Bidspirit auction | SCHLESINGER, AKIVA YOSEPH. Beth Yoseph

SCHLESINGER, AKIVA YOSEPH. Beth Yoseph Chadash. ONLY EDITION. With stamps of R. Yehuda Gershuni ('Yudel Grodner, ' 1908-2000). ff. (14 of 18), 124. Browned. Boards. Sm. folio. Mehlman, Ginzei Yisrael 1758. Jerusalem, 1875. The work energetically advocates for the migration of Jews from Europe to Eretz Israel in order to prevent rampant assimilation, a result, according to the author, of living in a modernist society. The author’s radical ideas (encouraging men to leave their wives rather than reside in Europe), as well as his criticism of existing communal structures (Kollel Ungaren), resulted in the book placed under a severe ban. Portions of it were released sporadically and a complete copy is rare. A longtime resident of Jerusalem, R. Akiva Yoseph Schlesinger (1838-1922) was born in Pressburg and was intimately connected with the famed Sofer family: His mohel was the Chasam Sofer, he studied in the yeshiva of the Kesav Sofer and his most famous work, “Lev Ivri” is a commentary to the ethical will of the Chasam Sofer, calling for an unswerving adherence to tradition. - Nonetheless, Schlesinger could also be innovative (within the confines of Jewish law). Thus, he wore the recently discovered blue thread of Techeileth and blew the Shofar on the Sabbath in the Old City of Jerusalem. R. Akiva Yoseph Schlesinger’s call for the urgent resettlement of the Land of Israel based upon the traditions of Torah, was instrumental in the establishment of the new colony of Petach Tikvah. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 156-7; L. Jung, Men of the Spirit (1964) pp. 85-105.