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Lot : 61
The Dzikov Dynasty:Letter of Blessing from Rabbi Yehoshua of Dzikov, Author of Ateres Yeshuah, c. 1897
The Dzikov Dynasty:
Letter of Blessing from Rabbi Yehoshua of Dzikov, Author of Ateres Yeshuah,
c. 1897
Handwritten and autographed letter by the Admor Rabbi Yehoshua Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Ateres Yeshuah.
It contains a poetically worded blessing: “I extend my heartfelt blessing that the match should be a successful one, that they be blessed with many descendants, and that no harmful force should come near, but remain far away, as far as a bowshot.”
It was sent to his close relative, the gaon Rabbi Aryeh Leib Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Stanislav, author of Shu”t Harei Besamim. (Teshuvos addressed to Rabbi Yehoshua were printed in Shu”t Harei Besamim, Mahdura Kama, simanim 23–24.)
Rabbi Yehoshua Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Ateres Yeshuah (1848–1913), was the son of Rabbi Meir Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Imrei Noam, the grandson of Rabbi Eliezer of Dzikov, and the great grandson of the famed Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz. From 1877, he succeeded his father as Rebbe and in his time, the Dzikov Chassidus flourished and prospered. He was one of the leading Rebbes in his generation and was one of the main influencers at the Machzikei HaDas conference in Lvov in 1879.
From his early youth, he was an extraordinary iluy, and already at the age of eighteen he was corresponding in halachic matters with the leading rabbanim of his generation. At that age, he wrote his first sefer, Emek Halachah, and printed it in Lvov in 1870, with the approbation of the Shoel U’Meishiv, who wrote: “I cannot refrain from speaking the truth: although he is still young, he has attained an extraordinary level of scholarship in so few years. I have witnessed him display formidable mastery of Torah, in the manner of the great sages of former generations, such as the illustrious author of Doresh LeTzion, the Noda B’Yehuda.”
In 1912, he foretold that a great war was about to break out and foresaw its course and its results, but he passed away before it began, on 11 Teves 1912.
He was a prolific author; among his best-known works are Ateres Yeshuah on the Torah and Shu”t Ateres Yeshuah.
His sons-in-law included: the Admor Rabbi Menashe Eichenstein, author of Alfei Menashe (of the Ziditshov dynasty); the Admor Rabbi Emanuel Woltfried of Lodz (of the Pshedborz dynasty); the Admor Rabbi Pinchas Nasan of Rydik (of the Komarno dynasty); the Admor Rabbi Dovid Shapiro of Bukovsk (of the Dinov dynasty); and the Admor Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Horowitz (of the Ropshitz dynasty).
Tarnobrzeg / Dzikov, c. 1897. One leaf. Size:14 × 22 cm. Good condition. Mounted for preservation on cardboard.
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The recipient was
Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Stanislav, author of Harei Besamim (1847–1909), one of the greatest poskim in Galicia in his generation. In his youth, he studied under Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, and from time to time traveled to Rabbi Dovid Moshe of Chortkov. He became widely known in the Torah world for his series of sefarim Harei Besamim, which became a classic in Torah literature. For twenty-six years, he served as Rav in Stryj, and when his father passed away, he was called to fill his place in the illustrious rabbinate of Stanislav.
Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Stanislav, author of Harei Besamim (1847–1909), one of the greatest poskim in Galicia in his generation. In his youth, he studied under Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, and from time to time traveled to Rabbi Dovid Moshe of Chortkov. He became widely known in the Torah world for his series of sefarim Harei Besamim, which became a classic in Torah literature. For twenty-six years, he served as Rav in Stryj, and when his father passed away, he was called to fill his place in the illustrious rabbinate of Stanislav.
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Transcription of the Letter:
BS”D, Wednesday, Parshas Vayeishev
To my esteemed friend and relative, Harav Hagaon, famous throughout the Jewish world for his precious works, Av Beis Din of Stryj,
It brought me great joy to read in your letter that the time has come to celebrate the weddings of your children. I send you my heartfelt blessing that their marriages should be blessed with happiness and success, and that they should be privileged to see many generations of descendants.
May every misfortune and negative influence remain far from them, and may no trouble come near their home.
From your devoted friend and relative, who seeks your welfare with heartfelt affection,
Yehoshua Horowitz
Enclosed: One ruble as a wedding gift (?)
