Religious Letter Handwritten by Rabbi David Daniel of Chichelnik, Who was Born after a Blessing by the Ba'al Shem Tov

Religious Letter Handwritten by Rabbi David Daniel of Chichelnik, Who was Born after a Blessing by the Ba'al Shem Tov
A letter handwritten by Rabbi David Daniel, the son of Rabbi Shemarya Shmeril of Verkhivka who was a leading disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov.
Rabbi David Daniel was born after his father received a blessing by the Ba'al Shem Tov!
The letter is to Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot of Brody and it is on matters of Shechita. A response to this letter was printed in the 'Beit Efrayim' Responsa, Yoreh Deah section, Siman 24. The letter before us is not dated. [The 1740's].
Rabbi David opens his letter with a request for a quick response. He also asks Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot to send his response "with a trustworthy man … my close friend the prominent rabbi Menachem Nachum".
Rabbi Shmeril, the leading disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov, had only daughters. His son-in-law Rabbi Folk Ha'Cohen of Chichelnik recalled that the Ba'al Shem Tov used to be his guest and the women of the house used to leave the house in respect. Rabbi Shmeril wanted to ask the Ba'al Shem Tov for a blessing yet was ashamed to do so. Then, on on eof his visits, the Ba'al Shem Tov turned to Rabbi Shmeril and asked him to call for his wife. When she came before the Ba'al Shem Tov, he told her that the following year she will give birth to a baby boy. And indeed that is what happened and she gave birth to Rabbi David Daniel.

When a daughter was born to Rabbi Shmeril, he used to go to the Ba'al Shem Tov to receive an amulet from him. When his son, David, was born he went to the Ba'al Shem Tov to receive an amulet. When he reached the Ba'al Shem Tov, the Ba'al Shem Tov told him that he was going to lose his fortune. "Now", said the Ba'al Shem Tov, "I had to choose between money and a baby boy and I chose the baby boy". Indeed, Rabbi Shmeril, who until them was a wealthy man, became impoverished and became a Maggid Meisharim in Verkhivka and a Moreh Tzeddek in Savarin (the story was taken from the book 'Shivchei Ba'al Shem Tov', pp. 99-100).

We know of four prominent rabbis who born after a blessing by the Ba'al Shem Tov: Der Shpaler Zeide, the Maggid of Koznitz, Rabbi Aharon of Kerlin and Rabbi David Daniel.
Attached is confirmation by Rabbi Yitzchak Yesh'aya Weiss, who writes: "Was born after the blessing of the Ba'al Shem Tov".
A folded leaf. Two written pages. On the reverse sides of these leaves, several lines handwritten by him praising the addressee and requesting that the letter be given to him.
23x17 cm.
Condition: Good. The leaf is slightly torn with omission of several words. The leaves are marked with Hebrew letters of the value "110-111". (Additional numbering: 30).