Rare and historic letter of rabbinic ordination from two leaders of German Jewry, the sacred gaon Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, rabbi of Eisenstadt and head of the Rabbinical Seminary, and the sacred gaon Rabbi David Tzvi Hoffman, among the leaders of German Jewry and author of Shu”t Melamed L’Ho’il . Berlin, 1896. Historic letter that clearly expresses the spirit of the times in Germany.
Letter of rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary given to the student Pinchas HaLevi Bamberger. The Rabbinical Seminary rabbis include a strict warning: “Congregations which have thrown off the yoke of Torah and mitzvot are increasing. They have heretics who do not heed the instructions of teachers … [they] follow the conduct of members of other religions, bringing in musical instruments and playing music in Hashem’s home even on the sacred Shabbat, thereby desecrating it.” As such, the Seminary’s rabbis warn their students with these words: “If people from a congregation that has transgressed in ways like these call on you to be their rabbi and teacher, do not desire nor listen to them!”
The rabbis the continue, determining that one who indeed desires these people and congregations who rebel against Hashem’s word and throw off the yoke of mitzvahs and change the prayer text as follows: “If, Heaven forbid, a foreign spirit passes over you and you turn your back to this warning from us, even if you understand what is before you and you comprehend the words of this ordination, both the written instruction given to you and the rabbinic certificate in your hands are thereby cancelled, annulled, and cease to exist in any way”!
The letter is concluded by the rabbis with a prayer and a hope: “Our souls’ desire is that the Torah’s commandments are always upon your heart, so that you go in good ways and preserve the ways of tzaddikim, and that you succeed.” Signatories on this letter include the leader of the Rabbinical Seminary of Berlin, Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, among the leaders of German Jewry, and the gaon R’ David Tzvi Hoffman ztz”l, among the Seminary rabbis, and Rabbi Hildesheimer’s successor; as well as R’ Naftali Tzvi Hildesheimer, also one of the Seminary rabbis.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the gaon Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, av beit din of Berlin , and the gaon Rabbi David Tzvi Hoffman .
[1] leaf paper, 21×33 cm.
Very fine condition.