(“The Netzi’v”). Raphael HaKohen ben Yekuthiel Ziskind Katz. Shailoth U’Teshuvoth VeShav HaKohen [responsa]. * With: Shailath HaKohanim Torah [novellae to Kodashim]

(BERLIN, NAPHTALI TZVI YEHUDAH).

Eckstorff

Altona

1792

The Netzi’v’s copy, with his stamp on and signature of his son R. Meir Berlin on title-page, and autograph scholarly marginalia on f. 150a. FIRST EDITION. Two title-pages.

Vinograd, Altona 149, 151.

The Netziv (1817-93) was Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, the foremost Talmudic Academy of 19th-century Russia. The author (1722-1803) was a disciple of the Sha’agath Aryeh and teacher of R. Chaim of Volozhin. He was appointed Chief Rabbi of the combined comunities of Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbeck in 1776. Ideologically, he was Moses Mendelssohn’s most bitter opponent and unsuccessfully attempted to have the Biur translation banned while it was still in manuscript. See A. Altmann, Moses Mendelssohn: A Biographical Study (1973) pp. 383-88, 392-93.