MINTZ (MUNZ), MOSES

MaHaRa”M Mintz was one of the greatest Talmudic scholars of his generation. Born in Podolia, he was a disciple of R. Meshulam Igra. After his marriage, he lived in Brody, Galicia for a number of years. Indeed, he always signed himself as in this document, "Moshe Mintz Mi-Brod." In 1790, based upon the enthusiastic recommendation of R. Ezekiel Landau (author Responsa "Noda Bi-Yehudah"), he was appointed as Chief Rabbi of Alt-Ofen. (The city of "Alt-Ofen" was later incorporated as the third district of Budapest). His learning enhanced "the reputation of the congregation far beyond the confines of Hungary" (JE, Vol. I, p. 472). In addition, he had family ties to many famous scholars, such as R. Moses Schreiber (author Responsa "Chatham Sopher") who mentions him in his work Even ha-Ezer (responsum no. 122). He is most famous for his Responsa MaHaRa”M Mintz, first published in Prague, 1827. The Dayan, R. Moshe Abeles was also a prominent scholar. Abeles corresponded with the Chatham Sopher (see M.A.Z. Kinstlicher, He-"Chatham Sofer" U’Bnei Doro: Ishim bi-Teshuvoth Chatham Sopher [1993], p. 278) and was later appointed as Rosh Beth Din. R. Mordechai Drucker was an official of the congregation. The document states that the widow and her orphans must be supported except for one child who will be supported by R.Moshe ben Lemel (her husband's brother), who is also support the child who is soon to be born. (Evidently the widow was pregnant at the time of her husband's death). However, if she should remarry, then the second husband must take upon himself to support all the orphans from the previous marriage. Should the second husband refuse, the widow must deposit with the Beth Din 300 Reinish for the orphans. The other pages contain a list of items of the estate that were sold plus itemized expenses. JE, Vol. I, p.472; Vol. IX, p. 112