Bidspirit auction | Letter from Rabbi Isaac Politz,

Letter from Rabbi Isaac Politz, Concerning the Rabbinate of Alt-Ofen [Óbuda ]. Vienna, 1787 Letter from Rabbi Isaac Politz, recommending support for the Dayan of Vienna, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Segal, for the rabbinate of Óbuda (Old Buda). Vienna, 1787. [1] leaf. Yiddish. In the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Isaac Politz. On the back: the address of the recipient and remnants of a wax seal. Accompanied by a leaf with a transcription of the letter. Background: In 1784, Rabbi Matisyahu Noson Ginzburg, Rabbi of the city of Óbuda (also called Alt-Ofen, Old Buda), passed away. Following his death, a prolonged dispute broke out regarding the appointment of a new Rabbi. Rabbi Isaac Politz was distressed by this quarrel, and in the letter before us he suggested to the leaders of the Óbuda community, Rabbi Moshe Bagdan and Rabbi David Konin, to appoint Rabbi Yechiel Michel Segal of Vienna as Rabbi of the city, listing his virtues as: “sharp and proficient, magid, great scholar, safra rabba, great man of prayer, איבר הויפט קמין פון עשרת אלפים […] דן האט ניכט ניטיג זא זעהר על הקהלה מאן גהארך, אויך ניכט משה פונים [since being wealthy, he would not depend on the community].” In the end, Rabbi Moshe Mintz, author of She’elot U’Teshuvot Maharam Mintz, was appointed as Rabbi of Óbuda. Rabbi Isaac Politz – apparently son of the Gaon Rabbi Gershon (ben Rabbi Moshe) Politz, Av Beit Din of Nikolsburg, Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Moravia. Rabbi Yechiel Michel Segal (d. 1818) – Dayan and Magid in Vienna, son of Rabbi Asher Lemel Segal, Av Beit Din of Glogau and Eisenstadt, descendant of the Bach. After his father’s passing in 1789, he succeeded him as Av Beit Din of Eisenstadt. Rabbeinu the Chasam Sofer testified that in his youth, he heard Rabbi Yechiel Michel’s sermons: 'בהיותו ראש המדברים בעיר וויען, טעמתי מנעם נואמו ומתק דובשו'. Fold marks, a few stains, wear at one corner. Good condition.