Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by R. Shimon Oish of Prague, addressed to R. Yehuda Katz Teveles. [Prague], Monday, 20th Menachem [Av] 1847.
Lengthy letter (3 large pages) of Torah thoughts. R. Shimon Oish engages in scholarly pilpul on Talmudic topics pertaining to the law of mourning. He mentions "our great rabbi" (possibly in reference to R. Shmuel Landau Rabbi of Prague who had passed away a decade earlier). The letter concludes: "Peace to you and to all yours… as is the wish of the one who respects you for your great stature, who loves you faithfully, your relative Shimon Oish".
R. Shimon Oish (d. 1867), leading Prague Torah scholar in the 19th century. Son-in-law of R. Wolf Hamburg of Fürth. Several of his responsa and novellae are quoted in the books of the Torah scholars of his time. Responsa Shivat Tzion by R. Shmuel Landau brings two responsa addressed to him, and R. Shmuel Landau terms him: "The exceptional rabbi, who is outstanding in Torah" (see Responsa Shivat Tzion, sections 17, 35). A responsa addressed to him is also presented in Responsa of Maharatz Chayes (section 72). His glosses to the book Hora Gaver by R. Betzalel Regensburg, together with the glosses of his father R. Moshe Wolf Oish, were printed in the new edition of the book (Modiin Illit 2003). Other novellae he produced remain in manuscript.
The recipient of the letter, R. Yehuda Katz Teveles, was also a Prague Torah scholar, from the prominent Katz Teveles family of Prague.
[1] double leaf (3 pages). 35.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and wear. Folding marks. Tear to lower corner, affecting several words.