Rare and important historic document about the expansion of the Great Synagogue in Lublin, where the Maharsha”l and the Mahara”m prayed, and about the sale of the added seats. The document is signed by the leaders of the community and the av beit din of Lublin, the gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Ashkenazi. Lublin, 1857.
A magnificent new aron kodesh was built in the central synagogue of Lublin in 1857 and new space was created in the synagogue. The numbering of the seats mentioned in the community ledger also changed. This document bears the renumbering of the seats authorized and signed by the rabbi of Lublin, the gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Ashkenazi.
The Great Synagogue in Lublin – the glorious Great Synagogue stood at 3 Jatnetza Street in Lublin. One of the largest and most famous synagogues in Europe, it is referred to as “The Maharsha”l’s Synagogue.” It was established over four hundred years ago, and, according to the researchers’ hypothesis, Va’ad Arba Aratzot meetings were held there. In the days of the gadol hador , the Mahara”m of Lublin, a large building was added as a connection to the Maharshal’s beit midrash . The new part was called “The Mahara”m of Lublin’s Synagogue” in his honor. The two synagogues together included three thousand seats. The chronicles of the times relate that on the day of the appointment of the gaon Rabbi Shneur Zalman ztz’l, author of Shu”t Torat Chessed , as rabbi of Lublin (who was appointed after the Mahara”m’s passing), he delivered his brilliant sermon in this historic synagogue, which was full to capacity – every one of its three thousand seats was occupied. This sermon struck a chord with the Jewish world and it was printed as a special composition called “Derashat HaTorat Chessed.” The ancient synagogue required very expensive ongoing maintenance, and the synagogue’s chronicles tell of some expensive and lengthy renovations that took place there.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Ashkenazi, av beit din of Lublin .
[1] leaf paper, 20×33 cm.
Thick, high-quality paper with a watermark.
Fine condition. Light blemishes in the white margins, very far from the text.