Letter of recommendation for a student, handwritten by the author of ‘Naharei Afarsemon’, the famous Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum Av Beit Din of Putnok – Tállya, 1868.
Here is a warm, exuberant, and heartfelt letter of recommendation, handwritten by the famous Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum, author of Responsa ‘Naharei Afarsemon’, from the great Rabbis of Hungary, which he gave to one of his students before the latter left to another Yeshiva.
So writes the teacher regarding his disciple: “…studied here in my Beit Midrash for two years, and found his measure of wisdom and intelligence, and has already been crowned by me so that for all purposes he shall be referred to as ‘the Chaver, R’ Dov son of the Chaver R’ Asher’… and now his soul wishes to travel elsewhere, to seek Torah from another of the greats of our time… I hereby announce his measure and his worth, for he is a seed blessed by Hashem, and it is proper to draw him close in whatever place he arrives and support him in his studies with food and sustenance. May Hashem be with him, and he shall go higher and higher in Hashem’s Torah and His worship…”
The sharp, famous Gaon, Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum (1832-1899) was the son and main disciple of his father, the Gaon Rabbi Ze’ev Wolf, Av Beit Din of Verpelét, author of ‘Rechovot HaNahar’. In 1858 he was appointed Av Beit Din of Tállya, Hungary. In 1869 he was appointed Av Beit Din of Mezőcsát, and in 1873 he was made Av Beit Din of Putnok, where he served until his passing in 1899. Already in his youth he established Yeshivot in every place where he officiated, and many of the worthy of Hungary were his students. His great love for his students is clearly seen in many responsa in his Sefer, as well as from this letter of recommendation. He was one of the greatest of responders in his time and place, and corresponded with many of the giants of his generation – including the Divrei Chaim of Sanz – on various issues. During his lifetime he published his renowned Responsa ‘Naharei Afarsemon’ (Paksh, 1898), and his Sefer ‘Shemen Afarsemon’ on the Torah was published posthumously (Munkatch, 1899)
[1] sheet of paper. Wear and sharp fold marks. Age stains. remains of a wax seal. Good condition.
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