Chukath HaZevach [on Shechita]. With extensive commentaries: Beth Ya’akov and Ohel Ya’akov. With related responsa and correspondence.

LEVIN, YA’AKOV OF SADIGURA.

Sadigura

1879-96

Autograph Manuscript in Hebrew, written in large square letters surrounded by commentaries in smaller letters, on paper.

AUTOGRAPH, UNPUBLISHED, EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE LAWS OF SHECHITA WRITTEN IN THE CELEBRATED CHASSIDIC TOWN OF SADIGURA. The expert author was a prolific writer who published a number of other works on matters relating to ritual slaughter. He also issued an extensive study on the laws and customs of Brith Milah, entitled Chotham Kodesh (Cracow, 1892). The manuscript includes an interesting halachic citation (f. 27b) in the name of the author’s master, the Chassidic Rebbe R. Abraham Ya’akov of Sadigura, son of R. Yisrael of Ruzhin. It is most unusual to encounter a halachic text that cites a Chassidic Rebbe of such prominence. The final leaves contain responsa and correspondence from various Shochtim and Rabbis pertaining to the laws of Shechitah. Of interest is a responsa (f. 258b-259a) from R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi which the manuscript author records that he copied from the original manuscript. This responsa differs from that published in the Shailoth U’Teshuvoth Ba’al Hatanya. Also contains responsa from R. Aryeh Leibush Bolichaver (author of Shem Aryeh), R. Ya’akov Weidenfeld of Harimilov (ff. 137a -138b), R. Shlomo Kluger of Brody (ff. 259b-261a) and R. Yoseph Saul Nathanson of Lvov (ff. 271b-272a). Rabbi Nathanson cites the Chassidic Rebbe R. Naphtali of Ropschitz as well as the Apter Rav. See Y. Y. Weiss, Tzfunoth, Vol. XII, pp. 35-8.