Bidspirit auction | Galanta–Munkatch: Letter of Blessings to

Galanta–Munkatch: Letter of Blessings to Rabbi Yoshe Buxbaum, Hy”d, on the Occasion of his Son’s Wedding, from the Minchas Elazar of Munkatch * A letter overflowing with wonderful blessings on the occasion of building a Jewish home in Klal Yisrael, in the holy handwriting and with the signature of the Admor Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira of Munkatch, author of Minchas Elazar. The letter was sent by the Minchas Elazar to “my beloved and most cherished” — his close friend, the renowned Rabbi Yoshe Buxbaum, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Galanta, on the occasion of the wedding of his son, Rabbi Yechiel Yosef Buxbaum. The Minchas Elazar blesses him with his holy words (opening with roshei teivos): “I hereby respond with abundant blessing: May Hashem, blessed be He, grant that the marriage be successful in every way, in the merit of our holy forefathers; May it take place at a good and auspicious time; May you be blessed with much nachas from your children and your household, growing in Torah and greatness; May you live all your days with Yiras Hashem, enduring goodness; May you merit to spread Torah in purity; And may we be redeemed forever, speedily in our days, rejoicing in the joy of Yerushalayim and her surrounding cities, with the coming of the bearer of good tidings, proclaiming peace and redemption – speedily in our days.” He then writes: “I follow the custom of my holy forefathers, to send a drasha gift, whose source is in the holy Zohar…” (see elaboration below), and concludes: “Your friend, who seeks the welfare of your Torah, with great love and everlasting affection, Chaim Elazar Shapira.” The Admor Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira (1872-1937) was the son of the Darchei Teshuvah and a venerable author of the Minchas Elazar. He was revered as one of the greatest Hungarian Chassidic Rebbes in the pre-Holocaust era and was well-versed in all areas of Torah, both revealed and hidden, and was close to many of his generation's leaders. He fought valiantly to preserve tradition and was absolutely uncompromising in his opposition to any change. He was appointed Raavad of Munkatch during his father’s lifetime, and in 1914 as Rav and Rebbe of the city. He was a prolific author whose written legacy includes the 5-volume Shu”t Minchas Elazar, Darchei Teshuvah al Hilchos Niddah, Darchei Chaim V’Shalom; Likkutei Divrei Torah Chaim V’Shalom; Chamishah Ma’amaros; Os Chaim V’Shalom, and others. The recipient, Rabbi Yehoshua Buksbaum (1874 - 1944) , Av Beis Din of Galanta, was a prominent Hungarian leader before the Holocaust and a valiant fighter against the Enlightenment and any changes to authentic Judaism. He studied Torah under the Beer Shmuel of Unsdorf and Chassidus under Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga of Shinova and the Darchei Teshuva of Munkatch, who also conferred semichah upon him. Rabbi Yehoshua stood at the helm of the large yeshiva in Galanta, one of Hungary's most prominent yeshivas, which produced thousands of students. His letters and chiddushim were published in the sefer Ohr Pnei Yehoshua. The chassan in question is Rabbi Yechiel Yosef Buksbaum , son of Rabbi Yoshe, who married Krindel Goldberger, daughter of Rabbi Gershon Avraham Goldberger, Av Beis Din of Tisa-Bercel, author of Nachalas HaGershoni. In 1931, the Minchas Elazar wrote a letter of recommendation on his behalf for a rabbinical position, referring to him as “the son of that tzaddik, ” and more. This letter was printed in Iggros Shapirin, letter 159. Munkatch, 1927. Entirely in the handwriting and with the signature of the Minchas Elazar. Official stationery, size 22.5×20 cm. Condition : Good, with several minor tears. ------------------- The Custom of the “Drasha Gift” As the Minchas Elazar writes, the custom of sending a gift on the occasion of a wedding was practiced by his holy forefathers, and its source is in the Zohar. He refers to the words of the Zohar in Parshas Vayeitzei: “All those who partake at the table of a chassan and kallah — all of them give gifts.” The Damesek Eliezer of Komarno explains that the term used in the Zohar, “נבזבזן” (nevazbezan) — is “what is nowadays called a ‘drasha geshank’ — gifts given to the chassan and kallah.” See further elaboration in the sefer Pardes Eliezer – Eirusin VeNisuin , vol. 6, chapter 40.