Autograph of Rabbi Yosef Shaul Notenhausen, Av Beit Din of Lemberg, author of Shoel U’Meishiv , [Lemberg], [1857].
Specifications: [1] doubled leaf, 21×17 cm. The response was written and signed by the author of Shoel U’Meishiv . It was written to Rabbi Yaakov Shlomo, Av Beit Din of Premishlan, and its content includes a section of a question from Shoel U’Meishiv , second edition. The response appears on one page, and the second page bears the address of the sender, a stamp and traces of a red wax stamp.
Unique features: Response regarding selling chametz and renting the location with the chametz to a non-Jew, accomplished without witnesses and without the seller writing his name in the contract.
Background: The great gaon, Rabbi Yosef Shaul HaLevi Notenhausen, author of Shoel U’Meishiv (1808-1875) was the rabbi of Lemberg for about twenty years. He was a master of Torah and one of the leading halachic responders of his time. He received questions from all corners of the world. He was asked to provide many approbations and rabbinic semicha. He was known to be “holy from the womb” and was admired by the Torah leaders of his generation – including the Chatam Sofer – from a very young age. When Rabbi Chaim of Sanz addressed a question to him regarding mikvaot, he used many honorifics ( Shu”t Shoel U’Meishiv, second edition, section 1, siman 24).
Condition: Moderate-fine. Fold marks. Aging stains. The ink has faded but is legible. Light tears without loss of text.