Background of this extraordinary letter: After the passing of the holy Rebbi, the Sfas Emes of Gur, many of the great Chassidim of Gur began to seek guidance and leadership under Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Yustman. However, he distanced himself from them and refused to assume the role of Rebbe. At that time, his relative, the holy Gaon Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg of Wodzisław wrote him a letter urging him to accept the leadership and draw the Chassidim close. In response, the holy Rebbi of Pilz wrote the following letter.
”To my dear and esteemed relative, the honored Rabbi, may he be well.
Regarding what you have written, know that I have heard twice from the mouth of my saintly grandfather, of blessed memory, that when there is any personal interest in this matter, ‘the Rebbe along with the Chassidim and the twelve loaves are in the lowest depths of Gehenna’—God forbid. Also, I seem to recall hearing that when Rabbi Elimelech and Rebbi Zusha were traveling the world to inspire people to repentance, the Yetzer Horah encountered them and told them that if they did not cease their journeys, he would increase the number of Chassidim and fill the entire world with them. Therefore, just as Rashi explains that although a Matzevah (pillar) was beloved in the days of the Patriarchs, once idolaters began using it, it became despised before the Almighty—I fear that the gathering of Chassidim may have lost its favor in His eyes. However, we find that our sages mention instances of receiving signs from Heaven, such as witnessing a palm tree straightening itself and similar events.
And since I have not received any revelation or indication from Heaven, I am afraid that I would have to give an account for assuming such a role on my own initiative. I have already received several letters from distant places expressing a desire to come to me, and my heart trembles greatly. Therefore, as long as I have no clear sign from above showing that there is heavenly approval, my opinion is to decline. And for those who persist in coming despite my refusals—what can I do?
May the Merciful One enlighten our eyes, and may we merit to always fulfill His will, as is the hope of your devoted friend and relative, who blesses you with a good and kosher festival,
Pinchas Menachem"
At the end of the letter, the holy Rebbi of Pilz adds a few lines regarding a confidential matter: "I was in Częstochowa with the Beis Din, and we made peace—only that Hashem should help so that it remains enduring…"
Letters from the Holy Siftei Tzadik of Pilica are Extremely Rare! Only one letter has ever appeared at public auction.
The Holy Rebbe Pinchas Menachem Eliezer Justman [1849–1921] was a grandson of the Rebbe, the author of Chiddushei HaRim of Gur, and the brother-in-law of the Sfat Emet.
In his childhood, he went to live in the home of his grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim of Ger, together with his cousin, the holy Rebbi the Sfas Emes, —who later became both his brother-in-law and his teacher. The Sfas Emes also moved to their grandfather’s home after becoming orphaned of both his father and mother. Together, they grew up and were educated under the guidance of their great grandfather, who even took them with him to Kotsk so that they could "see a true Jew" (in his holy words: "לאזן זיי אנקוקן א וואהרין יוד"). In later years, both of them became transmitters of tradition, preserving and passing down their grandfather’s Torah in their seforim for future generations. He was also the one who toiled and published his grandfather’s works, which became foundational texts in the tents of Torah.
In 1864, when he was 16 years old, his grandfather arranged his marriage to his orphaned granddaughter, Hendel Leah, the daughter of his righteous son, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter (who had passed away during his father’s lifetime, the Chidushei HaRim). In the late summer, when Rebbe Pinchas Menachem was unwell, his grandfather sent a letter to the holy Rebbi Yaakov Aryeh of Radzymin, requesting "to pray for my grandson, the outstanding Torah scholar, R’ Pinchas Menachem Mendel, son of Tzina Pessa, who has been ill for more than a week… May Hashem send him a complete recovery speedily, among all the sick of Israel."
After the passing of his grandfather, the Chiddushei HaRim, in 1866, Rebbi Pinchas Menachem Eliezer became a disciple of Rebbi Chanoch Henoch HaKohen Levin of Alexander. Following Rebbi Chanoch Henoch’s passing, he became a close follower of his brother-in-law, Rebbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib of Gur, the Sfat Emet. Among the Sfat Emet’s court, Rebbi Pinchas Menachem held a prominent role, managing the inquiries of the chassidim and overseeing communal and organizational matters.
When the Sfat Emet passed away on the 5th of Shevat, 1905, Rebbi Pinchas Menachem refused to assume leadership of the Gur chassidim. In his will, he wrote that he had not received a heavenly sign to take on this role. To avoid the responsibilities of leadership, he left the town of Gur and moved to Pilica, where he was appointed as the town’s rabbi.
Despite his efforts to distance himself, many of the followers and close associates of the Sfat Emet sought him out and continued to maintain their connection with him. Eventually, he accepted them as his chassidim. Meanwhile, Rebbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, the Imrei Emet (son of the Sfat Emet), initially refrained from accepting leadership as long as Rebbi Pinchas Menachem remained in Gur. After Rebbi Pinchas Menachem relocated to Pilica—just days before Purim—the Imrei Emet experienced a change of heart and began leading his court, starting with a Purim gathering in his home.
Multitudes flocked to the Rebbe of Pilz to receive his blessings, and many stories were told of his ability to bring healing and salvation. The holy Rabbi the Imrei Emes of Ger, testified to his grandson: "In Heaven, they fulfill everything that your grandfather requests." Many witnessed his prayers, which were filled with remarkable sincerity—like a child pleading before his father—and infused with pure fear of Heaven, leaving a profound impression above to bring salvation to all who mentioned their names before him.
