"Exceeding Wealth" – A Pair of Manuscripts by the Divine Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia Halevi Segal

"Exceeding Wealth" – A Pair of Manuscripts by the Divine Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia Halevi Segal

Two handwritten manuscripts, filled with Torah novellae in both revealed and esoteric teachings [each approximately 900 words], all in the sacred handwriting of the master of the hidden righteous, the divine kabbalist and miracle worker, Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia Halevi Segal. [Tel Aviv], 1987.

1. A Lengthy Kabbalistic Letter with Abundant Blessings

A long letter on Kabbalah spanning two large pages, interwoven with abundant blessings. The letter is addressed to the esteemed Rabbi Shmuel Vorhaftig, a disciple of the Hebron Yeshiva and a follower of Gur Chassidus. [Tel Aviv], the day "ki tov" was doubled, 19 Sivan, "the middle of the third month, " 1987. Unpublished.

The letter was sent in the month of the receiving of the Torah and includes an esoteric essay on the greatness of Torah. Rabbi Segal titles the letter [in the third line, underlined]: "Ma’amar Erechah Shel Torah" (Essay on the Value of Torah).

At the bottom of the letter, the kabbalist inscribed abundant blessings in his own handwriting:

"In luxuries and delights, which you have merited, blessed be He, from Heaven";

"The wealth of Rabbi Eliezer ben Charsum";

"The entire world is worthy for him – that he is deserving of exceeding wealth and wisdom, etc."

2. A Lengthy Essay Titled: "A Study Partner in This World for the Sons of the World to Come – In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Rabbeinu Tam, 4 Tammuz 1987"

Across two large pages, Rabbi Segal explains who merits "Shalma Min Shemaya" – hearing a heavenly blessing of peace during their lifetime, whether it be the Torah leaders of the generation or the outstanding benefactors of the time.

This essay was later printed in his book Chidushei Rabbi Zechariah, Part I, Tractate Taanit 21b (page 30 of the book). However, in the printed version, there is no mention that it was originally written for the yahrzeit of Rabbeinu Tam.

[4] large pages, 32x20 cm.

Condition: Good. Folding marks.

Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia Mordechai Leib Chaim Halevi Segal [1924-2001]

Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia Halevi Segal was renowned as the leader of the Lamed-Vav hidden righteous. He served as the rabbi of the Kiryat Shalom neighborhood in Tel Aviv for approximately fifty years. He was born in Jerusalem to Rabbi Sheftel (Sheftia) Segal, a descendant of the Shelah, and was named after Rabbi Sheftel, son of the Shelah, publisher of the renowned Siddur HaShelah. His maternal grandfather was Rabbi Bechor Chaim Yosef David Azulai, a descendant of the Chida.

At the age of eight, following the passing of his grandfather, Rabbi Yaakov Mandelbaum, in Jerusalem, he was one of the three eulogizers – an extraordinary phenomenon for a child of such age. The other two eulogizers were two of Jerusalem’s greatest rabbis: Rabbi Kook and Rabbi Yosef Gershon Horowitz.

As a young man, he studied at the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva, where he was a disciple of Rabbi Shach and even shared a room with him for a period. During that time, he maintained a close relationship with the Chazon Ish. He passed away without leaving children. His Torah novellae were published in his books Chidushei Rabbi Yehuda Zerachia, and additional teachings appeared in his father’s book Divrei Rabbeinu Sheftel. His life story was chronicled in the book HaTzadik Pele (The Wondrous Tzaddik).

The Chazon Ish referred to him as "A lion among lions." Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner wrote of him: "The genius and righteous wonder-worker." The Pnei Menachem of Gur wrote about him: "Once, he yearned greatly to see his grandfather, and he appeared to him in a dream… from this, we see that through deep yearning, one can bring about revelations from the upper worlds." [See accompanying photographs in another item from this catalog.]