Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Morgenstern of Kotzk-Pilov - Łuków, 1902 - Invitation to his ...

Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Morgenstern of Kotzk-Pilov - Łuków, 1902 - Invitation to his Daughter's Wedding
Printed invitation from Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Morgenstern of Kotzk-Pilov, to the wedding of his daughter Esther with the groom R. Aryeh Leib HaKohen Lieberman of Brisk, in Łuków, 3rd Tammuz 1902. On the other side of the invitation, a lengthy letter handwritten and signed by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh. Łuków, 1902. The letter is addressed to his uncle, his father's brother "the holy and pious rabbi" (presumably his uncle R. Tzvi Hirsh of Lomaz - 1852-1926), requesting that "my honored uncle should glorify our celebration, in particular since for a certain reason my father is unable to attend, surely his presence will add honor and grandeur, as all distinguished families reciprocate to each other, why should we not merit this as well, for the glory of our holy ancestors…". Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Morgenstern of Łuków (1858-1920, Encyclopedia of Chassidut III, p. 603), author of Ateret Tzvi, was the eldest son of Rebbe Yisrael Morgenstern of Pilov (Puławy), and brother of Rebbe Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern, Rabbi of Sokolow. R. Tzvi Hirsh was born in 1858 and was the last descendant at whose circumcision the Rebbe of Kotzk served as sandak. He was raised in the court of his grandfather Rebbe David of Kotzk, and oversaw all matters in the Kotzk court. After his father's passing in 1906, he began leading his own following in Łuków, with the encouragement of his great-uncle, the Avnei Nezer - Rebbe Avraham of Sochatchov. During 1914-1917, he sojourned in Warsaw, and with the end of WWI returned to Łuków. In his later years, he was incredibly pained by the state of the Jewish Diaspora in Russia, under the Communist rule, and would pray extensively for the wellbeing of his oppressed Jewish brethren. His pure heart succumbed to his anguish over the troubles of the Jewish people. He was succeeded by his son R. Moshe Baruch of Włodawa. [1] double leaf. 18.5 cm. 15 autograph lines and signature. Fair condition. Tears and wear to folds. Tape (acid-free) to verso. Owner's stamp on verso: "Yechiel Meir son of the holy Rebbe of Praga" (R. Yechiel Meir Morgenstern of Kotzk-Lomaz, 1894-1974, son of the recipient of the letter Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Lomaz, who lived for a time in Praga, near Warsaw).