FRIED, JOSEPH. Sepher Ohel Yoseph [responsa]

The First Work of Responsa published in America by an American Rabbi. Contains many contributions from R. Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovno and the “Alter of Kelm,” R. Simcha Zissel Ziv. The responsa depict the economic, social and religious conditions of the Jews of New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Addresses issues such as whether to allow Kohanim who were lax in their religious observance to recite the priestly blessings; the status of bread baked on the Sabbath in a bakery with Jewish employees; travel by ferry on the Sabbath; constructing a Sukah on a fire escape, etc.