Bidspirit auction | Autograph & Signature of the

Autograph & Signature of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Yosef Greenwald (the Elder), Grandfather of the Arugath HaBosem. 1859. - A portion of a ordination document (Morenu) for Rabbi David son of Rabbi Shimshon, in the holy handwriting and signature of the saintly Gaon Rabbi Yosef Greenwald, Av Beit Din of Tchechovitz – the grandfather of the Arugath HaBosem. Signed: ”Yosef hakatan, son of Maharam zatzal, Greenwald of the aforementioned holy community.” Tchechovitz, 1859. The holy Gaon Rabbi Yosef Greenwald [1765–1870] served as the rabbinical leader of Janoshaza, Tolcsva, and finally Tchechovitz, which became part of his title. He was the founder of the renowned Greenwald rabbinic family, whose descendants became prominent rebbes and rabbis throughout Hungary. He was the father of the saintly Rabbi Amram, Av Beit Din of Chorna, and grandfather of the author of Arugath HaBosem, as well as of the Papá Chassidic dynasty. He was a foremost disciple of the saintly Gaon Rabbi Binyamin Ze’ev Wolf HaKohen Rappaport, Av Beit Din of Papá, author of Simlat Binyamin. He was also a close confidant of the Chatam Sofer, who spoke about him in exalted terms, even when Rabbi Yosef was only thirty years old, writing in his responsa (Chatam Sofer, Orach Chaim, siman 100): “The great rabbi, the pious, upright, and faithful scholar, our teacher Rabbi Yosef, Av Beit Din of Janoshaza, may he live.” He also corresponded with the Ktav Sofer (son of the Chatam Sofer), who describes him in Shu”t Ktav Sofer (siman 1) “The esteemed, outstanding, aged rabbi who has acquired wisdom, full and overflowing, a complete tzaddik who conducts himself with piety.” (See also there: simanim 72, 112, Yoreh De'ah 15, 142, 163, and Even HaEzer 67.) It is told that at the beginning of his tenure in Tchechovitz, he arrived dressed in the traditional Ashkenazic style (in a frock coat). The Chassidim of Sanz in the town complained to the Divrei Chaim of Sanz (who was the one who had recommended him for the rabbinate there). The Divrei Chaim, with his holy spirit, responded: “Do not be concerned! The day will come when his descendants will walk in the path of Chassidut, and even wear white socks and roll beneath the tables of the Rebbes!” Indeed, as with all that emerged from his holy mouth, this too was fulfilled entirely and famously, known to all. In a letter written by his grandson, the Vaychi Yosef of Papá, addressed to the holy Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoray upon becoming engaged to his rebetzem  he wrote regarding his grandfather Rabbi Yosef: “My first father-in-law, the saintly Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Yechezkiyah z”l of Khust, told me that he saw written in a notebook of Torah insights from him [Rabbi Yosef] the phrase: ‘They called me in a dream: this verse shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children’s children…’” (a paraphrase of Isaiah 59:21).