A Rare Treasure – Ksav Yad Kodesh of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Avigdor of Dukla, Brother of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, Zy”a
A letter of recommendation and authorization for writing Sta”m, from the expert sofer of Dukla, Rav Yissachar Ber, z”l, written on 10 Kislev 5637 (1876), for the sofer R’ Chaim Yehoshua ben R’ Shimon Shlomo.
At the end of the letter, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Avigdor Halberstam, Rav of Dukla, added over three lines in his handwriting:
"
In my opinion, one may rely on the words of R’ Ber mentioned above, as he is an expert sofer, knowledgeable and a true yerei Shamayim. Therefore, his words should be relied upon." (Over the years, the bottom part of the paper, where his holy signature appeared, was torn, and it is a great loss.)
The Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Avigdor Halberstam, Zy”a of Dukla
Rav Avigdor was the youngest son of the Gaon, Rav Aryeh Leibush of Tarnigrad, zt”l, and the younger brother of the holy Divrei Chaim of Sanz, zy”a. He was also the son-in-law of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Avraham Chaim of Linsk, son of the holy Rav of Ropshitz, zy”a.
The Divrei Chaim corresponded with him in several teshuvos, where he referred to him in remarkable terms, including: "To my dear brother, the great Gaon, sharp and knowledgeable, the chassid and yerei Hashem, the epitome of a true talmid chacham, the scion of a noble lineage, the holy Rav and Gaon, Moreinu HaRav Avigdor, n”y" (Even HaEzer, Vol. 1, Siman 77). "A holy luminary, pious and ascetic, the well-known chassid" (Even HaEzer, Vol. 2, Siman 139).
