Auction 86 - Part I - Rare & Important Items

Responsa of the Maharik – Copy from the Library of the Chafetz Chaim

Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000
Unsold
Responsa of the Maharik, by R. Yosef Colon. Warsaw: Samuel Isaac Peshes, 1884.
On the front endpaper, ownership inscriptions indicating that the book belonged to R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, the Chafetz Chaim: "This book belongs to the preeminent scholar R. Yisrael Meir son of R. Aryeh Zev HaKohen of Radin, Vilna province, author of Chafetz Chaim"; "This book belongs to R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, who acquired it from a person who wishes to remain unnamed. So says his friend who seeks his wellbeing, Yitzchak Koshoner".
This book came from the inheritance of R. Tzvi Yehuda Eidelstein, son of R. Yerachmiel Gershon Eidelstein Rabbi of Shumyachi and author of Chiddushei Ben Aryeh (1862-1919), who received it from the Chafetz Chaim himself. This transpired during WWI, when the Chafetz Chaim fled together with the Radin Yeshiva to Shumyachi, Minsk province, where they remained for some two and a half years. During that period, the rabbi of the town, R. Yerachmiel Gershon, became very close to the Chafetz Chaim. In his book Chiddushei Ben Aryeh Part II, several responsa appear concerning Mikvaot and Agunah, questions posed to the Chafetz Chaim who requested from R. Yerachmiel Gershon to respond to them with the applicable Halacha (the Chafetz Chaim also reputedly said about him that he was a disciple of R. Chaim of Brisk not only in Torah but also in his righteousness).
[1], 2-116, [1] leaves. 32.5 cm. Dry paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and mold stains. Wear and tears. Tears to endpaper containing ownership inscriptions, professionally restored with paper. Worming, affecting text. Elaborate leather binding.
An authentication letter by R. Yitzchak Yeshaya Weiss is enclosed, confirming that "this book comes from the library of R. Yaakov Eidelstein, son of R. Tzvi Yehuda Rabbi of Shumyachi in whose home the Chafetz Chaim stayed during WWI, leaving the book there when the war ended".
Manuscripts, Letters and Signatures – Ashkenazi Rabbis
Manuscripts, Letters and Signatures – Ashkenazi Rabbis