Thick manuscript covering over 170 pages, entirely handwritten by the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Landsberg – in-law, disciple, confidante and advisor of the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Poznań, 19th century. Not printed!
Complete work prepared for print consisting of an anthology of sermons on various topics by the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Landsberg. Its importance and the virtues of its novellae can be learned from the fact that he added many things to the sheet that were later found by the Alshich in the book Ma’asei Hashem , Kli Yakar , Binah L’Itim and Ya’arot Devash . On the sheet of page 43b, the author writes, “I believe that I heard this from the gaon, zlh”h” (referring to the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger). In the margins of page 50a, he mentions those that asked “my son R’ Moshe” (the renowned dayan Rabbi Moshe Landsberg, one of the dayanim of Posen, who appears in the famous picture of Rabbi Akiva Eiger aside two dayanim from Posen).
The gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Landsberg [known as Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Posner; 1780-1860] was the author of To’ar Pnei Shlomo . He was a tremendous Torah scholar of distinguished lineage. He was a disciple of the author of Chemdat Shlomo and in-law, disciple, confidante and advisor of the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger, as he himself writes in his book To’ar Pnei Shlomo (p. 21): “Regarding the good, recall that my in-law Rabbi Akiva Eiger ztz”l, Av Beit Din of Posen, who in his humility placed me as one of his confidantes and advisors and often allowed me to deliberate law in his presence. I was privileged to have learned much Torah from him.” The gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman was a grandson and great-grandson of major rabbinic leaders: Rabbi Yosef of Posen, author of Yessod Yosef , and Rabbi Yisrael Calipari, author of Yismach Yisrael . He spent his entire life studying and serving in rabbinic positions in Posen, Lubrantz and Loslau. He refused to derive benefit from his Torah positions, yet thousands would flock to his sermons. He sons were the geonim: Rabbi Moshe Landsberg, disciple of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and dayan in Posen, Rabbi Eliyahu Yehoshua Landsberg, Av Beit Din of Laslau and Rabbi Aryeh Leib, Av Beit Din in Zülz and Nikolai. In his book Toar Pnei Shlomo (p. 62), the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman wrote: “I also wrote some precious compositions for the comprehension of sacred texts and the words and riddles of our sages, as per my understanding of the great scholars …” He was clearly referring to this composition before us as well.
174 pp, 21×18 cm. Autograph script. With additions and supplements on the sheets. Not printed.
Fine-very fine condition: Slight wear in the margins of the leaves, primarily the first ones. Minimal taped reinforcements. New fabric binding.