Autograph Letter, in Hebrew, to R. Zalman Nathan, Rabbi of Teshus. A responsa concerning cows-milk sold to a Gentile on Pesach and subsequently fed Chametz

BANET, MORDECHAI.

Nikolsburg

Adar, 1794

R. Mordechai Banet of Nikolsburg (1753-1829), was the Oberlandesrabbiner (Chief Rabbi) of Moravia and a colleague of Rabbis Akiva Eger and Moshe Sofer. He authored a number of scholarly works including responsa Har ha-Mor and Parashath Mordechai. Banet was held in the highest esteem by the Chatham Sofer who, in his eulogy, called him a Gaon Olam and Gadol ha-Dor. See JE, Vol. III, pp. 14-15; EJ, Vol. IV, cols. 159-160; N.Z. Friedmann, Otzar Harabanim, M-13753. Although most of this responsum has been published in Parashath Mordechai (1889), no. 22, the present original draft contains material that remains unpublished. Of importance is a record of the name of the respondent, who in the published version is anonymous ("Chacham Echad"). Also unpublished is a passage in the present manuscript concerning the well-being and progress of one of R. Mordechai Banet's disciples. Beyond that, there are many variants and additional phrases within the responsum itself. This is obviously a first draft as is evident from the many words changed plus notes written along the margin