Letter from R. Yeshaya Silberstein, Rabbi of Waitzen

Letter from R. Yeshaya Silberstein, Rabbi of Waitzen
Letter handwritten and signed by R. "Yeshaya S.Sh. [Silberstein]", addressed to one of the dayanim of Waitzen (Vác). [Budapest, ca. 1916-1918]. R. Yeshaya writes that he was compelled to travel to Pest (Budapest), and asks the dayan to convene the Beit Din to arrange a Chalitza, recommending that any halachic difficulty which may arise be referred to the rabbi of Radomishla (who was at that time residing in Waitzen). R. Yeshaya Silberstein (1857-1930), Rabbi of Waitzen (Vác, Hungary), author of Maasai LeMelech. A foremost rabbi in Hungary (in that generation, people would say that there were three leading rabbis in Hungary: R. Yeshaya Silberstein of Waitzen, R. Shimon Grunfeld - the Maharshag of Bűdszentmihály, and R. Mordechai Winkler of Mád author of Levushei Mordechai). R. Yeshaya was born in Senta to R. David Yehuda Leib Silberstein (1820-1884) who served as rabbi of the city. In his infancy, his family immigrated to Eretz Israel and resided there for eight years. As a child in Jerusalem, he studied in the Etz Chaim Talmud Torah. With the family's return to Hungary, he studied in the Pressburg yeshiva under the Ketav Sofer. He was the disciple of R. Chaim Tzvi Mannheimer who accorded him a rabbinic ordination. In 1896, he was appointed rabbi of Waitzen in place of his father, establishing there a large yeshiva numbering hundreds of students. Many of his disciples later held rabbinic and Torah positions. R. Shmuel Engel, Rabbi of Radomishla (Radomyśl Wielki) (1853-1935) - mentioned in the letter - was one of the foremost Galician Torah scholars, who during WWI fled to Waitzen, Hungary, where he entertained a close relationship with the rabbi of the city, R. Yeshaya Silberstein. In 1918, R. Shmuel Engel continued his wanderings, reaching Kashoy (Košice), where he was appointed head of the Beit Din. [1] double leaf, 21 cm. Approx. 16 autograph lines and signature. Good condition. Minor stains and folding marks.