Bidspirit auction | Unpublished Manuscript – Szilas, 1846–1847

Unpublished Manuscript – Szilas, 1846–1847 – Apparently by the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Chaim Hecht, Av Beit Din of Szilas - A manuscript notebook comprising [22] pages in large format (approximately 37 cm), containing Torah novellae, intricate Talmudic discussions, sermons for Shabbat HaGadol, and a eulogy. The place and dates of writing are explicitly recorded at the beginning of several leaves: Szilas, 1846–1847. The reasonable assumption is that the author was the local rabbi, whose responsibilities included delivering public sermons. Indeed, this was generally one of the rabbinical duties stipulated in the appointment contract of a community rabbi. The rabbi serving the community during those years was the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Chaim Hecht, the first rabbi of the Jewish community of Szilas-Balhás. He was born in Kosztolány in 1789 to his father, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda, and served as the community's rabbi for 36 years, from 1819 until his passing in 1855 (see the photograph of his tombstone here). He was succeeded by the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Herzfeld, son-in-law of Rabbi Daniel Prosznitz, head of the rabbinical court of Pressburg and a close associate of the Chatam Sofer (for his lineage, see Meshiv Devarim, Part I, p. 199). A responsum addressed to him by Rabbi Shraga Feivel HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Pápa, has been preserved in the manuscript of Shu”t Safah Berurah (folio 9b, original pagination). Among his descendants was the Gaon Rabbi Pinchas Shalom Pollak, author of Minchat Marcheshet, who cites a Torah novella of his in his work on the Book of Shemot, p. 150. To the best of our knowledge, no other manuscripts containing Torah novellae by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Hecht are currently known. [11] leaves, written on both sides, totaling [22] written pages. Large format: approximately 37 cm. Fair to fair-good condition. Considerable wear to some leaves, with minor losses of text. The final page is heavily dust-soiled from age. Stains. The overwhelming majority of the text remains clear and legible and is suitable for publication. References within the manuscript: On one page, the author discusses the teachings of the Chatam Sofer: ”It is brought in the book of the master of all the children of the Diaspora, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, of blessed memory.” Elsewhere, he discusses the teachings of the Gaon Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Heller, author of Tiv Gittin. He also mentions something he had seen ”in my copy of Yoreh De'ah, which a certain rabbi from the holy community of Sempeter wrote in his own handwriting...” This may refer to the Gaon Rabbi Yehuda David Rothenberg, author of Tehillah LeDavid (Munkács, 1872), who served for a period as Av Beit Din of Sempeter.