Bidspirit auction | A long and fascinating letter

A long and fascinating letter filled with blessings in the holy handwriting of the hidden righteous Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Waltuch - A long and fascinating letter filled with blessings, in the holy handwriting of the hidden righteous Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Waltuch – sent to his beloved friend, the exceptional Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Yehuda Zerachya Segal, Rabbi of “Kiryat Shalom” in Tel Aviv – Elul 1969. Ktiva V'Chatima Tova, healings and salvations, and a good and blessed year, all good forever, from the beginning of the year to its end.” Three-page letter with two handwritten signatures. In this letter, Rabbi Waltuch writes on a variety of intriguing topics, including: The virtue of one who repents on the eve of Rosh Hashanah; What the holy Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev said regarding Rosh Hashanah that falls on Shabbat; Stories of Tzaddikim about the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, and more. Among other things, he informs his friend: “They have reprinted the Siddur Olat Tamid by the holy Rabbi Netta of Shinoiva, about whom Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg said he was one of the thirty-six hidden Tzaddikim, and it was printed in a limited number, and whoever wishes to obtain it may do so through me.” At the end of the letter appear two handwritten signatures. In his first signature he signs: “The s. Yosef Waltuch, grandson of the holy Maggid Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotshov, OBM.” The hidden Tzaddik, Rabbi Yosef Waltuch (1922–1983), was a descendant of the Maggid Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotshov. He was among the heads of the group of hidden Tzaddikim in Tel Aviv, including “the Sandlar” (Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Ravikov), “the Retzaf” (Rabbi Avraham Fish), “the Painter” (Rabbi Yehuda Patilon), and others. Rabbi Yosef Waltuch frequently visited the graves of Tzaddikim and holy places and was known to effect salvations through his prayers. He lived a life of suffering, was not blessed with children (as was common among the “hidden ones”), yet served Hashem all his days with supreme joy. Miraculous stories and revelations of Divine inspiration circulated about him even in his lifetime. He passed away suddenly after collapsing inside the cave of the Idra. Rabbi Ben Tzion Mutzafi, shlit”a, who merited to know him, wrote about him: “…He was a great Torah scholar, a Chassid, humble and modest, a man of many afflictions, hidden from the public eye… I merited to learn with him, and perhaps a great deal. He was a jar filled with all delicacies of Torah—Talmud and Midrashim, Zohar and Kabbalah, commentaries and Mussar works, Halachic decisors and Halachic texts—everything was stored in his mind. He was also deeply knowledgeable in the annals and history of our people. There was no sage from any generation or author of a work whose name and era Rabbi Yosef Waltuch did not know. He showed great honor to all Torah scholars, both of the past and of the living. He knew pain and illness and accepted them in silence. He wandered from place to place with his books, tallit, and tefillin. He became acquainted with many of the generation’s greats—especially those who were, like him, hidden from view. He lived in a very modest room, spent most of his days in solitude, as unfortunately his wife was ill and institutionalized. Chagim, Shabbats, and weekdays he spent alone with his Creator, lacking anything of this world—even someone to wash a kerchief or sock. He was holy, he was a giant, and he never agreed that his virtues or hidden deeds be publicized.” [2] leaves (3 written pages). 20 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.