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“May Hashem grant you everlasting goodness.” Letter from Rabbi Eliezer Zussman-Sofer, Av Beis Din of Paks – 1881 * A handwritten and autographed family letter by the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Zussman-Sofer, Av Beis Din of Paks, author of Yalkut Eliezer and Damesek Eliezer. The letter was sent to Pressburg, to his son, Rabbi Yosef Leib Sofer, author of Yalkut Sofer, who was then about eighteen years old and studying under the Shevet Sofer in Pressburg. In the letter, Rabbi Zussman relates that his father, Rabbi Mordechai Ephraim Fishel, had traveled to a spa for medical treatment, and he asks his son to visit the children of the gaon Rabbi Shraga Feish Fishman, the noted darshan of Pressburg, and wish them mazal tov on the marriage of their sister to Rabbi Yehuda Deutsch, a dayan in Miskolc (see Alei Zikaron, p. 52–53. Rabbi Feish himself had passed away only about a month earlier). He concludes with a heartfelt blessing: “May Hashem grant you everlasting goodness — so prays your humble father, Zussman son of my father and master.” The gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Zussman-Sofer (1825–1903) , Av Beis Din of Paks and author of Yalkut Eliezer, was one of the leading rabbanim of Hungary. He was born in Pressburg and was circumcised by the Chasam Sofer, who also taught him in his youth. After the Chasam Sofer’s passing, he studied under the Ksav Sofer and the Maharam Schick. He succeeded his father-in-law, the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Yoel Ungar, as Av Beis Din of Paks, and filled this position until his passing in 1903. He authored the 3-volume Yalkut Eliezer, Sefer HaMakneh, and other sefarim. After his signature, Rabbi Zussman adds: “I have already received a 'kvitung' [receipt] from the printer.” It would appear that he is referring to the printing of his sefer Damesek Eliezer, Sefer Shemos, which appeared that same year. Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein of Kolomyia wrote in his approbation to the volume on Bereishis: “I am envious of him that Hashem granted him the ability to produce such a work, which provides guidance and support to Torah scholars who delve deeply into the intricacies of halacha.” Paks, 1881 . A letter written on a postcard. Size : Approx. 9 x 14 cm. Condition : Good. --------------- In his approbation to Yalkut Sofer, the Shinover Rav said of the Zussman-Sofer family: “An illustrious family of sofrim, renowned rabbanim in the land of Hungary.”