Bidspirit auction | A Lomdishe Letter from Rabbi

A Lomdishe Letter from Rabbi Bunim Eiger, Rav of Mattersdorf, Brother of Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Offering to Exchange for Rabbi Akiva Eiger's Autograph Glosses! Remarkable lomdishe autograph letter from Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ginz-Eiger , Rav of Mattersdorf, to his nephew Rabbi Shlomo Eiger , Rav of Posen (who was then staying in Warsaw). In the letter, he discusses a halachic case involving a man who married two wives, bequeathed all his possessions to his second wife, and the first wife subsequently died. He then continues with a sharp pilpul that he developed together with his son. Written in Krotoszyn , 1805. Unpublished. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Exchanging for Rabbi Akiva Eiger's Glosses! On the reverse of the letter, Rabbi Bunim writes to his nephew: ”...If it is possible for you to obtain for me an Ein Yaakov printed in Korets, please be so kind as to purchase it for me. If not, do me a favor and leave me yours, and I will give you in exchange my Maginei Eretz [the Amsterdam edition of Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim] , which I received from your father, the gaon, with his handwritten glosses in many places throughout the margins .” This remarkable passage clearly demonstrates how highly Rabbi Bunim treasured the Korets edition of Ein Yaakov —to the extent that he was willing to exchange for it a copy of Maginei Eretz containing the autograph marginal glosses of his illustrious brother, Rabbi Akiva Eiger . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ginz-Eiger (1770–1829), younger brother and Torah companion of Rabbi Akiva Eiger , was among the outstanding geonim of his generation. Although he regarded himself as his brother's talmid, Rabbi Akiva Eiger held his opinion in the highest esteem, once writing to him:  ” בטלה דעתי הנמוכה מפני דעתך הגדולה .” He first lived in Krotoszyn , near his father-in-law, later served as Rav of Rogasen , and in 1810 succeeded the Chasam Sofer as Rav of Mattersdorf , after the Chasam Sofer accepted the rabbonus of Pressburg. Many of the Torah exchanges between the two brothers have survived and were published in Keravivim Alei Eisev (1995). His chiddushim were published in Chiddushei Rabbi Bunim Eiger , and a hesped upon his passing appears in the Derashos Chasam Sofer . Autograph letters of Rabbi Bunim Ginz-Eiger—particularly early letters written from Krotoszyn to his nephew Rabbi Shlomo Eiger—are of the greatest rarity. Presented here is an exceptional example, preserving a fascinating reference to the handwritten glosses of Rabbi Akiva Eiger himself!