Letter of Reproof Handwritten and Signed by Rabbi Mordechai Banet, Rabbi of Nikolsburg and Chief Rabbi of Moravia

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Mordechai Banet. [Nikolsburg (Mikulov), ca. 1810s-1820s].
The leaf contains the conclusion and signature of a letter of sharp reproof sent by the Maharam Banet to a rabbi who granted a Kashrut certificate to a certain food item which contained a questionable component, writing: "What did his honor rely upon to waive an early custom, established since times bygone, to breach the barrier of the sages of Israel, this stumbling block is under his responsibility… and other communities are learning from it as well… therefore, he should please have the circumspection to correct his mistake… I hope he will take note of my words. So says the one who seeks his wellbeing, Mordechai Banet".
R. Mordechai (Maharam) Banet (1753-1829), Rabbi of Nikolsburg and Chief Rabbi of Moravia, was a foremost leader of his generation. He was a disciple of the Noda BiYehuda and of R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg (R. Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz Rabbi of Nikolsburg, a Chassidic leader, brother of the Haflaah), who taught him Kabbalah. Reputedly, while staying in his teacher's house, he met R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Noam Elimelech (some say it was the latter's brother, R. Zushe of Anipoli), who chastised him for his excessive fasting and asceticism, lest he jeopardize his health.
After the demise of R. Gershon Chayes Rabbi of Nikolsburg, he was appointed in his stead rabbi of Nikolsburg and Chief Rabbi of Moravia, a position he held for some 40 years. He also headed the Nikolsburg yeshiva, which comprised at its pinnacle some 400 students. He was one of the prominent figures in the battle against the Reform movement which emerged in those day. He edified many disciples, some who later became leading rabbis of the generation, including R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (Przysucha) – a leading Chassidic figure, R. Yehuda Aszód, R. Yirmiya Loew author of Divrei Yirmiya, and many others. He authored Techelet Mordechai – sermons, Har HaMor (Gedulat Mordechai) – responsa, Parashat Mordechai – responsa, Machashevet Mordechai – on the Torah, Sefer Maharam Banet (Divrei Mordechai) – novellae on Tur and Shulchan Aruch, and other works.
The Chatam Sofer eulogized him as a pious person, leader of the Jewish people and master in all areas of the Torah. In the Chatam Sofer's approbation to the book of his responsa Har HaMor (Gedulat Mordechai), he writes: "The great Torah scholar… leader of the whole Diaspora Jewry… who lit up the world with his Torah…".
Damaged letter. [1] leaf. 15.5X21 cm. Poor-fair condition. Tears and loss of text, professionally restored.