“ Even if one is on the lowest level he should not despair of his portion in Torah”

Handwritten ...

“ Even if one is on the lowest level he should not despair of his portion in Torah”

Handwritten Inspirational Chiddushei Torah and Explanation of Customs on Shavuos by the Chasam Sofer. Mattersdorf, 1802

A sacred handwritten leaf from the holy Rabbi Moshe Sofer, author of Chasam Sofer, with fundamental explanations concerning receiving the Torah on Shavuos and the brachos recited prior to learning Torah.

Both sides of the leaf feature a handwritten title by the Chasam Sofer in block letters: “B’ezras Hashem Yisborach. Shavuos”. This essay was written in honor of Shavuot, 1802.

The manuscript was in the possession of Rabbi Naftali Stern, and was printed based on the present copy in Drashos Chasam Sofer (Klausenburg, 1929) p. 228a-b (see description ibid, preface p. 13 #2).

In this essay, the Chasam Sofer presents profound explanations to famous Jewish customs observed on the festival of Shavuos, among them eating dairy and stationing trees in a shul.

The underlying message of this essay is that “Torah was not given to individuals, but to Klal Yisrael as one unit…and Torah scholars do not possess a greater grasp of Torah than the masses, as they are all equally good…and one should not despair of his portion in Torah, even if he is on the lowest level…One whose enthusiasm is not ignited for Torah is destined to be ignited after several generations… And if he does not come, then his son or his grandson from his family will come, and he shall inherit the same legacy. Therefore every member of Yisrael is obliged to rejoice on the festival of Shavuos.”

Mattersdorf, 1802. Page size: 24x18 cm. 62 written lines. Minor tear at the end of the leters on the inner page on the left side. Small tear on bottom corner with several letters missing.

 Preserved in attractive new binding.

The Shechinah Speaks from His Mouth

The Chasam Sofer’s fiery lectures instilled awe and terror in the hearts of all who heard them, inspiring them to rectify their misdeeds and repent. Numerous handwritten accounts depict the rousing scene of the Chasam Sofer standing before the ark resembling an angel, his countenance aglow with compassion and humility, and his words fiery arrows that penetrated every heart, evoking repentance and desire to serve Hashem. As one author describes, “[The Chasam Sofer] fulfilled what he himself wrote, ‘[When] a Rabbi who preaches and rebukes for the sake of heaven, the Divine Presence speaks from his mouth.” (Toras Moshe, Parshas Mattos)

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וכל דבריו ודרשותיו וחידושי תורתו בהלכה ואגדה הם מלאים קדושה יראת שמים וחסידות ומידות טהורות ונשגבות' (הגאון משאמלוי הי"ד בזכרון למשה עמ' 8).

The Remarkable Segulos of the Chasam Sofer’s Handwriting

A Segulah for Yiras Shamayim

Maharam Banet expressed that a mere glance at the sacred writing of the Chasam Sofer fosters fear of heaven. It is told that Maharam Banet once received a handwritten teshuvah from the Chasam Sofer and spent a great deal of time perusing it. When his students asked if the letter perplexed him, he replied, “No, but I am delving into this teshuvah, since the mere sight of his sacred writing increases fear of heaven” (Drashos Chasam Sofer, Preface, p. 6).

The Admor Rabbi Yoel of Satmar similarly expressed that seeing the handwriting of the Chasam Sofer can lead one to attain fear of heaven.

A Segulah for Protection

It is known that the Chasam Sofer’s family members and descendants would safeguard his letters and writings as a segulah for protection and security, affirming that it is auspicious for protection from trial or tribulation. Whenever his son Rabbi Shimon Sofer, Av Beis Din of Cracow, faced the Austrian Parliament, he would remove a letter written by his father from his breast pocket and carefully peruse it before rendering his decision.

A Segulah for Health and Recovery

The Daas Sofer would instruct patients to place a handwritten letter of the Chasam Sofer beneath their pillow as a segulah for health and recovery (Beis Sofrim p. 173).

A Segulah for Easy Childbirth

The Chasam Sofer’s family would also place a handwritten letter by the Chasam Sofer beneath the head of a woman in the throes of difficult labor as a segulah for swift and safe childbirth (Shu”t Shevet Halevi Vol. 6 Ch. 162 #2)

Line and Period in the Chasam Sofer’s Writings

The Chasam Sofer would mark the end of every paragraph in his writings with a line and period. See Rabbi Nosson Stern in his preface to Drashos Chasam Sofer p. 19a, comments, citing Rabbi Asher Anshel Weiss, Av Beis Din of Nagy-Falu, who notes that the Chasam Sofer inserted these markings with kabbalistic motives.

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