Bidspirit auction | Presentation copy: Shu”t Chut HaMeshulash

Presentation copy: Shu”t Chut HaMeshulash by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, His Son-in-Law and Grandson – Magnificent Copy Prepared for Sir Moses Montefiore * A volume containing more than ninety halachic responsa authored by three successive leaders of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva:   · Twenty-five questions and answers by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, author of Nefesh HaChaim and leading disciple of the Vilna Gaon. This is his only halachic sefer. · Eight questions and answers, together with a drasha, by his son-in-law Rabbi Hillel Fried of Grodno. · Fifty-nine questions and answers by his grandson Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Fried, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin.   The authors represent three generations of rabbanim and the work was therefore aptly titled “Chut HaMeshulash.” - - - - - - - - - - - - An especially luxurious copy prepared in honor of the distinguished philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, who was approximately ninety-seven years old at the time of printing! Copies of this type were produced for prominent personalities. In that generation, none was more renowned than Sir Moses Montefiore, whose name was etched into the hearts of Jews everywhere through his tireless efforts on behalf of his people, sharing in their joys and assisting them in times of crisis.   The words “Chut HaMeshulash” and “Vilna” were printed on both title pages in special gold lettering. Printed on exceptionally thick, high-quality paper resembling chromo paper. As a result, the physical weight of the volume is substantially greater than that of ordinary copies. The title page features Montefiore’s own signature, written in his trembling hand. Also present are the stamps of the beis medrash Ohel Moshe VeYehudis in Ramsgate.   Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (1749–1821) is known primarily for his inspiring sefer Nefesh HaChaim. Still, it is less widely known that he “wrote teshuvos from his youth until his old age, ” because many of his teshuvos were lost in a fire, as described by the publisher in the introduction. The present volume contains the largest collection of his surviving teshuvos. His descendants include some of the most distinguished rabbinic families of Lithuanian Jewry, including the Soloveitchik family, Berlin family, Kahana-Shapira families, and others.   It is worth noting that Rabbi Chaim regularly consulted his revered teacher, the Vilna Gaon, on matters of halacha . In one teshuva, he writes: “May Hashem enlighten my eyes through asking… my teacher and Rav, the saintly Gaon of Vilna, as it is my practice to consult him regarding all my doubts” (Siman 17, p. 90). Elsewhere, he writes: “While the sun of our great master still shone upon our land [i.e. while he was still alive], I was at times privileged to present my words before him, and he would illuminate the matter for me” (Siman 9, p. 20).   His son-in-law, Rabbi Hillel Fried (1763–1833) , served as a posek in Grodno and delivered shiurim in the yeshiva for ten years, even during the lifetime of Rabbi Chaim. He wrote very little, and aside from the eight teshuvos and the drasha printed here at the end of the sefer, virtually none of his Torah has survived. Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak Fried (1809–1853), grandson of Rabbi Chaim and Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, married the daughter of his uncle Reb Itchele of Volozhin (son of Rabbi Chaim and publisher of Nefesh HaChaim). His brother-in-law was Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin of Volozhin. During the year of mourning for his father, he completed the entire Talmud every month! He passed away at the young age of forty-four.   Vilna, 1882. First edition. Page Count: [2], 292, XVIII pages. Two title pages. Large-format volume. Condition: Good. An especially impressive copy. New binding. Bibliography: Winograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 1452