(Predecessor of R. Joel Teitelbaum as Rabbi of Satmar). Sheiloth UTeshuvoth Zichron Yehudah [responsa]

AUCTION 43 | Thursday, April 02nd, 2009 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 118
GREENWALD, YEHUDAH

(Predecessor of R. Joel Teitelbaum as Rabbi of Satmar). Sheiloth UTeshuvoth Zichron Yehudah [responsa]

FIRST EDITION Two volumes. I: pp. 6, 168, 8. * II: 8, 232. Browned. Contemporary marbled boards, chipped. Folio

Budapest-Ujhely: 1923-28

Est: $300 - $500
Volume one contains the rare responsa, dated 1913, written by the Author to R. Joseph Chaim Sonnenfeld castigating him for joining the Agudath Israel (see no. 200, pp.156-57). Rabbi Greenwald states such an action would be an "immediate stumbling block and sin for future generations...causing the Hungarian Rabbis to cease their support of Kollel Ungarin and thus causing our brethren to starve." Later, this infamous responsum was deleted, indeed the Agudah purchased all offending copies that remained and destroyed them. It is interesting to note that Rabbi Sonnenfeld himself in his lengthy approbation published five years later at the end of the introduction to vol II refers to this responsum stating, "even in the letter of chastisement and rebuke written to me one can discern [R. Greenwald's] righteousness and uprightness See article by J.L. Maimon, "Ziyuf Sifruthith Mitzad Ha-Agudah" in Sinai vol. V (1939-40), pp. 421-23 and discussion by Prof. S. Glick, Kuntras HaTeshuvoth HaChadash Vol. I, Jerusalem, 2006, no. 1310