Volume including two different works handwritten by the gaon Rabbi Gavriel Naftali Hirsch Lipman, av beit din of Aurich and Kissingen, during his studies at the famous yeshivah in Fürth under the great Torah leaders, the geonim Rabbi Yehudah Leib Halberstadt, the rosh yeshivah, and Rabbi Wolf Hamburg, av beit din of Fürth. 1822-1824.
The first part is called Kibbutz Chiddushei Torah and it is comprised of 52 pages with a dedicated title page where the writer signed his name – ” The youth Gavriel Naftali Hirsch son of Rabbi Zissel of Amelsdorf presently in Fürth … about the Yeshivah. Friday, the 28th day of the sixth month הבינני ואצרה תורתך [chronogram corresponding to 1822].
This part includes [approximately 14] scholarly topics from around the Talmud that the writer heard from Rabbi Y. Halberstadt and Rabbi W. Hamburg. At the top of each article is the name of the person who delivered the lecture, and the date.
The second part is called Aseifat Chiddushei Aggadeta – Mikraei Kodesh – eulogies and midrashim, properly elucidated and explained. It includes [53] pages with a dedicated title page. Written in the year ‘לישראל הוא’ – a chronogram corresponding to 1823.
This part includes a lengthy eulogy [approximately 6 leaves!] delivered by Rabbi Zalman Ber, rosh beit din tzeddek following the passing of Rabbi Ya’akov Shmuel, av beit din of Schwarzwald and Krappfeld, a eulogy delivered by Rabbi Yehudah Leib Halberstadt after the passing of Rabbi Zalman Ber, head of the Fürth beit din , a eulogy delivered by Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe, rosh beit din of the Fürth community upon the passing of Rabbi Hertz Schaier, av beit din of Metz, Novellae on the weekly Torah portions and more. There is a difficulty presented on leaf [1], along with a wonderful resolution “in the name of the av beit din of Poznań …” – none other than the great gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Most of the eulogies are dated, and some include historic details about the deceased. This section concludes with a song and several leaves in Yiddish.
Rabbi Gavriel Naftali Hirsch Lipman [1805-1864] was one of the closest disciples of Rabbi Wolf Hamburg’s (Ohe”v). Rabbi Wolf mentions him in his books several times with superlative words of praise despite his youth. He served in the Aurich rabbinate and then in Kissingen. He became widely known for his in-depth research into the teachings of Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra, and also edited and published many books by him.
Background: The Fürth yeshivah was one of the most prominent yeshivahs of its time. It is known that even the Chatam Sofer considered moving his yeshivah to Fürth to unite with the yeshivah there. This volume was written 1822-1824. At that same time, a tremendous battle broke out against the Reform plots, and government authorities opposing the very existence of the yeshivah. In Tammuz 1824, the Reform managed to convince the government to close the yeshivah, and a government order was issued to promptly and completely shutter the yeshivah. The students were required to stay under ‘house arrest.’ The students who were not residents of Fürth were required to leave the city. In the end, after direct intervention by Baron Rothschild, this order was rescinded. For more about the yeshivah, refer to: HaYeshivah Haramah B’Fürth (Bnei Brak 2010). The third volume discusses this affair extensively.
At the beginning, Rabbi Gavriel wrote down Torah thoughts on whatever paper was available and wrote according to his stream of understanding, in a disorderly manner. After some time, he went back and arranged and edited this material into a book, carefully selected and proofread, in beautiful, pleasant-to-read script. This is that prepared volume, and among its leaves are [10] pages of the original writing.
21.5 cm. The volume includes a total of [115] written leaves. Entirely legible.
Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Worming tunnels and perforations (with light damage to text), primarily at the beginning of the book and at its end. Detached leaves and compilations. Original simple binding. Slightly blemished.