Bidspirit auction | Joyous Letter from Maharam Ash

Joyous Letter from Maharam Ash upon Receiving Hadasim for Sukkos!   Ungvar, 1845 * A unique handwritten and autographed letter by the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Meir Ash, Av Beis Din of Ungvar, one of the leading rabbanim of Hungary and the famous disciple of the Chasam Sofer. Written with unmistakable excitement, the Maharam Ash expresses his heartfelt gratitude after receiving a shipment of exceptionally fine hadasim for the fulfillment of the mitzvah of shaking the lulav. The hadasim had been sent by the recipient to the Jewish community of Ungvar. As is well known, in many places and periods it was exceedingly difficult —sometimes nearly impossible — to obtain a proper set of the Arbah Minim. Great sums of money were spent, and messengers were dispatched to distant regions in search of them. Even then, communities often had no way of knowing whether their efforts had succeeded until just before Yom Tov. This letter was written on the twelfth of Tishrei, only days before the onset of Sukkos. It appears that Maharam Ash had already begun to fear that he would be unable to obtain suitable hadasim. When they finally arrived, his spirits soared, and his heart overflowed with the joy of fulfilling a mitzvah — a profound sense of simchah shel mitzvah that shines through every line of this remarkable letter. Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter, known as the Maharam Ash (1780–1852) , was one of the greatest Torah scholars and tzaddikim of Hungarian Jewry, and one of the greatest disciples of the Chasam Sofer. The Ksav Sofer eulogized him as “the very finest of my father’s greatest disciples, in Torah scholarship, righteousness, and noble character.” The Chasam Sofer himself testified that he had no disciple who sharpened his teachers’ understanding as he did. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz described him as “a giant among giants, whose renown filled the land, whose righteousness and Yiras Shamayim were recognized by all. Who am I, a simple man, to bear witness to the greatness of one whose depth of understanding I could never hope to comprehend?” He married the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Deutsch, author of Ohel Dovid. He taught hundreds of disciples, and Torah leaders from across the region turned to him for guidance, among them the gedolei hador: the Mahar”י Asad, the Yerios Shlomo, the Mahariatz, the Goren Dovid, the Divrei Chaim, the Yetev Lev, the Ma’aglei Tzedek, Rabbi Shlomo Kluger, the Minchas Chinuch, and others. Ungvar, 1845. Entirely in Maharam Ash’s handwriting and bearing his signature. Approximate size: 23 × 17.5 cm. Condition: Good to fair. The letter underwent professional restoration. - - - - - - - - - - - Text of the Letter: B” H, Monday, the 12th of Tishrei 1845, Ungvar May you rejoice in Hashem all your days, and may your soul know everlasting joy. To my esteemed friend, the distinguished and accomplished scholar, the G-d-fearing Rabbi Moshe Yaakov... May Hashem gladden your heart, for your gift brought us tremendous joy. The beautiful hadasim you sent have safely reached us — all nine branches. We all join together in blessing Hashem and expressing our heartfelt gratitude to you. May Hashem be with you always and fulfill all the desires of your heart for the best, according to your wishes. Your devoted friend, HaKatan Meir Ash [I wanted?] to pay the messenger, but he refused, explaining that he was acting on your behalf. Such generosity is characteristic of you — you give with an open hand. “One who gives generously shall be blessed.”