Bidspirit auction | Heter Permitting Machine Matzos during

Heter Permitting Machine Matzos during World War I, by Rabbi Akiva Sofer of Pressburg, Author of Daas Sofer * A long, four-page handwritten and autographed letter by Rabbi Akiva Sofer, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Pressburg, direct descendant of the Chasam Sofer. The letter was written in the turbulent days of the First World War, in 1915, when it was exceedingly difficult to obtain wheat that was properly guarded from the time of harvesting. To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, this letter has never been published. In the letter, Rabbi Akiva grants the recipient permission to eat machine-made matzos that year, noting that in Pressburg “the practice here is to bake even shmurah matzah by machine, with the machine operated by a Yisrael, ” meaning that the mechanism was driven by human power rather than electricity. The questioner had been particular in earlier years to eat only hand matzos, and he further asked whether, under the circumstances, he would need to perform hataras nedarim for this year. To this, the Daas Sofer replies: “Your honor does not wish to abandon his practice entirely, but only temporarily for this year, when shmurah wheat is not available, and therefore it is certainly permissible…” Letters from Rabbi Akiva from this period are rare, and he attests within the letter that due to lack of time he was compelled to write it in scattered intervals:  “…Believe me that my time is not my own… and even this letter I was forced to write piece by piece…” He concludes: “I remain your devoted friend… awaiting the mercy of Hashem that never fails, the humble one Akiva, son of the gaon Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer, of blessed memory.” Rabbi Akiva Sofer (1877-1959), author of Daas Sofer, served as Av Beis Din of Pressburg, continuing the golden chain of his forefathers, the Chasam Sofer, Ksav Sofer and Shevet Sofer, as Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshivah in Pressburg. Already in his youth he began delivering regular shiurim and from 1907 he succeeded his father as Rav of Pressburg. In 1940 he immigrated to Jerusalem where he reestablished the yeshiva. Among his works are Shu”t Daas Sofer on the Shulchan Aruch, and Daas Sofer on the Torah and festivals. Pressburg, 1915. A single folded leaf comprising four handwritten pages with the signature of Rabbi Akiva Sofer. Size: 14.6×23 cm. Condition: Good; small tears along the fold lines.