(Sdei Chemed, 1834-1904). Letter Signed, written to R. Akiva Yoseph Schlesinger.

R. Chaim Chezkiyahu Medini’s fame rests upon his monumental halachic encyclopedia, Sdei Chemed. Born in Jerusalem, he lived in Constantinople and from 1867 to 1899 was of Kara-su-Bazar /Qarasuvbazar in the Crimea (present day Bilohirsk, Ukraine, annexed by Russia). The recipient, R. Akiva Yoseph Schlesinger (1838-1922), longtime resident of Jerusalem, was born in Pressburg and was intimately connected with the famed Sofer family: His mohel was the Chasam Sofer, he studied in the yeshiva of the Kesav Sofer and his most famous work, “Lev Ivri” is a commentary to the ethical will of the Chasam Sofer, calling for an unswerving adherence to tradition. Nonetheless, R. Schlesinger could also be unusually innovative - within the confines of Jewish law.