Leaf with an inscription handwritten by R. Moshe Sofer, author of the Chatam Sofer, with the signature of his grandson R. Shimon Sofer, Rabbi of Erlau.
Two handwritten lines, identified as the handwriting of the Chatam Sofer: "Sefer Otzrot Chaim by the Ari and at the end notation of Kol HaRamaz".
Evidently this leaf is a flyleaf of the kabbalistic composition Otzrot Chaim about the Arizal's teachings [by R. Chaim Vital], owned by the Chatam Sofer, to which he added a handwritten inscription that served as a title page of the manuscript.
Directly after the handwritten lines of the Chatam Sofer, is the signature of R. Shimon Sofer, Rabbi of Erlau, author of Hitorerut Teshuva, grandson of the Chatam Sofer, who apparently inherited the manuscript from his father and grandfather.
Although the Chatam Sofer was primarily celebrated in his capacity as posek of thousands of responsa and as head of a yeshiva and venerable leader, he was also an acclaimed kabbalist, amazingly proficient in its wisdom. His two illustrious teachers, R. Natan Adler and R. Pinchas HaLevi Horwitz, author of the Hafla'ah were
leading kabbalists and he learned much kabbalah from them. A smattering of his knowledge in this area can be perceived in a number of places in his writings and responsa, in which he mentions kabbalistic thoughts, but he mostly studied this wisdom privately or with selected disciples. The Chatam Sofer owned an important collection of Kabbalistic manuscripts as affirmed by his grandson Rabbi Shlomo Sofer, Rabbi of Bergsaß (Berehove) (Chut HaMeshulash HeChadash, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 55-56). This handwritten leaf joins two other Kabbalistic manuscripts possessed by the Chatam Sofer - see items 47-48.
Leaf, 20 cm. Good condition. Stains, wear to margins.
Enclosed is an expert's report identifying the handwriting of the Chatam Sofer.