Like his grandfather, Rebbi Pinchas Menachem managed yeshivot in Pilica and Wieruszów, where young students studied. By 1912, he fell gravely ill and added the name "Eliezer" as a spiritual remedy. From then on, he was known as Pinchas Menachem Eliezer.
After living in Pilica for ten years, he moved with his family to Wieruszów and later to Częstochowa during World War I. He passed away on a Shabbat during seudah shlishit. His funeral was delayed until Monday due to a dispute between the communities of Pilica and Częstochowa over his burial site. Ultimately, it was decided that he would be buried in Częstochowa. According to tradition, those who ruled for his burial in Częstochowa passed away shortly thereafter, as he had written in his will that every effort should be made to bury him in Pilz.
[For most of his life, he resided in Ger. Only after the passing of the Sfas Emes, in 1905, did he move to live in Pilz, and later in Wieruszów and Częstochowa. In these three places combined, he lived for 16 years, whereas in Ger, he lived for nearly thirty years and was known by all as "Rabbi Mendel Yustman of Ger." Within the family of the House of Ger, he was called "Der Groiser Mendele" (the great Mendel), to distinguish him from the holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Pabianice, (son of the Sfas Emes), who was much younger than him and was therefore referred to as "Der Kleiner Mendele" (the small Mendel)].
Rebbi Pinchas Menachem Eliezer authored Shiftei Tzaddik on the Torah. He also wrote an extensive commentary on the Talmud and a commentary on Psalms, which were lost during the Holocaust.
The Holy Gaon & Tzadik Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg was born in the holy community of Apt to his father, the righteous scholar Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, son of Rabbi Yisrael, rabbi of Magniszow and Gur (the father of the Chidushei HaRim). Rabbi Yisrael was the son of Rabbi Mordechai, making him a third-generation descendant of the famed halachic authority, Rabbi Meir of Rottenberg.
When he was ten years old, his father passed away, and his saintly brother, Rabbi Pinchas, took him to Ger to be raised by their uncle, the great Chidushei HaRim. There, he was educated alongside his uncle’s grandsons, the holy Rebbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib (author of Sfas Emes) and Rebbi Mendel of Piltz (Pilica), both of whom had also been orphaned and were raised under the Chidushei HaRim’s care.
During his first Rosh Hashanah in Ger, about ten thousand Chassidim were present. Before the prayers, the Chidushei HaRim sent his attendant, R’ Bunim Astralanker, to bring the young Avraham to his private study. The Rebbe asked him to share a Torah insight. When he finished, his uncle asked, "From whom did you hear this teaching?" He replied that he had heard it from his teacher. The Chidushei HaRim then said, "I want to hear your own thoughts." The boy hesitated, saying, "I do not know if my words would be pleasing to my uncle." The Rebbe encouraged him to speak, and he then offered an original insight regarding the shofar of an olah, resolving a difficulty in Tosafos based on the Rambam. When he finished, the Chidushei HaRim responded, "And for this, you were ashamed to speak? This is good and upright!" Upon leaving, Rabbi Avraham Chaim overheard his uncle tell his attendant, "People say Avraham is an iluy (prodigy), but I say he is an ‘ilui’ indeed!"
He married the daughter of his brother, Rabbi Yisrael, Av Beis Din of Horodło, and later served as Av Beis Din of Wodzislaw. Once, when he was visiting the holy Rabbi Yitzchak of Neshchiz with his brother, Rebbi Yisrael, they sought guidance about his son-in-law’s daily immersion in an ice-cold mikveh, fearing for his health. The holy Rabbi of Neshchiz responded to Rabbi Avraham Chaim:
"I am not referring to a required immersion (such as Ezra’s purification), but rather a voluntary immersion. The word ‘mikveh’ is related to the word ‘komah’ (stature), and immersing in a mikveh rectifies one’s spiritual stature. However, you, with your deep Torah learning, are already rectifying your spiritual stature, so for you, studying Gemara suffices in place of immersion."
Among those who sought his rulings in halacha were some of the greatest Torah scholars of the generation, including: The Sfas Emes and his son, the Imrei Emes of Ger, The holy Rabbi Mendel of Piltz (Sifsei Tzaddik), His brother, the holy Rabbi Pinchas, Rabbi Meir Dan Plotzki, Rabbi Yaakov Mordechai of Bilgoraj, and many others. His stature was so great that the Imrei Emes, Rabbi Mendel of Piltz, and particularly his brother, Rabbi Pinchas, all traveled to visit him.
On one Shabbos, after prayers, the Maggid of Trisk invited him to his room, honored him with making Kiddush on wine and eating mezonos, and told him, "Since you have refused to accept a rabbinic position, know that you were created to serve in the rabbinate, and the world needs you."
Due to his profound knowledge of halacha and his disdain for material gain, he was frequently called upon to judge halachic disputes alongside towering figures such as: The holy Sfas Emes, Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, The holy Rebbi Avraham of Parczew.
He authored, Shu”t Sifsei Avraham (1935), Emes L’Yaakov and Chesed L’Avraham (Brooklyn, 1957). Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg passed away in 1917.
15.4 x 10.5 cm.
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Lot #115