Willowsky, Jacob David (Ridva”z). Nimukei Ridva”z [commentary on Genesis and Exodus]

The Ridva”z served as rabbi of a number of cities in Russia, most notably Slutzk where he established a Yeshivah with R. Isser Zalman Meltzer at its helm. In 1903 Willowsky traveled to America in order to finance the publication of his commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud, whereupon he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Chicago. The present work, Nimukei Ridva”z, contains an important introduction pertaining to the history of Kashruth supervision in Chicago, in which the author castigated against the overseeing rabbis - and the overall state of Jewish practice and education in America. Tzvi Shimon Album, one of the rabbis who was targeted by these allegations issued a polemical work “Divrei Emeth” that sought to prove that the Ridva”z was himself guilty of the self-same charges of Kashruth supervision impropieties. (see Kestenbaum Sale 54 Lot 37).