Bidspirit auction | The Rabbinical Polemic of Italy

The Rabbinical Polemic of Italy Regarding Shaving on Chol HaMoed – Sefer Ma'amar HaTeglachat – Vienna, 1835 (תקצ”ה) This is a rare and important work titled Sefer Ma'amar HaTeglachat (The Treatise on Shaving), published in Vienna in 1835 (תקצ”ה). The book was written by Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Rigio of Gorizia and addresses the halachic debate surrounding the permissibility of shaving during Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot). This work was at the center of a significant rabbinical polemic, drawing responses from various prominent rabbis who opposed the views presented in the book. The polemic itself became a major topic of discussion in the Italian Jewish communities, where the question of whether it was permissible to shave during Chol HaMoed had long been a matter of dispute. Rabbi Rigio's position, which argued for the allowance of shaving during Chol HaMoed, was met with strong opposition from other rabbinic authorities, leading to a bitter debate. Pages: 54 Condition: Generally good. The book shows signs of age and use, including a detached cover that does not match the book itself, and some wear from handling. Despite this, the text is intact and legible, and the pages remain in good condition overall. This book is a rare and significant piece of Jewish legal literature, offering a glimpse into the rabbinical debates of the time. The controversy over shaving on Chol HaMoed reflects the broader tensions within Jewish communities regarding halachic interpretation and custom, particularly in the context of the 19th century European Jewish world.