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Discovery! Shabbos Hagadol Drasha by Rabbi Yehuda Ash, Av Beis Din of Samter, Known as “Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid” – 1826 * A lengthy handwritten kuntress comprising twenty-nine large pages, containing a Shabbos Hagadol drasha delivered in 1826 — exactly two hundred years ago. This drasha was composed and delivered by the gaon Rabbi Yehuda Ash, Av Beis Din of Samter, a town near Posen, where Rabbi Akiva Eiger served as Rav. Rabbi Akiva Eiger is mentioned in the manuscript itself. Rabbi Yehuda was held in high esteem by the members of his community, who affectionately referred to him by the distinctive title “Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid” of Samter. No other chiddushim by him are presently known. This manuscript may well be the only remnant of the Torah of this remarkable tzaddik. Another manuscript in his handwriting has not been located for comparison, but it appears likely that the present manuscript is in his handwriting. Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid of Samter Rabbi Yehuda Ash, Av Beis Din of Samter, was one of the leading rabbanim of Prussia during the era of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, yet today his name is almost unknown. His father was the gaon Rabbi Yoel Ash, author of Yesedos Ohalim (Berlin, 1788), published with the approbation of the Pri Megadim. He was apparently born sometime between approximately 1770 and 1780, as may be inferred from his father's words in the introduction to Yesedos Ohalim, printed in 1788: “May my youngest son, Yehuda, grow to Torah, marriage, and good deeds.” In 1814 he assumed the rabbinate of Samter, succeeding Rabbi Yehoshua Feivelman, who had served there previously. Rabbi Yehoshua Feivelman was both the brother-in-law and father-in-law (through a second marriage) of the Gadol Hador Rabbi Akiva Eiger, and had passed away in 1807. Rabbi Akiva Eiger addressed halachic teshuvos to Rabbi Yehuda, referring to him as “my dear friend” (Shu”t Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Mahadura Kama, no. 76; Mahadura Tinyana, no. 136). Rabbi Yehuda established the Sukkas Shalom society in Samter for daily Torah study, an institution that continued to flourish for many decades after his passing. He died during an epidemic that struck in the month of Shevat, 1831. At that time, the city of Samter was under Prussian rule; today it is located in Poland. In 1837, the Jewish community numbered approximately 800 people, about one-third of the town's total population. Contents of the Drasha The heading on the first page reads: “Drush for Shabbos Hagadol, 1826, here in the holy community of Samter, may it be established forever.” The drasha is exceptionally long and weaves together discussions of the laws of issur ve'heter, an engaging parable contrasting the governments of Prussia and Germany, an explanation of the Haggadah, a warning regarding the consumption of properly kosher meat, practical guidance for baking matzos — including the words of the Arizal concerning the importance of extreme care in avoiding chametz — and many other topics. The drasha is written in a conversational style, closely reflecting the way the drasha was actually delivered, making it especially engaging and easy to read. Twice, the author cites the teachings of his illustrious father: “Indeed, my revered father, the great gaon of blessed memory, writes in his sefer Yesedos Ohalim...” (p. 10). He also records his father's practice of carefully cleaning out the oven before baking matzos: “My revered father, the great gaon of blessed memory, was extremely particular about this” (p. 21). The author also mentions Rabbi Akiva Eiger of Posen . In the course of the drasha, he instructs the members of his community not to bring matzos, flour, or meat from other places — even from the city of “our great master, the gaon, Av Beis Din of the holy community of Posen, ” Rabbi Akiva Eiger — because he himself bore responsibility for the standards of kashrus in his own community and could not supervise products brought in from elsewhere. Samter, 1826 Page Count: [15] large leaves, with [29] written pages. Height: Approx. 35.5 cm. Condition: Fair to poor. A dark stain along the lower margins, with portions of the text faded. Numerous repairs. New binding. The condition of this manuscript is poor; however, it is being offered because of its importance. As far as is presently known, this is the only remnant in the world with the Torah of the tzaddik Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid of Samter.