Bidspirit auction | RABBI SHIMON SOFER – SCHREIBER,

RABBI SHIMON SOFER – SCHREIBER, RABBI OF KRAKOW, VERY INTERESTING LETTER TO HIS SON R. YOEL SCHREIBER REGARDING THE PUBLICATION OF HIS SHIRIM AND DEFENDING HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW RABBI ZALMAN SPITZER FROM CRITICISM. This letter, dated ‘Sunday, Parshas Tetzaveh 5632’, was written just weeks after Rabbi Zalman Spitzer took the bold step of forming his own community in Vienna due to the reformist steps taken by the general Vienna Jewish community. This letter begins with family and health matters and goes on to refer to derogatory comments received regarding the publication of his Shirim (Hebrew poems), ‘I knew that this would not bring me any glory, but I sacrificed my own honour for the honour of Heaven, and nullified my own opinion in the face of that of the tzadik Rabbi David Deutsch of Yarmut...’. The main part of the letter is a response to criticism expressed by R. Yoel Schreiber about his uncle Rav Zalman Spitzer, and in this letter Rabbi Shimon Sofer strongly defends him and praises him. The letter includes greetings to R. Yoel’s father-in-law R. Yehuda Leib Kuzmirak and to his brother-in-law R. Yaakov Engelman, and in the margin there is a short letter to Rabbi Shimon’s son, Rabbi Yisrael David Simcha Bunem. Rabbi Shimon Sofer – Schreiber (1821-1883), son and disciple of the Chasam Sofer. Rabbi of Mattersdorf (1844) and Krakow (from 1861), where he served as one of the greatest and most influential Rabbis, strengthening religious Jewish life in Galicia. Author of Michtav Sofer. R. Yoel Sofer – Schreiber (1847-1925), highly regarded son of Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Krakow and son-in-law of R. Yehuda Leib Kuzmirak of Risheshitz, near Gostonin. Became an ardent follower of the Rebbe of Gostonin, and was asked to become his successor but refused, instead becoming a follower of the Sefas Emes of Gur. Rabbi Yisrael David Simcha Bunem Sofer – Schreiber (1846-1899), studied under his father in Mattersdorf. Son-in-law of R. Zushe Ulreich of Warsaw. Exiled by the Russians to Krakow, where he fought fiercely to defend Torah values. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Spitzer (1826-1894), a disciple of the Maharam Schick and the Kesav Sofer, who suggested his marriage to his sister, making him a son-in-law of the Chasam Sofer. Rabbi of former Pressburg residents in Vienna from 1852, and Dayan of the Vienna community and subsequently also Rosh Beis Din, until leaving the general community due to the influence of reformist elements within it. Author of Tikun Shlomo. 2 sides. 22 x 28 cm. Condition fair. Profesionally restored with only slight loss of text. Bound in gold-stamped deluxe leather presentation binding.