Halachic Responsum Letter from Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor – Novardok,...
Halachic Responsum Letter from Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor – Novardok, Ca. 1854
Lengthy letter (2 pages), handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, Rabbi of Novardok, to R. Yaakov Moshe, Rabbi of Stalovichy. Novardok, [ca. 1854].
Halachic responsum on the division of an estate by Beit Din without all heirs present. The case involved an estate with three heirs, one of whom was not present due to being conscripted to the army in an unknown location. The house was dilapidated, and the two brothers who were present turned to the Beit Din. Towards the end of the letter, R. Yitzchak Elchanan commends the querent for his opinion: "You wrote well in all your pilpul, based on well-founded and straightforward reasoning…".
The present responsum has apparently never been printed (although a partial facsimile of it appears in: A. Sorasky, Melech BeYofyo, I, p. 37).
R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817-1896), Rabbi of Kovno, prominent rabbi in his generation, known for his brilliance, diligence and righteousness. Considered the highest halachic authority of his times, he led Lithuanian and Russian Jewry for years with wisdom and consideration. He served as Rabbi from a young age, ca. 1837, in Izabelin, Byaroza, Nyasvizh and Novardok (Novogrudok). In 1864 he was appointed Rabbi of Kovno, and he became known worldwide as one of the leading poskim. His responsa and novellae are published in the series Be'er Yitzchak, Nachal Yitzchak and Ein Yitzchak.
The recipient of the letter, R. Yaakov Moshe Direktor (1809-1879), Rabbi of Mush, a Lithuanian Torah scholar, famous as a holy man and wonderworker. A disciple of R. Itzele of Volozhin, he served as Rabbi of Stalovichy (a town near Novardok). He engaged in halachic discussions with leading rabbis of his generation, including the Nachalat David; R. Eizel Charif, Rabbi of Slonim; and R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who served as Rabbi of Novardok from 1852-1864 (a responsum of R. Yitzchak Elchanan addressed to him is printed in Responsa Be'er Yitzchak, Königsberg, 1858). In 1857 he relocated to serve as Rabbi of Mush (Novaya Mysh), at the advice of R. Yitzchak Elchanan and R. Eizel Charif. He was the father of R. Yisrael Yehonatan Yerushalimsky (1860-1917), Rabbi of Orlya and Ihumen (Chervyen), father-in-law of R. Yechezkel Abramsky, Head of the London Beit Din, author of Chazon Yechezkel.
The present responsum was sent ca. 1853-1856. R. Yitzchak Elchanan served as Rabbi of Novardok between 1852-1864, while the recipient of the letter served as Rabbi of Stalovichy until 1857, before relocating to serve as Rabbi of Mush. Additionally, there is another responsum to R. Yaakov Moshe on the same issue, from R. Shmuel Avigdor Tosfaah (see previous lot), who served as Rabbi of Nyasvizh from 1853-1856.
[1] leaf. 22.5 cm. Fair condition. Dark stains. Tears and folding marks, slightly affecting text.
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Halachic Responsum Letter from Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor – Novardok, Ca. 1854
Lengthy letter (2 pages), handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, Rabbi of Novardok, to R. Yaakov Moshe, Rabbi of Stalovichy. Novardok, [ca. 1854].
Halachic responsum on the division of an estate by Beit Din without all heirs present. The case involved an estate with three heirs, one of whom was not present due to being conscripted to the army in an unknown location. The house was dilapidated, and the two brothers who were present turned to the Beit Din. Towards the end of the letter, R. Yitzchak Elchanan commends the querent for his opinion: "You wrote well in all your pilpul, based on well-founded and straightforward reasoning…".
The present responsum has apparently never been printed (although a partial facsimile of it appears in: A. Sorasky, Melech BeYofyo, I, p. 37).
R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817-1896), Rabbi of Kovno, prominent rabbi in his generation, known for his brilliance, diligence and righteousness. Considered the highest halachic authority of his times, he led Lithuanian and Russian Jewry for years with wisdom and consideration. He served as Rabbi from a young age, ca. 1837, in Izabelin, Byaroza, Nyasvizh and Novardok (Novogrudok). In 1864 he was appointed Rabbi of Kovno, and he became known worldwide as one of the leading poskim. His responsa and novellae are published in the series Be'er Yitzchak, Nachal Yitzchak and Ein Yitzchak.
The recipient of the letter, R. Yaakov Moshe Direktor (1809-1879), Rabbi of Mush, a Lithuanian Torah scholar, famous as a holy man and wonderworker. A disciple of R. Itzele of Volozhin, he served as Rabbi of Stalovichy (a town near Novardok). He engaged in halachic discussions with leading rabbis of his generation, including the Nachalat David; R. Eizel Charif, Rabbi of Slonim; and R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who served as Rabbi of Novardok from 1852-1864 (a responsum of R. Yitzchak Elchanan addressed to him is printed in Responsa Be'er Yitzchak, Königsberg, 1858). In 1857 he relocated to serve as Rabbi of Mush (Novaya Mysh), at the advice of R. Yitzchak Elchanan and R. Eizel Charif. He was the father of R. Yisrael Yehonatan Yerushalimsky (1860-1917), Rabbi of Orlya and Ihumen (Chervyen), father-in-law of R. Yechezkel Abramsky, Head of the London Beit Din, author of Chazon Yechezkel.
The present responsum was sent ca. 1853-1856. R. Yitzchak Elchanan served as Rabbi of Novardok between 1852-1864, while the recipient of the letter served as Rabbi of Stalovichy until 1857, before relocating to serve as Rabbi of Mush. Additionally, there is another responsum to R. Yaakov Moshe on the same issue, from R. Shmuel Avigdor Tosfaah (see previous lot), who served as Rabbi of Nyasvizh from 1853-1856.
[1] leaf. 22.5 cm. Fair condition. Dark stains. Tears and folding marks, slightly affecting text.
