Beschreibung:

Long (2-page) autograph letter signed by R. Shlomo Eiger, to "…Rabbi of Krotoszyn". Posen (Poznań), 26th of Kislev 1845. Autograph in small close clear handwriting. Bearing his unique signature, which combines Hebrew and Polish: "S. Eiger הק"ש איגר" (his first initial and surname in Hebrew). This letter was written as a rejoinder to a polemic letter sent to him by R. Shmuel Mendelson of the Krotoszyn rabbinate, but it was never sent. An inscription was added to the beginning of the letter: "I have not sent this letter, however I responded to that which he said to investigate the three people which he mentioned by name, and he told me to write again briefly". The letter is about a responsum (cited in the R. Shlomo Eiger responsa, Orach Chaim, Siman 3) send by R. Shlomo Eiger at the beginning of the month of Kislev 1856, to the Krotoszyn community regarding a halachic controversy in the city which evolved around changing the customs of a synagogue which was rebuilt after the old one was consumed by fire. In the responsum printed in the aforementioned book, the name of R. Shmuel Mendelson is mentioned as one party involved in this halachic dispute. In general, R. Shlomo agreed to the ruling of R. Shmuel, however in some of the issues of this polemic, R. Shlomo concurred with the opinion of Dayan R. Yisrael Goldschmidt (disciple of R. Akiva Eiger) who was in disaccord with that ruling. From this letter, we can derive that R. Shmuel sent R. Shlomo in response a letter protesting his involvement in this matter, deviating from his father's practice of not entangling himself in disputes against rabbis of other cities. R. Shlomo responded at the beginning of this letter: "…Please forgive me if I say that I do not believe that which you wrote that my father did not justify opinions which were in opposition to that of the prevailing rabbi, but always respected the prevailing rabbi's opinion - how can I believe such a derogatory statement about him. However, I do believe that in matters which did not pertain to Torah law, he respected the rabbi, but what can I do if you did not understand the places in which I wrote not to do anything which does not comply with the opinion of the prevailing rabbi… I also do not understand why you claim that I justified the opposing opinion over yours. I actually, rejected the opposing opinion concerning the main practical aspect of the discussion and justified your ruling not to nullify the old custom…". R. Shlomo Eiger (1786-1852), a leading Torah scholar in his times, second son of R. Akiva Eiger (and brother-in-law of the Chatam Sofer) was among the most learned and wealthy Warsaw residents and after he lost his fortune during the 1831 Battle of Warsaw (R. Shlomo Eiger, R. Chaim Davidson and R. Berish Meisels supported the revolt), he was appointed to the Kalish rabbinate. In 1840, he succeeded his father as Rabbi of Posen. He edited and published his father's responsa and novellae adding a few of his own novellae to these books. In addition, his books Gilyon Maharsha on the Talmud and on the Shulchan Aruch were also printed. The book Rabbi Shlomo Eiger responsa printed by Mossad HaRav Kook (Jerusalem, 1983-1985) and Sefer Ha'Ikarim - explanations of halachic principles (Jerusalem, 1991-1996) are composed of his writings. Leaf, 20 cm. approximately 42 autograph lines written on both sides. Good-fair condition. Wear, holes and tears, scarcely affecting text.