Letter of Greetings from the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Naftali Silberberg – Warsaw to the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu of Grayditz
This letter, written by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg between the years 1870 and 1875, opens with profound expressions of respect:
"…Honorable Rabbi, the renowned G-dly Kabbalist, whose name is great in Israel, my revered teacher and mentor, Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher, Shlita…"
In his letter, Rabbi Naftali expresses his great joy at receiving a letter from Rabbi Eliyahu, writing:
"I had been very concerned because I had not seen the clear letters of your writing for quite some time. Now I give much thanks to Hashem for informing me of the well-being of my great Rabbi, Shlita, and may Hashem bless him and all those associated with the sanctified cause."
Further, Rabbi Naftali discusses a delay in the printing of certain books that Rabbi Eliyahu wished to publish in Warsaw:
"Let it not be thought that I am the cause, G-d forbid, of the delay in the books… it is simply the laziness of Goldmann (the printer in Warsaw) and also that the censor was ill…"
At the end of the letter, Rabbi Naftali mentions his son, Michael, who is not in good health, and concludes with:
"From me, his servant, who respects and honors him, bowing from a distance, before his Holy Honor, Chaim Yaakov Naftali, the Gaon, Rabbi Aharon Benyamin, Shlita."
