Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Five Original Photographs from the Wedding of the Daughter of the Minchat Elazar – Munkacs, 1933
Opening: $250
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Five photographs on original postcards, from the historic wedding of the only daughter of Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapira, Rabbi of Munkacs, author of Minchat Elazar, with his son-in-law R. Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz, son of the Rebbe of Partzeva-Biala. Munkacs, 1933.
The photographs depict the honor entrance, the honor guard riding horses, the enormous crowds on the streets of Munkacs, with magnificent coaches seating the distinguished guests, including rabbis, rebbes and family members.
This wedding was documented by contemporary newspapers as the largest Jewish wedding of the period. The borders between countries were opened, and dedicated train lines transported Jews from all over Hungary and Poland to Munkacs. This historical wedding was attended by many dozens of international journalists as well, and an American crew produced a well-known recording of it.
The bride's father, Rebbe Chaim Elazar Shapiro (1872-1937), was a leading Torah scholar, halachic and Chassidic authority and kabbalist. Son of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro, author of Darchei Teshuvah, and grandson of Rebbe Shlomo Shapiro, author of Shem Shlomo (both Rabbis of Munkacs), he was born to the dynasty of Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, the Bnei Yissachar. He fought for the holiness of Judaism, and his halachic and kabbalistic teachings are studied all over the world. Author of Minchat Elazar, Shaar Yissachar, Nimukei Orach Chaim, Divrei Torah in nine parts, and more.
His only daughter, Chayah Frumet Rivkah (born to him at an advanced age, from his second marriage), married R. Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz (1915-1998), son of Rebbe Nathan David of Partzeva (Parczew), a scion of the Biala dynasty. The wedding was documented in the press as the largest Jewish wedding of those times.
After the death of his illustrious father-in-law, R. Rabinowitz succeeded him as Rabbi of Munkacs and although he was only 22 years old, he led this large community for three years until the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he endured many misfortunes following his expulsion from Munkacs by the authorities (as a Polish citizen) and after much wandering and many travails (he was active in rescue operations in Budapest, from which he escaped to Eretz Israel via Turkey and Lebanon), he survived the Holocaust and in 1944 arrived in Jerusalem with his entire family. (He managed to bring with him part of his large library of books and ancient manuscripts from the home of the Minchat Elazar and the Darchei Teshuvah of Munkacs). Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, his wife, Rebbetzin Chayah Frumet fell ill. She died about a year later, leaving behind five young orphans. Two of his sons from his first wife are the well-known current Munkacs and Dinov Rebbes in the United States.
5 photographed postcards, in very good condition. 3 sized 9X14 cm, with stamp of photographer from Munkacs: "Orig. Photo – Loclcer, Mukačevo". Two other postcards sized 8.5X13.5 cm, with printed logo of the British company "Kodak Ltd" on verso (real photo postcards were printed under this logo between the World Wars, 1918-1936).
Two of these postcards are also printed in Hen Gaalti – Zichronos fun Munkacs, New York 1972, p. [56].
Portraits – Prints, Photographs and Art
Portraits – Prints, Photographs and Art