Bidspirit auction | “The Yenuka of Stolin” —

“The Yenuka of Stolin” — A sacred letter from one of the greatest Hasidic Rebbes of his generation, the holy tzaddik Rabbi Israel Perlov of Karlin - “And my blessing shall ascend, that the Almighty may fulfill the desires of his heart for good, both in material and spiritual matters, and may the Almighty complete for him a favorable sealing… Israel, son of the rabbi our teacher Rabbi Asher, of blessed memory.” Rare and Important Sacred Letter of Blessing and Salvation by the holy tzaddik Rabbi Israel Perlov of Stolin, one of the most wondrous righteous figures of all generations, whose blessings were renowned as effecting salvation, and whose spiritual stature was extolled by the greatest tzaddikim of his time. He is famously known as “the Yenuka”, as he was the only Hasidic Rebbe in history to lead a community already at the tender age of four. [Stolin, ca. 5640 / 1880] The letter is addressed to his follower residing in the Holy Land, Rabbi Yaakov David, son of Rabbi Moshe Leib Heller, brother of the Rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Shmuel Heller. In his letter, the Rebbe acknowledges receipt of a pidyon nefesh (redemptive offering) that had been sent to him, and blesses the recipient that the Holy One, blessed be He, should fulfill all the desires of his heart, both in material and spiritual matters—a comprehensive blessing encompassing the entirety of human needs in this world and beyond—concluding with the sacred signature in the handwriting of the tzaddik of the generation. As is well known, the spiritual efficacy (segulah) of letters written by righteous individuals is considered exceedingly great in Jewish tradition, and such letters have long been regarded as tried and trusted amulets, particularly when their entire content consists of blessing and salvation. This intention is evident already from the opening words of the present letter: “Blessings shall envelop my revered master, ” and continues with the explicit blessing of the Rebbe: “And my blessing shall ascend, that the Almighty may fulfill the desires of his heart for good, in material and spiritual matters, ” together with the request for a “favorable sealing, ” culminating in the holy signature in the Rebbe’s own hand: “Israel, son of the rabbi our teacher Rabbi Asher, of blessed memory.” It should be emphasized that this letter was written in response to a pidyon nefesh, which in Hasidic tradition is regarded as a particularly auspicious moment (et ratzon), when the words of blessing of a tzaddik are believed to operate with heightened potency in the supernal realms. This circumstance further strengthens the character of the letter as a powerful amulet for blessing and salvation. Letters of this type were preserved by Hasidim throughout the generations as sources of blessing—for healing, livelihood, and success—and were often kept in one’s pocket, placed in the Holy Ark, or inserted between the pages of a prayer book. Very few such letters have survived intact to the present day. Physical description: [1] sheet of paper, 13 × 10 cm. As is customary with most letters of the “Yenuka of Stolin, ” the body of the letter was written by a gabbai, while the signature was written in the Rebbe’s own sacred hand. Condition: Good. Age stains. Tiny tears. Several small, professionally repaired wormholes. Biographical Note The holy tzaddik Rabbi Israel Perlov of Stolin (also known as the Yenuka or Der Frankfurter; 5629–5682 / 1869–1922), son of Rabbi Asher of Stolin, and the sixth Rebbe of the Karlin dynasty. Following the passing of his father on the 15th of Av 5633 (1873), Rabbi Israel was only four and a half years old. Despite his tender age, the Hasidim placed their hopes in him as the destined leader of the movement, and due to his youth he became known as “the Yenuka of Stolin.” He served as Rebbe for decades, with tens of thousands of followers. He was deeply revered by the tzaddikim of his generation—including even the most zealous among them, such as Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira of Munkacs—as well as by Lithuanian rabbinic giants such as Rabbi David Friedman of Karlin and Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor. It is traditionally related that the Beit Aharon told his son Rabbi Asher at the time of Rabbi Israel’s birth: “This child will not be seen studying excessively like his grandfather, nor immersing frequently in the mikveh like his father, and yet he will be greater than both of us.” It is also related that the Beit Aharon stated that Rabbi Israel possessed the soul of Rashi, a soul that descends into this world only once every five hundred years. Rabbi Baruch Mandelbaum, known as “the Rabbi of Turov, ” published an open letter to the Hasidim of Karlin, in which he wrote that within the soul of Rabbi Israel resided a spark of Mashiach ben David.