Bidspirit auction | Letter of Chiddushei Torah by

Letter of Chiddushei Torah by Rabbi Yosef Pressburger, Raavad of Mattersdorf 1905 * A scholarly letter of chiddushei Torah on the topic of baking on Yom Tov, whether for the purpose of use on Yom Tov or even when not needed for Yom Tov, handwritten and autographed by Rabbi Yosef Pressburger, Raavad of Mattersdorf and author of Tiferes Yosef. At the beginning of his words, Rabbi Yosef writes: “The burdens of the rabbinic office… weigh heavily upon me, and only the depth of my affection for you and for your pleasant Torah — which has been a source of soulful restoration for me, for it is truly good — has pressed me to engage in some discussion with you, and to add a few words of explanation of my own to your delightful words.” To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, this letter has never been printed. Letters of chiddushim from Rabbi Yosef are rare. His son-in-law, the Bais Yisrael of Mattersdorf, attested that his father-in-law once told him that he had never intended to commit his chiddushim to writing at all, and only at the urging of his wife Rebbetzin Rachel, did he begin writing a little (see introduction to Tiferes Yosef, p. 5). Rabbi Yosef Pressburger (c. 1847-1924) was a talmid of the Ksav Sofer, Mahari Assad, and Rabbi Michael Pupa of Serdheil. He married the daughter of Rabbi Aharon Singer, the Raavad of Mattersdorf, and himself a talmid of the Chasam Sofer. In 1895, Rabbi Yosef succeeded his father-in-law as Raavad of the city. Throughout his life, he lived a life of modesty and perishus. His chiddushim in Tiferes Yosef were printed by his son-in-law and successor, Rabbi Yisrael Taussig, a dayan in Mattersdorf and Jerusalem. It contains a biographical section at the beginning (Chasam Sofer u’Talmidav, p. 496). Mattersdorf, 1905. Two pages in the handwriting and with the signature of Rabbi Yosef Pressburger. Size : 14.5×22.9 cm. Condition : Good. Some stains.