Beschreibung:

Long letter (6 pages in close tiny handwriting), signed by R. Tzadok HaCohen. Lublin, 1885. Long halachic responsum on the laws of an agunah, sent to "The outstanding R. Yudel Rabbi of Tarłów". He concludes that this ruling is not yet conclusive and that he wrote the content only as a lateral thought to fulfill his promise to the agunah's mother to investigate the matter, "Therefore, I was compelled to respond…". The responsum bears his signature: "Tzadok HaCohen", and the word "Lublin" appears at the beginning of the responsum in the same handwriting. The rest of the responsum is in another handwriting [apparently written by his scribe although possibly, it is actually the handwriting of R. Tzadok himself - in the preface to his book Tiferet Zvi (Bilgoria, 1909), it is mentioned that R. Tzadok wrote his novellae "in very fine handwriting". In the introduction to the book Sichat Malachei HaSharet (Lublin, 1927), the publisher writes that R. Tzadok's writing was barely legible since it was so thin. R. Tzadok HaCohen of Lublin (1823-1900) was the son of the Lithuanian Torah scholar R. Ya'akov HaCohen Rabbi of Krustpils (Kreizburg, Latvia). His genius was recognized from a young age and before he reached the age of 20, he already authored a book of responsa and comprehensive works on the Talmud and on the Rambam. In the beginning of the 1940s, he became acquainted with R. Mordechai Yosef of Izbica and after spending a Shabbat there, became an enthusiastic Chassid. Since that time, his soul clung to Chassidism and to fiery G-dly service following the ways of his teacher the Rebbe of Izbica to whom he lovingly clung. R. Tzadok moved to the city of Lublin and after the death of the Izbica Rebbe in 1854, became one of the leaders of the Izbica Chassidim who appointed R. Yehuda Leib Eiger of Lublin as their rebbe. During the time that R. Tzadok basked in the shadow of his holy teachers, he dictated silence upon himself and seldom delivered his teachings in public. He continued this conduct for most of the years he served as rebbe during 1888-1900. He invested his profound thoughts in his deep books: Pri Tsaddik, Tsidkat HaTsaddik, Sichat Malachei HaSharet, Resisei Leila, Divrei Chalomot [celestial revelations and Torah novellae revealed to his in a dream], Dover Tzedek, Machshevot Charutz, Poked Akarim, Takanat HaShavin, and more books of Chassidic thought which until today are basic books of Jewish philosophy in Chassidic circles and are also studied extensively throughout the entire yeshiva world. Most of his halachic and Chassidic works were lost and burned during the Holocaust, together with his wide-ranging library. Only some of his responsa on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah were printed in the book Tiferet Zvi in 1909, however most of his responsa did not survive. Today, his autographs are very rare. This responsum was printed (copied with a few errors) in the HaDarom anthology, 15, Nissan 1962, pp. 5-27 (see ibid a sample photo of this manuscript). [3] leaves, 21 cm. More than 300 handwritten lines. Fair condition. Stains. Open tears, professionally restored. Elaborate leather binding.