letter (5 long lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen of Aleksander. [Warsaw, ca. 1860s].
Sent to Lodz to his son R. Yechiel Efraim Fishel HaKohen. He mentions that he has enclosed a letter intended for R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Biala (son-in-law of the Gerrer Rebbe, author of Chiddushei HaRim), on the occasion of his son’s wedding with the daughter of the wealthy R. Yaakov Krohl: "Send the enclosed letter to R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Biala, son-in-law of our great and holy Rebbe of Ger, who has invited me to participate in the joyous occasion of his son’s wedding…".
On verso, the address in the city of Lodz and postmarks, with the following inscription in the handwriting of R. Chanoch Henich: "Please give this letter to my son… R. Yechiel Efraim Fishel HaKohen of Mielec".
Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin of Alexander (1798-1870), leading disciple of R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. He held a rabbinic position for close to 40 years. He first served as rabbi of Alexander and Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, and from 1859, as rabbi of Proshnitz (in 1865, he retired from the rabbinate, and returned to Alexander as a private person). He was a descendant of R. Shmuel Schotten HaKohen of Frankfurt (the Maharshashach - who was also the grandfather of the Chatam Sofer). After supporting the Polish revolution in 1830, he was compelled to change his surname from Schotten to Levin. Renowned from his youth for his prodigious brilliance, and for his Peshischa-Kotzk style of sharpness. All his actions were concealed and performed with great wisdom. His sayings were penetrating and peppered with incisive humor, and he knew how to disguise exalted matters with humor which only a precious-few would understand. He would frequently cite the saying of his teacher R. Bunim of Peshischa: "All the negative commandments in the Torah can be condensed into one negative commandment - do not be a fool! and all the positive commandments in the Torah can be encapsulated in one - be wise!".
While still a young man, his teacher the Yehudi HaKadosh appointed him rebbe by removing his spodik (tall shtreimel) from his head and placing it on that of his young student, R. Henich, saying: "This spodik suits you well…". About one year after the passing of R. Bunim of Peshischa, R. Henich subjected himself to the authority of his colleague, Rebbe Mendel of Kotsk. After the latter’s death, R. Henich followed his (younger) colleague R. Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger. Only after the passing of the Chiddushei HaRim in 1866 did the elderly R. Henich agree to serve as rebbe and lead the Chassidic courts of Kotzk and Ger. His disciples and relatives attested to the Divine inspiration he benefitted from, and the wonders and miracles which he performed. His nephew testified that he was present when souls came down to R. Henich from Upper Spheres, requesting reparation. These accounts were recorded in the new edition of his book Chashava LeTova VeLikutim (published by Mossad HaRim Levin, Jerusalem, 1990), see ibid.
The foreword of the new edition contains a beautiful description of the Chassidic legacy which R. Henich transmitted to future generations, and his molding of the character of the Ger Chassidic dynasty: "Alexander of Rebbe Henich was concealed for about seventy years; in those years the Peshischa Chassidism branched out into seventy facets. For decades, he stood as a disciple before his colleagues, subjected himself to their authority and enjoyed the Peshischa elevation in the hidden parts of his soul, until the crown of leadership was placed upon him… R. Henich of Alexander combined in his leadership all the wellsprings deriving from Peshischa. With rare and unparalleled wisdom, he merged a following of elite, truth-seeking Chassidim into a single unit, and they together rose to high levels of Torah and worship of G-d. He brought Peshischa, Kotsk and Ger together under one roof, selecting the unique points of each of them - their light, to create a center of Torah, Chassidism, sharpness, holiness and total devotion".
He was one of the teachers of the Sfat Emet, Rebbe of Ger (grandson of the Chiddushei HaRim), whom he appointed as his successor. His descendants were leading members of the Ger court, and his grandson R. Chanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin Rabbi of Bendin was the son-in-law of the Sfat Emet. His disciples became the leading Torah scholars and rebbes of Poland, including: R. Ze’ev Nachum of Biala and his son Rebbe Avraham of Sochatchov author of Avnei Nezer; Rebbe Avraham of Porisov; R. Pinchas Menachem Justman Rabbi of Piltz; R. Yoav Yehoshua of Kintzk the Chelkat Yoav; R. Yitzchak Feigenbaum of Warsaw, and others. His teachings are recorded in his book Chashava LeTova.
[1] leaf. 15X21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and folding marks.
This letter and a picture of it were printed in the book Michtavim VeIgrot Kodesh, New York, 2003, pp. 38-39 (apparently, the publisher did not have the original letter, since the picture shows the verso of a different letter - see enclosed material).