POSEN, PINCHAS

Friedburg-Hanau

1780-1795

(SON OF R. ZALMAN POSNA). Autograph Manuscript. Pinkas Chidushim. Containing: Novellae on Hilchoth Shabbath (ff. 1-17). * Sermon and novellae on the topic of Chupah delivered at his wedding (ff. 19-26), in which he cites novellae in the name of his grandfather, R. Hertz Posner, with additions from his father R. Zalman. * Sermons and novellae on various Talmudic Tractates and Sidroth. * Sermon delivered at his engagement in 1780 (ff. 36-39). * Pilpul delivered at the ceremony of Sivlonoth. * Discourse delivered at the central synagogue of Hanau the week after his wedding (ff. 85-91). * Hilchoth Rosh Ha-Shana, Sukah, Eiruvin (ff. 55-81). * Eulogy on R. Yaakov Benjamin, the Rabbi of Hanau (ff. 99-102). * Discourse on Pesach, laws of prayer, Pirkei Avoth, Shabbath Teshuvah. Etc

The author of this manuscript was the son of R. Zalman Posna (Posen), Rabbi of Offenbach (1770-79) and Friedburg (1779-1793). The manuscript reveals hitherto unknown information about family, name of his wife (Blimeleh), date of his engagement and marriage and the fact that he was clearly a proficient scholar who delivered synagogue sermons and probably officiated as a Dayan in Hanau, (his brother R. Yaakov, served as Dayan in Frankfurt a/Main). The researchers of the recently published comprehensive history of the Posen Family were unaware of any details of R. Pinchas Posen's life other than the fact that he was one of eight children of R. Zalman and born in Offenbach in 1763. On the front flyleaf R. Pinchas sets out a poetical introduction stating that in the merit of writing his own commentaries to the laws of Sabbath, he should live to "see the comfort of Zion and Jerusalem." R. Pinchas cites many commentaries in the name of his father "R. Zalman Posna Rabbi of Friedburg Ve-Ha-Medina" and his grandfather "Moreinu Ha-Rav R. Hirtz Posna Zecher Tzadik Le-Bracha" (especially ff. 42-46, see also f. 101a). On f. 50a, he cites an arduous question on the comments of the Magen Avraham on the subject of Priestly Blessings. He states he posed this question to many rabbinic scholars including his father, the Rabbi of Friedburg and the Rabbi of Frankfurt a/Main none of whom could resolve the issue. CONTAINS SCHOLARLY COMMENTARIES FROM THREE GENERATIONS OF THE POSEN FAMILY. See Ilan HaYuchsin (the Posen family tree) in: The Posen Family (1985) p. 25