Beit Din contract discussing permission and delivery of a divorce document. Entirely handwritten (approximately 19 lines) and signed in the familiar script of Rabbi Ya’akov Yukab Ettlinger, author of Aruch LaNer.
The contract is especially lengthy and detailed due to its dealing with a most serious matter: releasing a married woman without her husband’s presence. This matter has led to some of the most complex halachic problems. As such, the contract is incredibly detailed, including cancellation of delivery of the notification, etc. in order to cover itself halachically, in case of any problem or claim that could ever arise. Apparently this is also the reason that the author of Aruch LaNer wrote the entire contract in his own hand, with his characteristic clear script. Furthermore, much Torah content and halachah can be learned from the wording of the contract itself. Two witnesses signed on the contract, and three dayanim of Altona: Rabbi Yechezkel Yoelson, Rabbi Ya’akov Cohen Katz, and the renowned Av Beit Din, Rabbi Ya’akov Yukab Ettlinger, author of Aruch LaNer.
Rabbi Ya’akov Yukab Ettlingerֲ [1798-1872] was the Av Beit Din of Altona, one of the leaders of Orthodox Jewry and the greatest rabbinic authority among the rabbis of Ashkenaz. (Refer to the Hebrew website text for a more detailed biography.)
The second signatory: Rabbi Yechezkel Yoelson, Ra”avad Altona [1789-1885] was a disciple of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, and one of the sages of the Altona kloiz. He served as a dayan, and later as the Av Beit Din of Altona. (See Chachmei AH”U pp. 136-137.)
The third signatory: Rabbi Ya’akov Katzֲ [1808-1906] was a disciple of the Chatam Sofer and a sage in the Altona kloiz. He served as a dayan and a maggid in Altona for over 50 years. (Ibid, pp. 150-152.)
[1] double sheet of paper. 34×21 cm; fine condition.