Withdrawn. Letter from Rebbetzin Shaindel Twersky - Wife of Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Shpikov, Daughter of Rebbe ...

Withdrawn. Letter from Rebbetzin Shaindel Twersky - Wife of Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Shpikov, Daughter of Rebbe David of Tolna, and Daughter-in-Law of Rebbe Yitzchak of Skver - Who Led the Shpikov Court Following Her Husband's Passing

Withdrawn.

Letter signed by Rebbetzin Shaindel Twersky, widow of Rebbe Menachem Nachum Twersky of Shpikov and daughter of Rebbe David Twersky of Tolna. [Shpikov (Shpykiv), after Nisan 1887, ca. late 1880s].
Written by a scribe, with the Rebbetzin's signature. The letter was written after the passing of her husband Rebbe Menachem Nachum Twersky of Shpikov on Rosh Chodesh Nisan 1887. In the letter, the widowed rebbetzin requests of "the philanthropist… R. Shimon Leib", that he continue supporting them as he did in the past, especially since she is presently in dire financial straits following her daughter's wedding, and burdened with heavy debts. The rebbetzin mentions in her letter the merit of her husband and father-in-law: "…in the merit of my husband and father-in-law, who are aware of the suffering of the living, especially their household members… and now, creditors are pressing me to pay off the loans which I borrowed in order to provide for my family and especially for my daughter's wedding. And whoever helps me to repay my debts, surely their (my husband's and my father-in-law's) merit will protect them, to fill their homes with blessing according to their good heart's wishes…". The letter is signed by the Rebbetzin: "Shaindel wife of R. Menachem Nachum".
The distinguished Rebbetzin Shaindel Twersky was the eldest daughter of Rebbe David Twersky of Tolna. She married (in her first marriage) Rebbe Chaim Menachem of Zinkov son of Rebbe Meshulam Zusia of Zinkov, from the Apta dynasty. From this marriage she bore two sons, Rebbe Pinchas of Zinkov and Rebbe Moshe of Zinkov, as well as two daughters, Rebbetzin Chaya Sara wife of Rebbe Yeshayahu Twersky of Makarov, and Rebbetzin Devorah (second) wife of Rebbe Feivish Hager of Zalishchik. In her second marriage, Rebbetzin Shaindel married her cousin Rebbe Menachem Nachum Twersky of Shpikov, son of Rebbe Yitzchak Twersky of Skver (brother of her father, R. David of Tolna). From this marriage she bore an only son, Rebbe Mordechai (R. Mottele) Twersky of Shpikov. Following the passing of her husband, the rebbe of Shpikov (in 1887, before he reached the age of fifty), the Chassidim housed Rebbetzin Shaindel in a lavish apartment, from where she led a kind of court of her own. The book Ketavim (Mordechai Globman, Jerusalem, 2005, p. 127) reports: "The Chassidim who frequented the court of the young Rebbe (R. Mottele), would also honor her with a visit, out of regard for her esteemed father and late husband, sometimes even giving her a Pidyon and receiving her blessing". The distinguished personality of Rebbetin Shaindel is portrayed at length in the book HaChatzer HaPenimit (Tel Aviv, 1954), by Yochanan Twersky, great-grandson of the Rebbetzin. In this book, he relates: "Almost from the day she entered her father-in-law's home in Skver, and then in Shpikov, all the needs and debts of the court were assigned to her" (ibid, p. 36). This fact is corroborated by the contents of this letter.
This letter was presumably written following the wedding of one of her daughters from her first marriage.
[1] leaf. 17.5 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Tears affecting text. Tape repairs and traces of acidic adhesive tape. Folding marks.