Handwritten postcard from the Gaon, the Tzaddik Rabbi Yosef HaKohen Schwartz, author of ‘Vayelaket Yosef’ HY”D – Großwardein, Iyar 5692 (May, 1932).
The letter deals on a matter of writing a Get. Further on he tells of his difficult livelihood: “I am surprised that I did not receive anything this year from the ‘Ezras Torah’ association. For I have already let my esteemed friend know that the livelihood here is extremely weak, and the worry for sustenance has risen above my head, may Hashem have mercy. With my Sefer I was unsuccessful, for I invested much fortune in it, and have yet to see a blessing from it. Nearly all those to whom I sent my Sefer to did not respond at all, and I sit and await salvation daily…”
The author, the Gaon HaChassid Rabbi Yosef Hakohen Schwartz (1875–1944) was the son of the Gaon Rabbi Naftali Schwartz, Av Beis Din of Mád, author of “Beis Naftali”, and the distinct disciple of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum, author of “Nachlei Afarsemon”. Was ordained by the greatest of Hungary’s Rabbis. He was the favorite son-in-law and right-hand-man of the famous Gaon Rabbi Eliezr Deutsch, Av Beis Din of Bonyhád, author of “Tevu’os HaSadeh”. In late 1897, when his father-in-law was appointed Av Beis Din of Bonyhád, he took his son-in-law with him to assist in ruling and running the Yeshiva. In addition, he assisted his FIL in editing his famous Seforim. After the passing of his FIL, in late 1916, he was appointed Moreh Tzedek in the community in Bonyhád. In 1924 was appointed as the leader of congregation “Machzikei Torah” in Großwardein. R’ Yosef was a prolific author. During his lifetime he published scores of Seforim and pamphlets on may topics, including responsa, argumentations, Chiddushim, practical Halacha and eulogies. The most famous of those is the periodical “Vayelaket Yosef”, which he published for 20 years. In the course of this work, he had chance to exchange letters with scores of the Gedolim of the time. He was one of the steady contributors to the periodical “Machzikei HaDas”, which were printed in Levov. He also sent many of his innovative writings to many Torah periodicals. During WWI he assisted many refugees, both physically and in spirit, to the best of his ability. The holy Rebbe, the “Ahavas Yisroel” of Viznitz was fond of him and was close to him, referring to their mutual love saying “and Yisroel loved Yosef”. After the passing of the Saba Kadisha of Viznitz, R’ Yosef published a special pamphlet with eulogy for him named “Evel Yisrael”. He was murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz on the 9th of Sivan 5704 (May 31, 1944).
14 cm. Good condition.
' d='M0 0h21v15H0z'/%3E%3Cpath fill='url(%23b)' d='M0 0h21v3H0zm0 12h21v3H0z'/%3E%3Cpath fill='url(%23a)' d='M0 3h21v9H0z'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7.575 9.25L10.5 3.985l2.925 5.265h-5.85z' stroke='%23093EC5' stroke-width='.5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7.575 5.75l2.925 5.265 2.925-5.265h-5.85z' stroke='%23093EC5' stroke-width='.5'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
