"You Will Be Healthy and Have Great Success" - Letter of Blessing and Request from the Holy Rebbi Shalom ...

"You Will Be Healthy and Have Great Success" - Letter of Blessing and Request from the Holy Rebbi Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert for the Benefit of Building His Beit Midrash in Ratzfert. 1925.

An inspiring letter in Yiddish where the Holy Rebbi Shalom Eliezer details his struggles in building his Beit Midrash in Ratzfert (in free translation): "I have a favor to ask of you. After building my Beit Midrash, I am left with a debt of 50 million Kronen, and the construction is still not finished.

Because of this, I ask you to take a partner and travel in your regions for a few days to collect some amount that will allow me to pay off the debt. There is no need to say it is for the construction of the synagogue, but rather for an important cause, as this way they will donate more. You will simply revive me and help me pay off the debt.

And the merit of the mitzvah will protect you in all matters. You will be in good health and achieve great success, soon.

Sincerely, your dear friend, waiting for good news and blessing you with all kinds of salvations. May you merit to receive the Holy Torah with love.

The humble Shalom Eliezer Halberstam, son of the Holy Rabbi of Sanz, of blessed memory."

[Ratzfert], 1st of Bamidbar, 1925.

The Holy Rebbi Shalom Eliezer Halberstam (1862-1944) was born in the later years of his father, the Holy Rebbi Chaim of Sanz (passed away in 1876), but he still received much from him. Around 1900, he moved from Galicia to Hungary and became the leader of many Sanz Chassidim in Hungary.

His humility, holiness, righteousness, and exemplary leadership attracted a large following of Chassidim and righteous people to his court. For over forty years, he was one of the greatest tzaddikim in Hungary until he was elevated to the heavens, sacrificing his life for the sanctification of God's name.

The Holy Rebbi of Ratzfert was known for performing miracles, and his blessings were never in vain. He became famous as a man of wonders. Many extraordinary stories and deeds circulated among Hungarian Jewry about his blessings and concern for the public and individual in distress. Many Jews from all over Hungary flocked to his home in Ratzfert and were saved by his blessings.

Before being deported to Auschwitz, he recounted that his father appeared to him in a dream and offered him the choice to die for the sanctification of God's name or to be saved, and he chose to die. Thus, he arrived at Auschwitz with a kittel and shrouds under his clothes. He arrived there on the 16th of Sivan, 1944, and was martyred that same day, may his blood be avenged.

The letter was written by the Rebbe's command on official letterhead, with the Rebbe's signature and seal. On the reverse side is a private letter from his Gabbai.

Blue ink stains, tear marks at the folds without loss of text, a tiny hole in the center of the page.