Bidspirit auction | “Only life and peace -

“Only life and peace - may Hashem be with you and grant you success” Handwritten and Signed Letter of the Ksav Sofer Pressburg, 1842 * Handwritten and autographed letter by the Ksav Sofer, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Pressburg, the eldest son and successor of the illustrious Chasam Sofer. The entire 14-line letter is in his holy handwriting and with his signature. The letter is addressed to his friend, the emissary and dayan Rabbi Avraham Eisenstein, known as the “Pinsker.” According to family tradition, he had intended to marry the daughter of the Chasam Sofer (and thus would have become the brother-in-law of the Ksav Sofer), and had already become engaged to the Chasam Sofer’s daughter Rebbetzin Reizel — but she passed away before the wedding (see Moriah, vol. 88–89, p. 102). At the time, Rabbi Avraham was in the vicinity of Pressburg as part of his mission to collect money to sustain the Jewish settlement in the Holy Land. The Ksav Sofer writes to him: “I was happy to hear of your well-being, and the desire of Hashem is succeeding through your hands, and you perform his mission faithfully.” The letter concludes with the Ksav Sofer’s warm blessing: “Only life and peace — may Hashem be with you and grant you success upon your arrival here for the upcoming Pesach, with Hashem’s help. Respectfully, your dear friend who writes with a humble heart, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin son of the gaon our teacher Rabbi Moshe Sofer, of blessed memory.” Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, Av Beis Din of Pressburg and author of Ksav Sofer (1815–1873) , succeeded his father, the venerable Chasam Sofer, as Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva in Pressburg, at just 24 years old. From the start of his tenure, it was evident that he was worthy of the position. Under his leadership, the Pressburg Yeshivah expanded and flourished, producing thousands of students, to the extent that the majority of Hungary’s Rabbanim in the following generation were alumni of his Yeshiva. In the final days of the Chasam Sofer’s life, when his illness worsened, he placed his hands upon the head of his son the Ksav Sofer and blessed him upon his appointment to the rabbinate of Pressburg, saying: “Your grandfather Rabbi Akiva stands to your right, your grandfather Rabbi Shmuel Schotten Katz stands to your left, and an angel stands above your head — and I too will follow behind you, fulfilling your words.” The Ksav Sofer later recounted that in that moment, his father’s hands upon his head felt as if they were engulfed in fire. His brother, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, Av Beis Din of Cracow and author of Shu”t Michtav Sofer, wrote about him in his introduction to Shu”t Ksav Sofer: “He filled our father’s position completely, and deviated not one iota from his path… His radiance enveloped him constantly, Ruach Hakodesh dwelled within him, and the hand of Hashem was manifest in all his deeds — for Moshe [the Chasam Sofer] placed his hands upon him, and all his attributes were reflections of our father’s: his Torah, his righteousness, his humility, and his leadership.” Rabbi Avraham Eisenstein (1800–1886) , born in Drahichyn, immigrated to Eretz Yisrael in the 1820s with a group of disciples of the Vilna Gaon. He settled in Tzfas and was appointed as one of the dayanim on the Beis Din of Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov. After the earthquake in Tzfas, he traveled to Europe as an emissary, and upon returning, served as a dayan on the Beis Din of Rabbi Shmuel Salant and Rabbi Meir Auerbach, author of Imrei Binah. His son was the renowned community activist Rabbi Eliyahu Mordechai, close aide of Rabbi Shmuel Salant. Pressburg, Adar 1842. Entirely in the handwriting and with the signature of the Ksav Sofer. Condition: Moderate, with old mold stains. The letter underwent professional restoration.