Shailoth Uteshuvoth Mahara’m Lichtstein [responsa and Rabbinic correspondence]

<<AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF RESPONSA WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED OF MANY GREAT RABBIS OF THE PERIOD.>> The author, Moshe ben Avraham Yekuthiel Zalman Lichtstein, was Rabbi of Derobnin, Gombin and Strikov. He published Divrei Koheleth, (Nowydwor, 1785) by his deceased younger brother with a section of his novellae entitled Darash Moshe. He also published his father’s commentary Zera Avraham on the Sifri with his own additional comments in Dyhrenfurth and Radvil (1811-20). The final leaf of this volume contains a printed “Moda’ah Raba” concerning the Zera Avraham. These works contain the approbations of the great Rabbis of the day including: R. Akiva Eger, R. Jacob of Lissa, R. Yaakov Orenstein (author of Yeshuoth Yaakov), R. Yehuda Leib Margoliouth (author of Korban Reishith), R. Mordechai of Tiktin, his Mechutan R. Chaim b. Yitzchak Itzik Auerbach of Luntchitz (author of Divrei Mishpat), R. Ephraim Zalman Margoliouth and others many with whom he corresponded with in this volume. Many of these approbations also mention the author’s other writings including the present manuscript of responsa. <<This volume contains many of the original letters and queries to which the author here presents responses to.>> Some are folded revealing the author’s address. Correspondents include: His mechutan R. Baruch b. Yaakov Yoseph of Sochatchov, R. Chaim of Sheps, R. Nachman ben… bno shel Baal Misgereth Hashulchan MePintchov, R. Eliezer Luntchitz of Glovna, R. Yehuda Leib Margoliouth of Plotzk (author of Korban Reishith), R. Mordechai of Tiktin, his other mechutan R. Chaim b. Yitzchak Itzik Auerbach of Lunchitz (author of Divrei Mishpat), R. Baruch Bendit of Zabludova (author of Ner Tamid Horadna, 1789, see Otzar HaRabanim 4194), R. Chaim b. Yonathan, Dayan of Brisk and others. In many of these queries, R. Moshe Lichtstein is entitled with superlative honorific titles befitting the greatest Rabbis: Sar HaTorah, Aspaklaria Hameirah, Rosh Shivtei Yisrael, HaGaon Amithi and Rosh Golath Ariel. R. Chaim Mordechai Margoliouth (author of Sha’arei Tehuvah) refers to R. Moshe Lichtstein in his approbation to Zera Abraham as “Chaviv al kol Gedolei Doreinu.” The responsa in this manuscript range from problems with Agunoth, propriety of a family selling synagogue seats without permission of the community, the capabilities of a Shochet who did not determine a problem with a lung, cutting nails while in mourning. Also contained is a lengthy correspondence concerning questions of marital infidelity, signed by R. Mordechai Halevi of Tiktin and the Dayan R. Yisrael (formerly Maggid and Dayan of Bialystok). Appended is an undated, unsigned 2-page letter in the author’s hand written to one of the Gedolei Hador (the Chozeh?) seeking to put to rest a controversy in which a (Chassidic) Rabbi, who although dressed in white (“meutar belevainim”), is most insulting to others. Possibly written against the Chassidic Rabbi R. Shraga Feivel Danziger, a disciple of R. Jacob of Lissa and the Chozeh of Lublin who was in Gombin for a short time.