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An Early Family Letter from Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Entirely in His Own Ksav Yad, with His Autograph Signature! An important early family letter from Rabbi Akiva Eiger , written entirely in his own ksav yad and bearing his autograph signature. The letter is addressed to: ”...My esteemed friend, my son-in-law, the distinguished and brilliant Rabbi Hirsch...” Although none of Rabbi Akiva Eiger's sons-in-law was named Hirsch, the recipient was almost certainly Rabbi Naftali Hirsch Bleicher , husband of Sheina , daughter of Rabbi Avraham Eiger of Rawicz. A devoted talmid who was as dear to Rabbi Akiva Eiger as a son, he is affectionately addressed as ”my son-in-law, ” just as Rabbi Akiva Eiger refers to him in several other letters and writings (see Shu”t Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Mahadura Tinyana, responsa . 125, 127, 140; Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger to Gittin 33b). Within the letter, Rabbi Akiva Eiger mentions his brother-in-law—who later also became his father-in-law— Rabbi Yehoshua HaLevi Feibelman Segal, Rav of Samter . Following the passing of his first wife, Rabbi Akiva Eiger married Breindel, the daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua. The letter also discusses sending pledged valuables to ”my son, ” apparently Rabbi Avraham Eiger, so that he could obtain a loan against them for a particular need. A Possible Halachic Insight from Rabbi Akiva Eiger's Own Practice Toward the end of the letter, Rabbi Akiva Eiger urges that the pledged items be redeemed promptly, explaining that the money ”...belongs to R' Y.L. of Dubno, who entrusted it to me for safekeeping, and he demands it back day after day. It is not proper for me to delay him...” These words may shed light on Rabbi Akiva Eiger's practical ruling regarding the use of entrusted funds. At first glance, the letter appears to indicate that he had made temporary use of money deposited with him for safekeeping. Since the Shulchan Aruch rules that an ordinary person may not use entrusted funds, it is possible that Rabbi Akiva Eiger relied upon the ruling of the Sma and Shach , who explain that in their era most people engaged in commerce were considered comparable to professional money-changers and were therefore permitted to make temporary use of entrusted funds. Alternatively, it is possible that he had received explicit permission from the owner. Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761–1837), universally recognized as the foremost posek of his generation, ranks among the greatest Torah scholars of all time. His Gilyonos on Shas and Shulchan Aruch, together with his monumental responsa, became cornerstones of Torah scholarship and continue to shape halachic study to this day. Born in Eisenstadt, he settled in Lissa after his marriage, where he established his home. In 1792 he was appointed Rav of Märkisch Friedland , where he founded his first yeshivah, and in 1815 assumed the rabbinate of Posen , serving there for the remaining twenty-three years of his life.