Letter handwritten and signed by the Gaon Rabbi Pinchas Chaim Klein. Selish (Nagyszőlős, today Vynohradiv), 1877.

Recommendation for appointing Rabbi Natan Yehuda Kahane as dayan, sent to an Orthodox community which was in need of a dayan – "Word has spread… that you need a dayan for your community… Therefore, I am presenting you with… an upright Torah scholar… sharp and erudite R. Notte Yuda M. HaCohen, son of R. Chaim Moshe Kahane who was one of the elder rabbis here…".

Rabbi Pinchas Chaim Klein (died in 1923, Otzar HaRabbanim 17001), famous Torah scholar of his times and prominent rabbi and head of yeshiva in Hungary. Son and successor of Rebbe Shmuel Shmelke Klein, Rabbi of Selish (Vynohradiv), author of Tzror HaChaim. Disciple of the Ktav Sofer and son-in-law of R. Yisrael Roiz of Selish.   From 1875, he succeeded his father as Rabbi of Selish.

Rabbi Pinchas Chaim was involved in the leadership and his opinion had great influence on the the Jews of Hungary. His Torah and history appear in the book Chayei Pinchas. In his signature, he refers to his great father in the following manner: Pinchas Chaim, the youth, son of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke ztz"l.

Among his sons-in-law are Rabbi Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer Rabbi of Krakow, Rabbi Moses (Moshe) Chaim HaLevi Litch-Rosenbaum Rabbi of Kisvárda (Kleinwardein) and Rabbi Tuvia HaLevi Schweiger Rabbi of Seňa. His son, Rabbi Shlomo Yisrael Klein succeeded him as Rabbi of Selish. [See HaChatam Sofer V’Talmidav, pp. 535-536].


[1] folded leaf. 21 cm. Bluish-greenish paper. Good condition. Light stains. Folding marks.

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Lot #154

Letter of Recommendation for Appointing a Dayan - By Rabbi Pinchas Chaim Klein, Rabbi of Selish - 1877.

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