Bidspirit auction | Responsa ‘Divrei Nechemia’, Vilna, 1869.

Responsa ‘Divrei Nechemia’, Vilna, 1869. Exemplar of the ‘Sdei Chemed’ With a Self-Dedication in His Holy Handwriting! - Responsa “Divrei Nechemia”, elucidations on the “Shulchan Aruch HaRav” and responsa, by the holy Gaon Rabbi Nechemia Halevi Ginsburg of Dubrovna, a disciple of C”K the Alter Rebbe. Vilna, 1869 – personal exemplar of the renowned Gaon, the “Sdei Chemed”, with a self-dedication in his holy handwriting! Rabbi Nechemia Halevi OBM was born in 1789 and his second wife was a granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe, a daughter of his son Rabbi Chaim Avraham. Before Admor the Tzemach Tzedek accepted the leadership of Chabad, Rabbi Nechemia was his study partner. He was known as an immense scholar of the visible Torah. The Tzemach Tzedek was once asked which is the better answer out of two answers written by Rabbi Nechemia and by Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Homieĺ. He answered: “Reb Nechemia is an innovator”. Sometimes, before he responded to a Halachic question, the Tzemach Tzedek would first refer it to the “Divrei Nechemia”, to see his opinion on the matter. The Sefer includes several responsa he wrote to Admor the Tzemach Tzedek, despite having been completely attached to him as a Chassid. This is the personal exemplar of the renowned Gaon, Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini , author of “Sdei Chemed”, who handwrote a self-dedication: “This Sefer I have purchased on account of the money donated for my sake by my dear friend the elderly Rabbi, the exalted donor, Rabbi David Yitzchak Finklestein of Bialystok, as well as other Seforim, as is inscribed in each Sefer, may his name be remembered for good”, followed by his seal. The ”Sdei Chemed” was born on the 7th of Cheshvan, 5593 (Oct. 31, 1832) in Jerusalem, and was known as one of the greatest Geonim of his generation. Served as Rabbi of the Crimean Jews and of the city of Chevron. His Sefer “Sdei Chemed” was extremely appreciated by the rebbes of Chabad, and was published by Kehos Publishing on orders from the Rebbe Rayatz. On Rosh Chodesh Sivan of 5710 (May 17, 1950) the Rebbe conducted a Hisvaadus during which he spoke regarding a topic in “Sdei Chemed” and said: “For the publishing of the Sdei Chemed it is right to make a special Hisvaadus”, and requested that a volume of “Sdei Chemed” be brought to him. Upon receiving it, the Rebbe skimmed through it and then elucidated on one of the topics brought in the Sefer.