(Author of Torah Temimah, 1860-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew, with stamp, written to Dr. Chanoch Yehudah (Alexander) Kohut.

EPSTEIN, BARUCH HALEVI.

Pinsk

1892

Profuse praise and fourteen scholarly comments pertaining to Kohut’s Aruch HaShalem.

R. Baruch Epstein was a brilliant Talmudic and Biblical scholar whose works Torah Temima, Mekor Baruch, Baruch Sheamar are all classics in their respective fields. His father R. Yechiel Michel Epstein, Rabbi of Novardok, was the author of the Aruch HaShulchan. Following ordination in Breslau, the Hungarian-born Dr. Alexander Kohut (1842-94) came to the United States to serve as Rabbi of Cong. Ahavath Chesed in New York. He was an important figure in the emergence of Conservative Judaism and the establishment of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is especially renowned as the author of the monumental eight volume Talmudic lexicon Aruch HaShalem. Epstein cannot control his excitement and praise for Kohut’s work. He entitles him with outstanding honorific titles, “Aluf VeGaon, Mufla ShebeChachamim, Sar VeGadol BeYisrael U’BeAmim Maran…” Epstein ignores the fact that Kohut was associated with the Conservative movement and concentrates on his scholarly achievement. “Because of my great thirst. I became attached to it all day and all night and I hurry to send my heartfelt thanks…” Some of Epstein’s comments are lengthy and offer his own original insights.