Bidspirit auction | Letter of Blessing and Chiddushim

Letter of Blessing and Chiddushim on the Laws of Shabbos by Rabbi Sheftel Weiss of Shimoni – 1938 * A handwritten, autographed letter on a postcard by Rabbi Sheftel Weiss, Av Beis Din of Shimoni (Nagysimonyi), an exceptionally holy individual and miracle worker, one of the gedolei hador of Hungary. The letter contains chiddushim on the laws of boneh (construction) in Hilchos Shabbos, an area in which Rabbi Sheftel Weiss invested much effort and study. On the back of the postcard, Rabbi Weiss offers his blessing: “Be’ezras Hashem, May Hashem, in His goodness, grant you all that your pure soul desires.  I am presently so overwhelmingly occupied that it is beyond description. Your Rebbe sends his warm regards and blessings of peace to your father’s household and to all your relatives, Sheftel Weiss.” To the best of Zaidy’s knowledge, this letter has never been published. At the conclusion of the letter, there is an additional line in the handwriting of the Rebbe’s son, Rabbi Simcha Bunim: “Wishing you peace and all good, Simcha Bunim.” Writings from him are exceedingly rare . Rabbi Sheftel Weiss (1866-1943), known by all as “The Shimoni Rav, ” was known already in his youth for his great mastery of Talmud, earning great admiration from his teacher, the Shevet Sofer. Renowned as a miracle worker and baal ruach hakodesh, many flocked to him to receive his blessings. Hungarian leaders of his time would mention his name with great reverence, considering him one of the tzaddikim of the generation whose powerful prayers and blessings brought salvation to the Jewish people. He passed away on the 3rd of Cheshvan, 1943. In his only published sefer, Hilchosa Rabbasa L’Shabbasa, he focuses extensively on the newly developing use of electricity in his time and its implications for the laws of Shabbos, both in its underlying principles and in practical halacha. The letter was sent by Shimoni Rav to his primary talmid, addressing him with deep affection: “My beloved talmid, who is perfect in every way, in all matters” — referring to Reb Feivel Buchinger of Szombathely. Shimoni (Nagysimonyi), 1938 . A postcard the size of 10.5 × 15 cm. Condition: Good. One corner is almost completely detached.