Emek HaShveh.

CHORIN(ER), AARON.

Elsenwanger

Prague

1803

Complete in three parts: Rosh Emanah [on issues of faith, philosophy and kabbalah]. * Neshama Chaya [novellae on tractate Berachoth]. * Dirath Aharon [responsa and halachic matters]. FIRST EDITION. Geographic diagrams pertaining to map of Land of Israel on ff. 68-69.

Vinograd, Prague 1062; Roest, Yodea Sepher 1558.

This banned work caused a storm of disapproval among Orthodox leaders. R. Mordechai Baneth of Nikolsburg found it heretical and appealed to the community of Arad to ban the book. The Beth Din sought to compell Chorin to recant it which he refused and subsequently all copies of the book were seized and publicly burnt. See Kerem Chemed Vol. II, letter 11 and M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 173-76. Aaron Chorin (1766-1844), erstwhile student of R. Ezekiel Landau of Prague, was instrumental in introducing the Reform movement to Hungary. In Orthodox circles Choriner was contemptuously known by the acronym “Acher” (Aaron Chaim Rabbi) - the name applied to the infamous Tanaic heretic, Elisha ben Abuyah after his apostasy.