Interesting Letter from the Tzaddik of Greiditz, Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher - Regarding the Polemic Surrounding the ...

Interesting Letter from the Tzaddik of Greiditz, Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher - Regarding the Polemic Surrounding the Trustee of His Institutions in Jerusalem
Letter (21 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Eliyahu Guttmacher, Rabbi of Greiditz (Grodzisk Wielkopolski). [Greiditz, ca. 1860s-1870s].
Letter of rebuke, presumably addressed to the trustee of his institutions in Jerusalem (the upper part of the leaf, with the date and name of recipient were cut off, possibly to hide the identity of the addressee, recipient of this reproof. The recipient may have been R. Yaakov Mordechai Hirschensohn, founder and gabbai of his Beit Midrash Sukkat Shalom in Jerusalem). R. Guttmacher reproaches him for not sending receipts for the Passover funds, adding that this is delaying the expedition of funds for Shavuot. R. Eliyahu describes the grievances being leveled against him personally, for backing his trustee against his rivals. He relates that he received letters on this topic from "the Sephardi Chacham… and from the Kalischer Gaon", accusing the trustee of refusing to present himself for mediation. "In this country as well, many criticize my confidence in one individual against many", and now he is aggravating his case with his delay in sending receipts. Following this scathing reprimand, R. Eliyahu tries to find extenuating circumstances which could explain this lapse, such as postal delays, and writes that if the letters arrive "within a few days, I will send the usual funds for distribution, with a little extra, and perhaps I will send immediately or shortly one hundred Reichsthaler for Shavuot. So are the words of his friend Eliyahu, residing here Greiditz…".
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher Rabbi of Greiditz (1796-1875), disciple of R. Akiva Eger, served as rabbi of Pleschen (Pleszew) until 1841, thereafter moving to serve in the Greiditz rabbinate. His eldest son, R. Tzvi Hirsh, succeeded him as rabbi of Pleschen. Famed as a holy kabbalist, in his senior years his name spread throughout the Jewish world as a wonder-worker, with amazing stories circulating of the great miracles and salvations attained through the blessings of "der Greiditzer Tzaddik" (the Tzaddik of Greiditz), "from all countries people came to seek his blessings and prayers, each one according to his needs" (Igrot Sofrim, at the foot of letter 29).
R. Eliyahu Guttmacher was very active on behalf of Eretz Israel Jewry, and founded a yeshiva in Jerusalem named Chevrat Sukkat Shalom and Meor Yaakov. This yeshiva was established in the Shenot Eliyahu Beit Midrash which was located in R. Eliyahu Guttmacher's courtyard in Jerusalem, purchased by his trustee R. Yaakov Mordechai Hirschensohn. R. Eliyahu financed the yeshiva until his final days. In addition, together with R. Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, he was a leading member of the Chevrat Yishuv Eretz Israel society, founded in Frankfurt in 1860. The goal of this society was to increase agricultural Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, by redeeming the land from non-Jews and settling instead Jewish farmers, who would work it, be sustained by it, and perform mitzvot pertaining to it. These two rabbis propagated this ideal extensively in their books, writings, letters and sermons. They prove repeatedly in their books that these activities bring the Redemption closer and awaken Heavenly mercy and salvation.
[1] leaf. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Lacking upper part of leaf (cut unsymmetrically).