Beschreibung:

Letter of acceptance (Ktav Kabbala) for a new shochet in the Carlsberg community, signed by four of its rabbis. Kislev 1833. Beneath it is another letter of acceptance with seven signatures, headed by the signature of the Chief Rabbi of the city and the region, Rabbi "Yechezkel Panet". Carlsberg, Nissan 1834. The entire document was written by the Mareh Yechezkel [see enclosed photocopy of his handwriting for comparison]. "R. Avraham son of R. Ya'akov Segal has been accepted here in our community as a shochet and bodek for half a year…He is also obligated to lead prayers on a regular basis and will receive a full salary…each week…He must also make the rounds each Thursday to slaughter for each person before Shabbat…". Signed: "Zvi son of Yehuda Leib Luria Head of Congregation", "Menachem Mendel son of R. Moshe [a dayan in the community], "Moshe son of Y. Shtug--- HaCohen" and "Shlomo son of R. Ze'ev Segal". The second letter of acceptance from the 25th of Nissan is signed: "Yechezkel Panet", "Zvi son of Yehuda Luria, Head of the congregation", "Menachem Mendel son of R. Moshe [dayan in the community], "Yosef son of R. Reuven", Yosef son of Shlomo", "Shmuel son of Asher" and the shochet himself "Avraham shochet v'bodek". The author of Mareh Yechezkel, R. Yechezkel Panet (1783-1845), leading disciple of R. Mendeli of Rymanów, in his youth was disciple of R. Baruch Frankel, author of Baruch Ta'am and of the great Prague Torah scholars R. Shmuel Landau and R. Elazar Fleckeles. After his marriage, he moved to Galicia and there became close to R. Mendeli. He is known to have written a letter to his father in 1905 explaining the essence of Chassidism and describing his teacher R. Menachem Mendel of Rymanów. This letter which has seen multiple printings is one of the most significant documents in the history of Chassidism. In 1807, R. Panet was appointed Rabbi of Ustrzyki Dolne and in 1813, he moved to serve in the Tarcal rabbinate in Hungary. In 1823, he was crowned Chief Rabbi of Carlsberg and of all of Transylvania. R. Yechezkel is considered the spiritual father of Transylvanian Jewry which was a spiritual desert until his coming. He brought teachers, shochtim and mikva'ot to the various towns and cities. In 1832, his position as Chief Rabbi of Transylvania was officially recognized by the government and he was given the authority to adjudicate monetary claims. He was the father of the Chassidic movement in Transylvania. The first printed book of the teachings of Rebbe Mendel of Rymanów is Menachem Zion (Chernivtsi, 1851) containing Chassidic articles which R. Yechezkel heard from his holy teacher. His sons were disciples of the Chatam Sofer although they adhered to Chassidic customs. His eldest, R. Chaim Bezalel Panet was Rabbi of Tăşnad (1803-1874) and his second son R. Menachem Mendel Panet was Rabbi of Dej (Deysh) (1818-1884), ancestor of the Dej (Deyzh) chassidic dynasty. Leaf 17.5X20 cm. High-quality paper. Very-good condition.