Physical Description   

[2] ff., 340:210 mm., ink on community stationary, neat Ashkenazic script, age toning, creased and split on folds, signed and dated.

Detailed Description

Letter by the President and Treasurer of Postyen seeking finaancial assitance to support the widow and children of their deceased rabbi, R. Joseph Moshe haLevi Ungar (1856-1898). The letter is accompanied by two additional letters of support by:

R. Koppel Reich (1838–1929), rabbi of Budapest. He was born in Verbó into a rabbinical family, he studied under his father R. Abraham Ezekiel Reich, rabbi of Bannewitz, and R. Abraham Samuel Benjamin Sofer, rabbi of Pressburg. He married the daughter of R. Israel ha-Ro'eh, disciple of R. Moses Sofer and rabbi of Szobotiszt, whom he succeeded in 1860. Twenty years later he became rabbi of Verbó where his grandfather had previously held office and was elected chief rabbi of the Orthodox community of Budapest in 1889. R. Reich possessed a wide general education and was active in Hungarian Orthodox communal affairs. In 1905 he presided over the convention of Orthodox rabbis and community leaders who drew up the regulations of Orthodox Jewry in Hungary. He delivered the opening speech in Hebrew – an unusual event in Hungary. These regulations were later ratified by the government and became the legal framework for the organization of Orthodoxy in Hungary. In the school which he established and directed, Torat Emet, both religious and secular subjects were taught. In 1927, although he was almost 90 years old, he took his seat in the upper house of the Hungarian parliament. R. Reich left no works, but he is quoted by rabbis of his generation. All his sons and sons-in-law held rabbinical office in Hungary.

R. Noah Baruch b. David Moshe Fisher (1860-1919), rabbi of Posteyn (1898-1900) and Presov (1901-1919). R. Fisher was born in Postyen where his father served as rabbi and the son in law of R. Joseph Moshe Ungar (subject of the letters). R. Noah Baruch was educated in the Yeshiva of R. Abraham Samuel Benjamin Sofer, rabbi of Pressburg and served in several prestigious Hungarian communities. An erudite rabbinical scholar, his responsa appear in many period works. All his sons and sons-in-law held rabbinical office in Hungary, notable was his son in law R. Shmuel David haLevi Ungar of Nietra.

Hebrew Description

Reference

Shem ha-Gedolim me-Erez Hagar; Talmudei Hatam Sofer; Hakhmei Hungary