Kabbalistic Amulet and Long Letter Handwritten and Signed by the Tzaddik of Greiditz R. Eliyahu Guttmacher – ...

Kabbalistic Amulet and Long Letter Handwritten and Signed by the Tzaddik of Greiditz R. Eliyahu Guttmacher – Greiditz, 1872
Long letter (3 large pages), handwritten and signed by R. Eliyahu Guttmacher, Rabbi of Greiditz. Sivan 1872. Enclosed is an amulet note with yichudim of the ten sefirot in his handwriting (square script).
Letter containing halachic and kabbalistic responsa sent to R. Netanel Weil (1818-1892), a rabbi in Karlsruhe and descendant of the author of Korban Netanel, regarding the procedures surrounding the establishment of a new cemetery in his city, including explicit instructions how to sanctify the new location with specific prayers, encirclements and kabbalistic yichudim. R. Eliyahu explains the kabbalistic background of these prayers, encirclements and yichudim at length, as well as their effectiveness in protecting from harmful beings (mazikim). He also refers to the enclosed note and writes that one should have in mind the yichudim written in the note.
Further in the letter, R. Eliyahu Guttmacher writes about the societies which collect funds for the settlers in Eretz Israel and notes that those who participate in these societies earn a share of the Torah study in Eretz Israel and a share in Jerusalem.
The enclosed amulet note is arranged in ten lines. R. Eliyahu refers to the meaning of the ten lines in his letter, concluding with words of blessing: "…It is arranged in ten lines, which correspond to the ten sefirot, the ten galgalim, the ten maamarot with which the world was created, and the ten commandments – the merit of all of these shall be with you".
The present letter was printed (with slight variations) in R. Eliyahu Guttmacher’s book of responsa (Aderet Eliyahu, part I, Jerusalem 1984, Yoreh Deah, chapter 124, see enclosed material). However, the amulet with the yichudim does not appear there, nor does the end of the letter regarding the virtue of the participants in the societies for the settlers in Eretz Israel.
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz (1796-1875), disciple of R. Akiva Eger, served as rabbi of Pleschen (Pleszew) until ca. 1840, at which time he moved to Greiditz to serve as rabbi, while his eldest son R. Tzvi Hirsh succeeded him as rabbi of Pleschen. Famed as a holy kabbalist, in his senior years his name spread throughout the Jewish world as a wonder-worker. Amazing stories were told of the great miracles and salvations attained through the blessings of "der Greiditzer Tzaddik" (the Tzaddik of Greiditz), "and people came from all countries to seek his blessings and prayers, each one according to his needs" (Igrot Sofrim, at the foot of letter 29).
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher was very active on behalf of Eretz Israel Jewry, and founded a yeshiva in Jerusalem named Chevrat Sukkat Shalom and Meor Yaakov. This yeshiva was established in the Shenot Eliyahu Beit Midrash which was located in R. Eliyahu Guttmacher’s courtyard in Jerusalem, purchased by his trustee R. Yaakov Mordechai Hirschensohn. R. Eliyahu financed the yeshiva until his final days. In addition, together with R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, he was a leading member of the Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel society, founded in Frankfurt in 1860. The goal of this society was to increase agricultural Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, by redeeming the land from non-Jews and settling instead Jewish farmers, who would work it, be sustained by it, and perform mitzvot pertaining to it. These two rabbis propagated this idea extensively in their books, writings, letters and sermons. They prove repeatedly in their books that these activities bring the Redemption closer and awaken Heavenly mercy and salvation.
After R. Eliyahu’s eldest son, R. Tzvi Hirsh Rabbi of Pleschen, died in his lifetime childless (in 1871), he published his son’s books Nachalat Tzvi and Ken Meforeshet (Lviv, 1873). In the introduction to Ken Meforeshet, R. Eliyahu promises: "If someone seeks deliverance from G-d… he should study a Mishnah with the Rav (Bartenura), Tosafot Yom Tov and my son’s commentary and then stand and pray in any language… detailing his request so he will be answered…".
[1] double leaf (3 written pages): 28.5 cm + enclosed note: 8X9.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Tears to folds, affecting text. Worming affecting text.