Bidspirit auction | Leaf of Torah novellae in

Leaf of Torah novellae in the autograph handwriting of the Admor of Hornosteipel Rebbi Mordechai Dov Twersky – Sections from his work Torei Zahav. - A leaf (2 written pages) in the holy autograph of Rebbi Mordechai Dov Twersky, the saintly Admor of Hornosteipel – containing passages from his work Turei Zahav on the laws of Ribbis (interest), later printed in Jerusalem in 1933, thirty-three years after his passing. Autographic writing of the author himself, with corrections and additions in his own holy hand. Rebbi Mordechai Dov Twersky of Hornosteipel (1840 –1903). Son of Rebbi Meshulam Zusha of Tlumach. Eldest son-in-law of the holy Rebbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim. Orphaned of his mother in childhood, and raised in the home of his grandfather, Rebbi Yaakov Yisrael Twersky of Cherkasy. Distinguished from youth for his talents and for his awe of Heaven that preceded his wisdom. A towering gaon in both halacha and Kabbalah, a holy man uplifted above the people. In 1863, upon his grandfather’s move to Cherkasy, Rebbi Mordechai Dov was appointed as Admor and Rav of Hornosteipel, where chassidim began flocking to him. After the passing of his grandfather in 1876, the number of followers multiplied, and his renown spread as one of the great Rebbes of Russia. He was also famed as one of the great halachic authorities of his generation, maintaining responsa exchanges with leading rabbis in Russia and abroad, among them the Sho’el u’Meishiv, Maharil Diskin, Rabbi Chaim Berlin, and others. His works: Shu”t Emek She’elah, Turei Zahav – on the laws of ribbis (interest), Emek HaChochmah – homilies and pilpul in halacha and chassidus, Kad HaZahav – on Kabbalistic matters (remained in manuscript, later destroyed in a pogrom in Ukraine). Beyond his towering holiness, the Admor of Hornosteipel was famed from childhood as an illui (prodigy) and outstanding gaon. The Divrei Chaim chose him as a son-in-law without even meeting him. When questioned by his household how he could take a son-in-law sight unseen, the Divrei Chaim replied: “I know that my son-in-law shines like the sun in heaven and studies Torah lishmah.”