Rare Semicha from the Maharsham of Berezhan, for the Tzadik and Baal Mofes ...

Rare Semicha from the Maharsham of Berezhan, for the Tzadik and Baal Mofes, Rabbi Shulem Moshkovitz - the Shotzer Rebbe. Berezhany, 1901.

A rare Semicha from Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Schwadron – "Maharsham" of Brezhany, all in his handwriting and signed. It was given to the future renowned Admor of Shatz, Rabbi Shalom Moskowitz. He was only 24 years old at the time. The Maharsham writes: "He is worthy of being accepted as rabbi everywhere, and his rulings are to be relied upon like every outstanding rabbi's." Despite their great difference in age, Rabbi Shalom Moskowitz is often considered the leading disciple of the Maharsham.

Rabbi Shalom Mordechai HaCohen Schwardron, the Maharsham of Berezhany (1835-1911) was a prominent Galician rabbi and foremost halachic authority of his time. Many questions were sent to him from around the world, including from the Chofetz Chaim. His main works "Shailos Uteshuvos Maharsham" and "Daas Torah" are widely studied sources of practical Hallacha.

Admor Harav Shalom Moskowitz [1877-1958] was born in Shotz, Romania. Named after his mother’s great-grandfather, the Sar Shalom of Belz, he was a fifth-generation descendant of Harav Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. After learning in Shotz, he traveled to the famed Maharsham, Harav Shalom Schwadron of Berzhan, to learn; later, he received semichah from his Rebbe. He stayed in the home of the Maharsham for practical experience in psak halachah. Reb Shalom was appointed Rav in Shotz, a position he held until 1919. Among his talmidim during those years was Reb Meir Shapiro of Lublin. In 1927, he moved to London where he was known as the "Shotzer Rebbe" and was a reputed Baal Mofess.

The lines that have become famous in the tzavaah of the Rebbe read: “Should a person be in need of a refuah or any other yeshuah, for himself or on behalf of another person, he should visit my kever, light candles and make his request. He must undertake an addition or improvement in his avodas Hashem. I will then beseech my heilige zeides that they intercede on his behalf before the Kisei Hakavod.” Many people testify that their tefillos were answered. Every Erev Shabbos, as well as on the day of the Rebbe’s yahrtzeit, the ohel is full of mispallelim.

Good Condition after professional restoration. 26x21 cm.