ETTLINGER, JACOB. Binyan Zion [responsa]

Jacob Ettlinger (1798-1871) was one of the leading Halachic authorities of his time. This is witnessed by this collected responsa, addressed not only to the rabbis of Germany and Holland, but to those of Russia and Poland as well. His influence upon German Orthodoxy was immense; both Rabbis Samson Raphael Hirsch and Azriel Hildesheimer were his disciples. Of particular interest is Responsum no. 63 (f.28v.) to R. Abraham Ash of New York, dated 1858. The American rabbi asked whether it would be halachiky acceptable for the Beth Medrash of New York to utilize a former church rectory as the synagogue's sanctuary. Abraham Ash, founding rabbi of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol was born in Siematycze, Congress Poland in 1821, and emigrated to New York City in 1851. His congregation is today located at 60-64 Norfolk Street.) See EJ, Vol. VI, cols. 955-6; Vol. VII, cols. 13-138.