Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Four Letters from German Rabbis – Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, Rabbi Aviezri Zelig Auerbach, Rabi Dov Aryeh Ritter and Rabbi Moshe Rothenberg – Sent to R. Michael Cahn Rabbi of Fulda – Germany and Holland, 1883-1903 – The Metzitzah Polemic
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Four letters from German rabbis, addressed to R. Michael Cahn Rabbi of Fulda. From R. Azriel Hildesheimer Rabbi of Berlin, R. Aviezri Zelig Auerbach Rabbi of Halberstadt, R. Dov Aryeh Ritter Rabbi of Rotterdam and R. Moshe Rothenberg a rabbi in Nuremberg. [Germany and Holland], 1883-1903.
• Responsum regarding laws of Shabbat in a partnership with a non-Jew, and about donations for the Rabbinical seminary in Berlin, by R. Azriel Hildesheimer, rabbi of Berlin. [Berlin], 1883.
The letter was published in Moriah, 101-102, Adar 1980, pp. 41-42.
R. Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899), rabbi, posek and leader. A foremost rabbi in his times, he stood at the helm of Orthodox Jewry in Germany. He was a close disciple of R. Yaakov Ettlinger – the Aruch LaNer in Altona (who refers to him in Responsa Binyan Tzion as "my son"), and studied under Chacham Bernays (R. Yitzchak Bernays) of Hamburg. In 1848, he founded a yeshiva in Halberstadt, and in 1851, he was appointed rabbi of Eisenstadt, where he also served as yeshiva dean and established a unique educational system. In 1869, he began serving as rabbi of the Adath Israel Orthodox community in Berlin, where he founded a yeshiva. In 1874, he opened the Rabbinical seminary, which edified generations of rabbis, educators and community leaders. Just like his teacher the Aruch LaNer, he was titled "Nesi Eretz Israel". He was renowned for his wide-ranging efforts on behalf of German Jewry, and for his extensive activities on behalf of Russian Jewry. He authored many novellae and halachic responsa, which were published in the books Responsa of R. Azriel (2 volumes), Chiddushei R. Azriel – on the Talmud (3 volumes) and others.
• Letter concerning metzitzah during Brit Milah, by R. Aviezri Zelig Auerbach Rabbi of Halberstadt. [Halberstadt, 1887]. German and Hebrew.
Both R. Zelig Auerbach and the recipient of the letter, R. Michael Cahn, were very involved in the metzitzah polemic. In this letter, R. Zelig transcribes briefly (in Hebrew) his response to "the question which was presented to me from a G-d fearing rabbi and outstanding Torah scholar, several weeks ago… regarding a G-d fearing mohel who wishes to perform metzitzah at every Brit Milah… if the father of the baby prevents him from doing so… should this mohel perform the circumcision and priah according to Halacha, without metzitzah, or should one tell him not to perform this circumcision at all". The responsum in question was printed based on a manuscript in Shomrei Mishmeret HaKodesh, Jerusalem 2009, part II, pp. 450-453. The question is dated there Sunday, Parashat Mishpatim 1887, "several weeks" before the date of the present letter – Wednesday Parashat Tetzaveh. The rabbi who sent this question was R. Moshe Yonah Königshöfer, rabbi of the Orthodox community and orphanage in Fürth (see enclosed material).
R. Aviezri Zelig Auerbach (1840-1901), son and disciple of R. Tzvi Binyamin Auerbach author of Nachal Eshkol. Following his father's passing in 1872, he succeeded him as rabbi of Halberstadt. He was a prominent German rabbi in his times, and leader of Orthodox Jewry.
• Letter (postcard) regarding scribal writing (Stam), the Heter Iska contract, and more, by R. Dov Aryeh Ritter Rabbi of Rotterdam. Rotterdam, 1892.
R. Dov Aryeh (Bernhard Löbel) Ritter Rabbi of Rotterdam (1855-1935), a prominent Torah leader in Holland. He exchanged correspondence on halachic and communal matters with Torah leaders in many countries. His exceptional erudition led him to expose the forgery of the Jerusalem Talmud Kodashim, and he was the first to publicize essays and letters to this effect.
• Letter with a question regarding the quantity of water in a mikveh (ritual bath), with Torah novellae on the verse "Repent, Israel", by R. Moshe Rothenberg, rabbi in Nuremberg. Nuremberg, [Tishrei 1903].
The recipient of these letters, R. Michael Cahn (1849-1920), rabbi of Fulda from 1878. A disciple of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch and R. Azriel Hildesheimer, he was a prominent German Orthodox rabbi in his times. He was renowned for his halachic invention – a suction tube for Brit Milah, which received the approbations of his above-mentioned teachers, R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor Rabbi of Kovno, R. Yechiel Michel Epstein author of Aruch HaShulchan, and many others.
