Bidspirit auction | Important Halachic Works: Shu”t Terumas

Important Halachic Works: Shu”t Terumas HaDeshen / Pesakim U’Kesavim – Venice, 1546 * A set of two important sefarim of halachic rulings by Rabbi Yisrael Isserlin, one of the great Rishonim of Ashkenaz: 1. Terumas HaDeshen – a collection of 354 shailos and teshuvos, corresponding to the numerical value of “דשן” – deshen. 2. Pesakim U’Kesavim – practical shailos and teshuvos, referred to by the early Achronim as “Kisvei Mahari, ” and by later Achronim as the second part of Terumas HaDeshen. The sefer Terumas HaDeshen is one of the most important sifrei yesod and is the sefer upon which Rabbi Yosef Karo based the Shulchan Aruch, and upon which the Rema based his glosses. Rabbi Yisrael Isserlin, author of Terumas HaDeshen (1390–1460) , was one of the last Rishonim in Ashkenaz. He corresponded extensively with the Maharil, Mahari Weil, and Maharam Mintz, all of whom expressed great admiration for him. The Achronim note a fundamental difference between these two volumes in regard to determining the halacha. While Terumas HaDeshen contains questions that the author personally pondered and debated, Pesakim U’Kesavim is a compilation of questions that he received from others and resolved with a clear halachic ruling. For this reason, the latter is considered to carry greater halachic authority (as noted by the Shach, Yoreh Deah Ch. 196:20 and in Shem HaGedolim, MaAreches Gedolim, MaAreches 10 #402). Venice, 1546. Second edition. Page Count: Terumas HaDeshen – 190 leaves; Pesakim U’Kesavim – 77 leaves. Condition: Good, with stains. New binding. - - - - - - - - - - - Copy of the Yad David – Rabbi David Sinzheim, President of the Great Sanhedrin in Paris On the final page of Terumas HaDeshen appears Rabbi David Sinzheim’s handwritten signature from his younger days: “To Hashem belongs the earth… David the young, son of my father, our teacher Rabbi Yitzchak, may his light shine, here in Trier, Sunday, 11 Adar I, 1758.” Rabbi David Sinzheim (c. 1736–1812) was the Chief Rabbi of French Jewry in the first half of the 19th century. He grew up in Trier and studied under Rabbi Shmuel Hillman of Metz. He is the author of the monumental sefer Yad David, remarkable both for its vast breadth of knowledge and its physical size. He was chosen to serve as president of the Grand Sanhedrin convened in France during the era of Napoleon, where he steadfastly safeguarded the honor and authority of Torah. The Chasam Sofer eulogized him with deep admiration: “He spent all his days studying Torah, reviewing the entire Shas many times, and he was completely fluent in all the sefarim of the Rishonim and Achronim, as is evident from his work. I knew him in my childhood, and later through correspondence, I witnessed his righteousness and sincerity…”