Bidspirit auction | Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Sharply-worded

Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Sharply-worded Gloss in his Holy Handwriting * The sefer Divrei Rivos contains 430 teshuvos addressing matters of practical halacha by Rabbi Yitzchak Adarbi of Salonika, friend of the Maharshadam and one of the greatest Sefardic poskim of the 16th century. This copy belonged to Rabbi Akiva Eiger, one of the most illustrious geonim of all generations. On the title page is an inscription of ownership written by his nephew and disciple: “Belongs to my master, my uncle, my teacher and rebbi, our teacher Rabbi Akiva Güns from Eisenstadt, Av Beis Din of the holy community of Pozna, may Hashem establish it. I, the undersigned, the humble Leib Hersh Güns from Eisenstadt.” On the margin of leaf 129a there is a lengthy gloss, nearly 100 words, in the holy handwriting of Rabbi Akiva Eiger! The gloss is written in sharp language and presents a challenge to the author’s answer on a great difficulty: “With all due honor to his Torah, this is not comparable… And this question, I too have struggled with, and it is indeed a formidable one, and the gaon, the author, did not address it in the slightest!” Rabbi Akiva Eiger wrote similar content in his sefer Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger on Nezikin: “It is difficult for me… afterward I found that the same difficulty was mentioned in Shu”t Divrei Rivos siman 255, and he tried to answer there… and with all due honor to his Torah, there is nothing substantial in this… and it requires further study.” A gloss from the present manuscript was printed in Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Nezikin, Zichron Yaakov edition (Zichron Yaakov 1983), page 82. The gloss is written in Rashi script, which Rabbi Akiva Eiger regularly used (see for example Pinkas Klal Yisrael, in Genazym Auction 10, item 47, page 175). Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761–1837) would write many notes and chiddushim in the margins of his sefarim, leaving behind hidden pearls and gems of Torah. Over the years, these notes were published either together with his chiddushim or as separate works. The hagahos of Rabbi Akiva Eiger have become a treasured possession in the beis midrash, cherished by those learning Gemara who toil to decipher his hints, secrets, and questions. On every “ayen” (see there) and “tzarich iyun” (needs further study) of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, endless chiddushim and answers have been discussed and many sefarim have been written. Rabbi Eiger mentions in several of his writings the Shu”t Divrei Rivos; before us is the original volume he used to study from! On the title page is the signature of the son of Rabbi Akiva Eiger – Rabbi Yitzchak Leib Eiger (I. L. Eger – Johannisburg [Prussia]), who edited the Hagahos Rabbi Akiva Eiger on the Shulchan Aruch (Berlin 1862). The nephew who wrote the entry on the title page is Rabbi Yehuda Tzvi, known as Leib Hersh Eiger – the son of Rabbi Shmuel, brother of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, who learned under Rabbi Akiva Eiger (see Igros Rabbi Akiva Eiger, letter 122). He married the daughter of Maharam Mintz, Av Beis Din of Oben Yashan, one of the gedolei hador. Venice, 1587. Second edition. Page Count: 194, [1], 194–198 leaves. Size: 29.2 cm. Condition: Good. A few stains. Antique leather binding with clasps (in working order), binding rubbed and worn. Gloss by Rabbi Akiva Eiger