4 letters. Size varies. Overall good condition. Letter of R. Auerbach trimmed at bottom, with loss of several lines.
• Responsum regarding laws of Shabbat in a partnership with a non-Jew, and about donations for the Rabbinical seminary in Berlin, by R. Azriel Hildesheimer, rabbi of Berlin. [Berlin], 1883.
The letter was published in Moriah, 101-102, Adar 1980, pp. 41-42.
R. Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899), rabbi, posek and leader. A foremost rabbi in his times, he stood at the helm of Orthodox Jewry in Germany. He was a close disciple of R. Yaakov Ettlinger – the Aruch LaNer in Altona (who refers to him in Responsa Binyan Tzion as "my son"), and studied under Chacham Bernays (R. Yitzchak Bernays) of Hamburg. In 1848, he founded a yeshiva in Halberstadt, and in 1851, he was appointed rabbi of Eisenstadt, where he also served as yeshiva dean and established a unique educational system. In 1869, he began serving as rabbi of the Adath Israel Orthodox community in Berlin, where he founded a yeshiva. In 1874, he opened the Rabbinical seminary, which edified generations of rabbis, educators and community leaders. Just like his teacher the Aruch LaNer, he was titled "Nesi Eretz Israel". He was renowned for his wide-ranging efforts on behalf of German Jewry, and for his extensive activities on behalf of Russian Jewry. He authored many novellae and halachic responsa, which were published in the books Responsa of R. Azriel (2 volumes), Chiddushei R. Azriel – on the Talmud (3 volumes) and others.
• Letter concerning metzitzah during Brit Milah, by R. Aviezri Zelig Auerbach Rabbi of Halberstadt. [Halberstadt, 1887]. German and Hebrew.
Both R. Zelig Auerbach and the recipient of the letter, R. Michael Cahn, were very involved in the metzitzah polemic. In this letter, R. Zelig transcribes briefly (in Hebrew) his response to "the question which was presented to me from a G-d fearing rabbi and outstanding Torah scholar, several weeks ago… regarding a G-d fearing mohel who wishes to perform metzitzah at every Brit Milah… if the father of the baby prevents him from doing so… should this mohel perform the circumcision and priah according to Halacha, without metzitzah, or should one tell him not to perform this circumcision at all". The responsum in question was printed based on a manuscript in Shomrei Mishmeret HaKodesh, Jerusalem 2009, part II, pp. 450-453. The question is dated there Sunday, Parashat Mishpatim 1887, "several weeks" before the date of the present letter – Wednesday Parashat Tetzaveh. The rabbi who sent this question was R. Moshe Yonah Königshöfer, rabbi of the Orthodox community and orphanage in Fürth (see enclosed material).
R. Aviezri Zelig Auerbach (1840-1901), son and disciple of R. Tzvi Binyamin Auerbach author of Nachal Eshkol. Following his father's passing in 1872, he succeeded him as rabbi of Halberstadt. He was a prominent German rabbi in his times, and leader of Orthodox Jewry.
• Letter (postcard) regarding scribal writing (Stam), the Heter Iska contract, and more, by R. Dov Aryeh Ritter Rabbi of Rotterdam. Rotterdam, 1892.
R. Dov Aryeh (Bernhard Löbel) Ritter Rabbi of Rotterdam (1855-1935), a prominent Torah leader in Holland. He exchanged correspondence on halachic and communal matters with Torah leaders in many countries. His exceptional erudition led him to expose the forgery of the Jerusalem Talmud Kodashim, and he was the first to publicize essays and letters to this effect.
• Letter with a question regarding the quantity of water in a mikveh (ritual bath), with Torah novellae on the verse "Repent, Israel", by R. Moshe Rothenberg, rabbi in Nuremberg. Nuremberg, [Tishrei 1903].
The recipient of these letters, R. Michael Cahn (1849-1920), rabbi of Fulda from 1878. A disciple of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch and R. Azriel Hildesheimer, he was a prominent German Orthodox rabbi in his times. He was renowned for his halachic invention – a suction tube for Brit Milah, which received the approbations of his above-mentioned teachers, R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor Rabbi of Kovno, R. Yechiel Michel Epstein author of Aruch HaShulchan, and many others.
4 letters. Size varies. Overall good condition. Letter of R. Auerbach trimmed at bottom, with loss of several lines.
Rabbinical Letters
Rabbinical Letters