(REFORM

Heavily Censured Reform Tracts from a Pioneer of Reform Judaism. Aaron Chorin served as Chief Rabbi of Arad, Rumania. He advocated reforms to the synagogue by altering the text of prayers, allowing prayer in the vernacular and with an uncovered head, and approving the use of the organ on the Sabbath. He curtailed the seven days of mourning and permitted traveling and writing on the Sabbath. This work, a positive response to the queries raised by the Duchy of Baden regarding liberal tendencies in contemporary Judaism (as instituted by the Hamburg Temple), is one of the earliest Reform responsa works. In Orthodox circles Choriner was contemptuously known by the acronym “Acher” (Aaron Chaim Rabbi) - the name applied to the infamous Tanaic heretic, Elisha ben Abuyah after his apostasy. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) p. 176.