Bidspirit auction | MEIR BEN BARUCH (MaHaRa’M of

MEIR BEN BARUCH (MaHaRa’M of Rothenburg).  Shailoth U’Teshuvoth [responsa]. FIRST EDITION. Title within four-part historiated border. ff. 108, (15). Stained in places, slight marginal worming on a few leaves. Previous owner’s marks. Modern calf. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Cremona 15; Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 264. Cremona, Vicenzo Conti, 1557. The first of several, differing collections of responsa by this supreme arbiter of Halachic authority in Germany. This first collection is known as the 'Teshuvoth Mahara’m HaKetzaroth.' R. Meir of Rothenburg (c. 1215-1293), was one of the noteworthy Tosafists of Rashi's commentary on the Talmud and one of the great rabbis of the Middle Ages. Tradition has it that R. Meir was kidnapped in Alsace and although the Jewish Community raised a large ransom to release him, R. Meir forbade such a maneuver for fear of encouraging the kidnapping of others. Thus R. Meir remained incarcerated until his death. Ultimately a ransom was paid for release of his body, which was received for burial 14 years later.