Inspiring Letter by Hagaon Harav Moshe Forhand, Av Beis Din of Makov, with Mussar & Guidance from the Teachings of the Chassan Sofer
Invaluable handwritten letter by Hagaon Harav Moshe Forhand, Av Beis Din of Makov, summarizing the fundamentals of the spiritual service and guidance taught by his master the Chassan Sofer, Hagaon Harav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, Av Beis Din of Mattersdorf.
In his letter, Harav Moshe describes two primary facets that he discerned in the exalted spiritual service of the Chassan Sofer: The first was that he renewed and reinforced his avodas Hashem daily and aroused his disciples to feel renewed in their Torah study The way to achive this was through conducting a personal accounting every day. The Chassan Sofer would likewise regularly learn and review the halachos pertaining to every holiday and period prior to the respective time of year, in order to arouse the spiritual elements and forces of the time.
The second foundation was absolute purity in avodas Hashem, free of questions, demands, foreign opinions, and his paradigm of purifying the mind.
In the opening of the letter, he addresses Rav Shmuel’s request to send him letters from his grandfather and expresses “If not for my desire to disseminate the Chassan Sofer’s teachings throughout the Jewish world, I would not send this ‘Torah book’ for even thousands [money].”
Hagaon Harav Moshe Forhand, Av Beis Din o
f Makov, (1860-1943) was among the preeminent sages of pre-war Hungary who disseminated Torah to thousands. He was the prime disciple of the Chassan Sofer to whom he regarded with awe and reverance, and to whom cleaved throughout his life, He also acquired knowledge and depth of chassidus from the Rebbes of Belz, Shinova and Sighet. Harav Moshe Forhand taught Torah and relayed the Chassan Sofer’s teachings for over a half century in the communities of Nitra and Makov. He lived a life of absolute piety and purity, and would often engage in fasts and abstentions. He perished approximately one week prior to the deportation of Jews from Makov. His legacy includes Ohel Moshe and Chayei Moshe.
Makov, 1933. Double-sided, handwritten and signed letter on personal stationery. Page size: 14×22 cm.
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