Bidspirit auction | “And the Report Reached My

“And the Report Reached My Ears, and My Soul Trembled” — An Important Letter from the Holy Rebbe of Rachmastrivka Concerning the Makarov Chassidic Synagogue in Safed. - An Important Chassidic-Historical Letter, Entirely in the Holy Handwriting and Signed by the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael Mordechai Twersky of Rachmastrivka, One of the Great Tzaddikim of the Previous Generation. The letter was sent in 1983 to the Chief Rabbi of Safed, the gaon Rabbi Simcha Kaplan, and concerns the desecration of the ancient Makarov Chassidic synagogue in Safed. In his letter, the Rebbe expresses his deep pain over the violation of the sanctity of the synagogue, which had been founded by the followers of the Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Makarov—grandson of the Maggid of Chernobyl and son-in-law of the holy Rabbi Shmuel Abba of Slavuta: “A certain individual intruded into it and turned it into a storage place and for other uses, without any permission.” The Rebbe adds a rare historical detail regarding the founding of the synagogue: “And he [the holy Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Makarov] devoted his very life to establish the said synagogue through his followers.” Later in the letter, the Rebbe emphasizes the dwindling number of descendants of the distinguished Makarov dynasty, noting that only three descendants remained: “And of the holy Rebbe of Makarov, only the following great-grandchildren remain: Rabbi Yeshaya... Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah Derelman... Rebbetzin Rachel Shulman.” Makarov Chassidus was one of the branches of the Chernobyl dynasty in Ukraine. The founder of the dynasty was Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Makarov, fourth son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl. Rabbi Menachem Nachum was born in 1804 to Rabbi Mordechai and Feiga, daughter of Rabbi David Leikes, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. After his father’s passing, he began serving as Rebbe in Makarov and passed away on the 7th of Tishrei 1851. His son, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Makarov, was among the leading Rebbes of Volhynia in his generation, attracting thousands of chassidim. His followers who immigrated to Eretz Israel founded the Makarov Chassidic synagogue in the Old City of Safed—the historic synagogue discussed in the present letter, which remains active to this day. A letter of great Chassidic and documentary importance, shedding light on the history of Makarov Chassidus, its institutions in Eretz Israel, and the efforts to preserve Chassidic synagogues in the Galilee. [1] paper leaf, 23 cm. Entirely in the Rebbe’s holy handwriting and signed by him. Very good condition. Filing holes. The Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael Mordechai Twersky of Rachmastrivka (1929–2004) was the Rachmastrivka Rebbe in Israel and one of the leading Rebbes of the Chernobyl dynasty in the last generation. He was renowned for his extraordinary diligence in Torah study, humility, and avoidance of honor. After the passing of his father, the Rebbe Rabbi Yochanan of Rachmastrivka, in 1982, he came under pressure from the leading Rebbes of the Chernobyl dynasty to assume leadership of the Chassidus. At first he refused, wishing to continue a life of study and seclusion, but ultimately accepted the mantle of leadership at the instruction of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Machnovka. Already from childhood, stories circulated about him. His teachers described a youth detached from the vanities of the world and wholly immersed in memorizing passages of Talmud and commentaries. It was related that he would spend hours moving from one study hall to another and from one study partner to the next. In the midst of this, he would sometimes forget to eat and would sleep very little.