Bidspirit auction | Handwritten Teshuvah of the Shoel

Handwritten Teshuvah of the Shoel U'Meishiv to Rabbi Tzvi Hersch of Liska Lvov, 1867 * Handwritten and autographed halachic teshuvah by Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson, Av Beis Din of Lvov and author of Shoel U'Meishiv, regarding a practical and intriguing halachic query posed by Rabbi Tzvi Hersch of Liska, author of Ach Pri Tevuah. The subject of the query is whether a man may dye his white hair black, due to the embarrassment and distress it causes him. In the opening lines, the Shoel U'Meishiv writes: “...The great and renowned chassid, our teacher Rabbi Tzvi Hersch, may he be well, Av Beis Din of Liska in the region of Hungary. Your letter reached me today, and though I am surrounded by many burdens, nevertheless, having heard of your good name and that the Rabbanim praise you…. I hastened and did not delay in responding...” Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson (1808 - 1875) , Av Beis Din of Lvov and author of Shoel U'Meishiv, was one of the leading sages of Galicia and one of the greatest halachic authorities of his time. Rabbi Chaim of Sanz would describe him in lofty terms when writing to him. His son-in-law, the Rebbe of Hornosteipel, said in his eulogy for him: “The outstanding Gaon, upon whom all of Klal Yisrael relied, the Gaon of Lvov, author of Shoel U'Meishiv, who would rule for each individual in practical halachah, and whose rulings were accepted across all communities of Yisrael” (Emek HaChochmah, Parshas Shemini, p. 72). Rabbi Binyamin Spitzer, son-in-law of the Chasam Sofer, mourned in his eulogy for him, ”Today the tremendous genius, crown of Israel and its glory was taken from us… to whom all the leaders of our time directed their questions… and he was the Rabbi of all of Israel… Already forty years ago, my father-in-law, the Chasam Sofer, praised him as a Gaon, and from then until now, the words of Torah never ceased from his mouth.” His sefer Shoel U'Meishiv includes over 2,600 teshuvos! Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman, Av Beis Din of Liska (1798-1874) was renowned throughout Hungary as the “Tzaddik Rabbi Hershele Lisker.” One of the illustrious progenitors of Chassidus who was revered for his “aura of holiness and purity” as his rebbi the Divrei Chaim of Sanz wrote in his approbation to Ach Pri Tevuah, he gained fame throughout Europe for the miracles and wonders that he performed for countless Jews who flocked to him for blessings. Born in Ihel and raised in the home of the Yismach Moshe, Rabbi Hershele Lisker was a genius who was thoroughly versed in both the Revealed and Hidden Torah. Following the passing of the Yismach Moshe, thousands streamed to him for blessing and counsel. His prime disciple was the famous tzaddik and miracle-worker Rabbi Yeshayale of Kerestir who served his master faithfully for eleven years and only agreed to open his court after Rabbi Hershele’s passing. Until his last days, Rabbi Yeshaya’le of Kerestir would sign his name as “The Shamash of the holy Rav of Liska”. Despite the burdens of leadership, Rabbi Tzvi Hersch did not relinquish the task of providing halachic guidance and in his role as Av Beis Din, engaged in halachic questions, this teshuvah being a prime example. Lvov, 1867 Leaf size: 17 × 21 cm. Entirely in his handwriting and with his signature. Condition: A few stains and fold marks. This teshuvah was printed in Shu”t Shoel U'Meishiv, First Edition, Part I, Siman 210 (Lvov 1868), without the date and with the omission of a line at the beginning of the teshuvah. see here