Leaves from a notebook of homilies and Talmudic novellae handwritten by R. Yoel Tzvi Roth Rabbi of Khust, Author of Beit HaYotzer. [Hungary, 19th century].
Autograph manuscript by R. Yoel Tzvi Roth Rabbi of Khust. Inscriptions on the final page handwritten and signed by the author's grandson, R. Yitzchak Fränkel, who edited and published his grandfather's book: " …these Torah novellae were composed by the great Torah scholar… R. Yoel Tzvi. So says his grandson Yitzchak Frankel son of R. Eliyahu…".
On the first leaf, R. Yoel Tzvi begins with novellae on Aggadah which he said as a young student in the yeshiva of Maharam Ash in Ungvar (printed with slight variations in Petach HaBayit, at the beginning of part II of his book Responsa Beit HaYotzer, Munkacs 1902, Derush L'Semichut HaTorah). The present Talmudic novellae are incomplete. These leaves are presumably remnants of a complete notebook by R. Yoel Tzvi, which was already published in his books.
The final leaf contains instructions for writing an amulet, handwritten by R. Yoel Tzvi. This amulet, against melancholy, grief and insanity, is known in the name of the Chatam Sofer, who received it from his teacher R. Natan Adler (see: Igrot Sofrim, letters of R. Shimon Sofer, section 30).
R. Yoel Tzvi Roth (1820-1891), author of Beit HaYotzer. A leading Chassidic rabbi in Hungary, and yeshiva dean who taught many of Hungary's leading Torah scholars. In his youth, he studied in the yeshiva of his teacher R. Meir Ash Rabbi of Ungvar (d. 1852). He was the son-in-law of R. Yaakov Gottlieb Rabbi of Khust (d. 1860), disciple of the Chatam Sofer. He was close to the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and his son the Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova. He also frequented the courts of other rebbes – the Yismach Moshe of Ujhel, R. Tzvi Hirsh of Liska and R. Shalom of Belz. He served from 1882 as rabbi of Berettyóújfalu, and in 1884, he returned to Khust to serve as rabbi and dean of the yeshiva, in place of the Maharam Schick and R. Amram Blum (after the passing of Maharam Schick in 1879, R. Amram Blum author of Beit She'arim took his place, until he left the city two years later). After the passing of R. Yoel Tzvi, R. Moshe Grünwald author of Arugat HaBosem was summoned to succeed him, and he served as rabbi of Khust in 1893-1910.
His grandson, R. Yitzchak Fränkel (1863-1931, Otzar HaRabbanim 10943), published his books Responsa Beit HaYotzer (Munkacs, 1896-1902), with the addition of his own novellae, Pri Yitzchak and Imrei Fi. This grandson, whose signature appears on the final page of the present manuscript, was an outstanding and sharp Torah scholar, and one of the Torah leaders of Hungary. In 1900, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he became known as the Gaon of Khust. He served as dayan on the Beit Din of R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and R. Yitzchak Yerucham Diskin, and his signature appears alongside theirs on proclamations and bans against schools, football games and R. Kook.
[5] leaves, comprising [8] pages of Talmudic novellae and [2] pages with text of amulet and other inscriptions. Approx. 24 cm. Condition varies. Stains, wear and open tears. Significant damage to text on one leaf. Detached leaves, without binding.