Autograph Letter Signed by the First Gerrer Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Alter, Author of Chiddushei Harim - Wishes for ...

Autograph Letter Signed by the First Gerrer Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Alter, Author of Chiddushei Harim - Wishes for "Success and Blessing in all Endeavors"
Autograph letter (13 lines) signed by the author of Chiddushei HaRim R. Yitzchak Meir Alter, the first Gerrer Rebbe. [Warsaw?, Av 1857].
Interesting family letter sent to his nephew [brother's son-in-law], the wealthy Chassid R. Yehuda Yudel Kaminer of Chęciny [author of Degel Yehuda, later father-in-law of the second Gerrer Rebbe, author of Sfat Emet]. Detailed letter of regards with mention of many names of family members and good wishes: "G-d should grant you success and blessing in all endeavors". The letter contains advice on the matter of shidduchim for R. Yudel's son: "The shidduch you wrote me with… from here. I have inquired and his daughter is 17 or 18 years old or more. G-d should provide a suitable match for your son and you should not be hasty…" [an interesting testimony to the age of shidduchim in those years, that a young woman 17 years old is found lacking to a certain degree, to the point that "You should not be hasty"…].
R. Yitzchak Meir Alter, author of Chiddushei HaRim (1799-1866), Encyclopedia L'Chassidut Vol. 2, pp. 413-423) founder of the Ger Chassidism, a major Torah scholar and Chassid in his times and prominent leader of Polish Jewry. Born following the blessing of the Magid of Kozienice (who foretold that "he will illuminate the world with Torah"), was raised in the Magid's home and became his close disciple. At the age of 13, he moved to his father-in-law's home in Warsaw and studied by the Maharal Tzinz, eventually celebrated throughout Poland as the Illui (prodigy) of Warsaw. After the death of the Magid of Kozienice, he became one of the primary disciples of R. Simcha Bunim of Pashischa and upon the death of R. Simcha Bunim, a number of Chassidim wanted to appoint him successor, but Rabbi Yitzchak Meir gave deference to R. Menachem Mendel of Kotzk and influenced the Chassidim to follow the Kotzker Rebbe. He became the most outstanding figure among the Kotzkers and eventually married the Rebbe's sister-in-law. In 1859, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir was appointed the Kotzker Rebbe's successor, moved to the near city of Gur (Góra Kalwaria), building the court of Gerrer Chassidism in the city and serving in its rabbinate. During his seven-year tenure, his court blossomed and thousands became his followers. Besides his exceptional piety, he was venerated as an outstanding Torah scholar and wrote many responsa on halacha and aggada called Chidushei HaRim [=Rabbi Yitzchak Meir]. His books were highly lauded and reveal his sharpness and exceptional Torah proficiency. Companion of all the tsaddikim and leaders of his times, including Mitnagdim. Among them were R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, R. Yitzchak of Warka, R. Akiva Eiger, R. Ya'akov of Lissa (Leszno), author of the Netivot, Rabbi Eizel Charif, R. Shlomo Kluger and others. He led Polish Jewry and firmly stood his ground on many public issues. He publicly supported the Polish revolution in 1830, and after it failed, was forced to flee to Lviv (which was at the time under Austrian rule). He was also known for his valiant struggle against the "Dress Decree" in 1846-1851. Following his orders to resist the decree, he was imprisoned but wide public protest forced the government to release him and cancel the decree. After his death, R. Chanoch Henach HaCohen from Aleksander succeeded him for a short while and after the demise of R. Chanoch Henach four years later, a grandson of the Chiddushei Harim, R. Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter, author of Sfat Emet was appointed the second rebbe of the Ger dynasty.
The recipient, R. Yehuda Yudel Kaminer of Chęciny (1827-1891), was the nephew of R. Baruch Frankel, author of Baruch Ta'am and son-in-law of the notable R. Moshe Chaim Rottenburg (elder brother of the author of Chiddushei HaRim). In his youth in Warsaw, he became close to the Chiddushei Harim who made his shidduch with his niece and loved him like a son. A Kotzker Chassid and central pillar of the Polish Chassidic world, he was an exceptional Torah scholar and famed for his wealth. After the untimely death of his father-in-law, R. Yudel managed his business, yet did not cease his Torah study and applied himself to learning 9-10 hours daily with his relative R. Pintshe of Pilica, and teaching Torah, besides the many hours he would study on his own. His Torah proficiency was acknowledged by the scholars of his times. R. Chaim of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim referred to him as "the sharp-minded rabbi" and his uncle author of Chiddushei HaRim in the title of this letter refers to him as "My beloved friend… the outstanding clever and erudite rabbi, the famed notable R. Yudel". His Torah novellae on halacha and Aggadah were printed in the book Degel Yehuda (Piotrków, 1938). A biography of the author was added to the new edition of Degel Yehuda (Jerusalem, 1966), which relates that R. Kaminer received many letters from his uncle the Chiddushei Harim and from his son-in-law, author of Sfat Emet, but all were burnt during the Holocaust. This letter remained hidden and survived and was not printed among the rest of the letters of the "Chiddushei Harim" at the end of Sefer HaZechut, the Pe'er Institute edition (Bnei Brak, 1987).
Leaf, 21 cm. 13 autograph lines of the Rebbe. Good condition. Small tears to margins. Address on verso: to "Judel Kaminer in Checinach". With name of sender "I. Alter". Postmarks and wax seal.