Lengthy Halachic Letter from Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum, Av Beis Din of Chaht, author of ‘Netah Sorek’
Chaht, 1891
The letter is written with depth and extensive analysis, addressing several different topics, including the laws of slaughtering Kodshim.
At the bottom of the letter appears his signature (partially cut off):
"With regards and affection, the humble Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum."
The letter was published not long after it was written in the Torah journal ‘Vayilkat Yosef’, Bonyhad 1909, Year 11, Ch. 150. (The letter was printed in installments over several issues).
Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum (1826-1896), Av Beis Din of Chaht and author of ‘Netah Sorek’, was one of the leading Hungarian Rabbanim in his era. He was the son of Rabbi Zev Wolf, author of ‘Rechovos HaNahar." In 1848, he began serving as Rav and authored numerous halachic responsa, corresponding with leading contemporary sages in Hungary. His compositions were published in ‘Shu”t Netah Sorek’ and ‘Netah Sorek al HaTorah’.
His greatness in the eyes of his contemporaries can be learned, among other things, from the fact that nearly 1,000 subscribers signed up for his sefer ‘Netah Sorek – Drashos’ before it was printed!!
Chaht, 1891. A large page, autographed and handwritten in its entirety by Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum.
Size: 20.8 x 33.5 cm.
Condition: Fair, with a missing tear in the center of the page and along the margins; the letter has undergone artistic restoration. (The missing text appears in the printed version in the aforementioned journal.)
Interestingly, the letter is dated Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Terumah, in the year Teruma"h (which corresponds to 5651 [1891]), and the author himself passed away in 1896 on
Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Terumah! (As attested by his son-in-law at the beginning of ‘Netah Sorek – Derashos’).
