Auction 49 Part I - Books, Chassidism, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
Panim Me'irot Responsa – Amsterdam, 1715 – First Edition, with the "Kuntress Acharon" and Glosses in the Handwriting of the Author Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt
Opening: $2,500
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Panim Me'irot, Part 1 – responsa and novellae on Tractate Zevachim, by Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt. Amsterdam, [1715]. First edition. Bound at the end of the book are two leaves of "Kuntress Acharon"[printed in Furth?]. These leaves are not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book nor in the Vinograd-Rosenfeld CD. This is the author's copy, with glosses in his handwriting. The glosses surround Responsum 37. This responsum which relates to the estate of the Katzin R' Moshe spurred a widespread polemic, and Rabbi Yehoshua Feivel Teomim Av Beit Din of Premisle wrote a special pamphlet named Panim Masbirot fiercely opposing the responsum. Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt responded to Rabbi Teomim with his Kuntress Acharon, printed separately and attached to this copy. Responsum 37 in this copy is embellished with glosses in the author's handwriting. These glosses can be divided into three groups: 1. The author marked every place in the responsum questioned by Rabbi Teomim with a letter from Aleph to Kaf-Bet, according to the order of the questions in the pamphlet. 2. Alongside these marks, the author wrote in square letters the simanim of Kuntress Acharon in which he responds to the queries of Rabbi Teomim. 3. Glosses with content – additions meant to clarify the responsum, five in the author's handwriting, and eight more additions in a different handwriting, possibly the author's words copied by a scribe. At the beginning of the title page is a dedication [torn and lacking] in the handwriting of the author, Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt "Gift which…groom…". On Leaf 3b is a long handwritten gloss by an unidentified writer. On the two title pages are stamps of Rabbi "Ben Zion son of Rabbi…Ya'akov Ettlinger" [son of the Aruch LaNer]. Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt (1670-1744, Otzar HaRabbanim 12775), a renowned Torah scholar of his times, grandson of the Shach's sister, disciple of the author of Magen Avraham and of Rabbi David Oppenheim. Av Beit Din of Szydłowiec, head of the Worms Yeshiva and Rabbi of Przasnysz. From 1717, he served as Rabbi of Eisenstadt and the Seven Communities. Close rabbi of Rabbi Yonatan Eybeshitz who from a young age was raised in his home. His rulings and responsa constitute the conclusive halachic opinion for all following generations and are extensively quoted in books written by Torah authorities. He wrote Panim Me'irot (responsa and Talmudic novellae), Or HaGanuz, Meorei Eish, Kutnot Or, etc. [4], 96; [1], 33 (missing last two leaves of second pagination) + 2 leaves of Kuntress Acharon. 30 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear, worming. Tears and damages to title page. Detached binding. Enclosed in an expert's opinion identifying the glosses handwritten by the author.
Handwritten Glosses
Handwritten Glosses