Bidspirit auction | Rare! The Dispute between Rabbi

Rare! The Dispute between Rabbi Chaim, the Maharal's Brother and Rabbeinu the Rema: Viku'ach Mayim Chaim - First Edition, Amsterdam 1712. Fine Copy - Sefer Viku'ach Mayim Chaim ”about the elucidation on the application of Dinei Issur and Heiter, and Hasagot on [the book] Torat Chatat by the Gaon the Rema (Rabbeinu Moshe Isserles - the Rema] with whom he disagrees... authored by the Chassid Gaon the author of Sefer Hachaim Rabbi Chaim ben Rabbi Bezalel, the brother of the famed Gaon Rabbi Liva of Prague (Rabbeinu the Maharal of Prague)... 137 years it was hidden, no one saw it to publish until now...” First edition, Amsterdam 1712. [2], 26 leaves. Small tear to the title page and the last leaf, slightly affecting the text. Contemporary binding with a detached front board. Some stains and minor blemishes. Good overall condition. Rabbeinu the author and the Rema Many Gedolei Hador studied at the pedigreed Yeshiva in Lublin of Rabbeinu Shalom Shachna Av Beit Din of Lubiln (late 15th century-early 16th century) including the leading Posek of Ashkenaz, Rabbeinu the Rema (who was his son-in-law by his first marriage) and Rabbi Chaim ben Bezalel (the Maharal of Prague's brother). These two Gedolei Olam, who were close friends, eventually went their separate ways, Rabbeinu the Rema settling in nearby Krakow and Rabbi Chaim moving to Ashkenaz. The Torat Chatat Polemic Rabbeinu the Rema, who was already famed for his commentary, Hamapah, on the Shulchan Aruch, published his second book, Torat Chatat, which was dedicated to Hilchot Issur and Heiter. When the book reached his longtime friend, Rabbeinu Chaim, the Maharal of Prague's brother, he wondered why the work was published since, so he said, ”the Rishonim avoided authoring a special book on Dinei Issur and Heiter so as not to determine a Minhag and Halacha for the public” and prevent the Machmirim from adhering to their Hachmarot, especially about forbidden food. Thus, Rabbi Chaim wrote this book, Viku'ach Mayim Chaim, opposing Rabbeinu the Rema's opinion. The book has a relatively lengthy introduction; at its beginning, the author writes ”Thirteen Ikarim” explaining why he wrote the book. Kevod Chachamim Yinchalu Despite this essential dispute between these Gedolei Olam, we must look at the respect with which Rabbeinu Chaim treats the Rema, criticizing his opinion yet at the same time, using superlatives to describe the Rema and his book: ”מכל זה התימה ופלא מן הרב המופלא בדורו החסיד הגאון מהר”ר משה איס”רלש ז”ל, אשר חיבר ספר מיוחד על דיני איסור והיתר וקראו תורת חטאת ולא שת לבו לכל הדברים האלה שכתבתי, ובלתי ספר לא הי' נעלם ממנו ג”כ כי בעת שלמדנו יחד בישיבת הגאון המופלא מהר”ר שכנא ז”ל ושמענו מפיו השערים מדורא (Sefer Sha'arei Dura on which Torat Hachatat is based), אנחנו תלמידיו הפצרנו בו פעמים הרבה שיראה לחבר וללקט יחד כל דיני איסור והיתר בסדר נכון ואמר נואש לדברינו ואין ספק שאינו אלא מטעם שכתבתי. Later, he writes words that indicate his modesty: ”ואין ספק שכוונת הרב החסיד ז”ל היה רצויה מאוד כאלו קיים תורת חטאת בזמנו כמו שתנצל בדברי הקדמתו, ואם אולי טעה... ולא עליו תלונתינו כי לאשמת העם... ע”כ הקדמתי את עצמי להסיר המכשול הזאת מן העם... זחלתי ואירא... לאמר כי נמלה שפלה כמוני יבא להשיב את הארי לאחר מותו, ואני בער לא אדע... והנה הארז בלבנון הוא הרב המחבר ז”ל, ואני השפל הוא אזוב שבקיר...”. Everything depends on luck, even a book... Despite the work's halachic significance, the author did not manage to publish it in his lifetime and it disappeared for approx. 140 years until it was published for the first time. During these years, Torat Chatat was accepted by all Jewish communities. It took 150 additional years until it was published for a second time with the Torat Moshe glosses by the Gaon Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, who settles Rabbi Chaim's questions on the Rema, referring to the famed expression: ”ובני ישראל יוצאים ביד רמ”א”.