(MaHaRSHa”L). Shailoth Uteshuvoth [responsa]

The MaHaRSHa”L was an iconoclast in his time, displaying a surprising assertiveness and independence in his Halachic rulings, often castigating his rabbinical opponents. The present responsa are historically important for the cultural life of the Jews of Poland and Lithuania - and include many examples of colloquial Old Yiddish. See responsum no. 21 for a deposition regarding a pre-marital dispute and the MaHaRSHa”L’s warning to the judges topunish the correct guilty party. Responsum no. 33, defends a wronged woman and curses the antagonist that he be “buried like a donkey” if he does not retract his words. Responsum no. 29 contains significant genealogical material concerning the chronology of many distinguished German and French scholars, from Rabbeinu Gershom through the 14th century. This copy contains the name of the informer cited at the end of responsum no.11, removed from many copies to protect his identity. This copy also contains the complete text of responsum no.12, dealing with the uncertain Halachic status of a particular family. This was deleted in many copies in respect of those concerned. According to Rivkind, the Adler copy in the Jewish Theological Seminary Library lacks the entire text of this responsum. See: I. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sophrim in: Kiryath Sepher Vol. IV, pp.278-9