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By Jerusalem of gold auctions
Aug 28, 2017
Jerusalem, Israel
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LOT 40:

Religious Letter Handwritten by Rabbi Meir, Av Beit Din of Brody Author of 'Yad Ha'Meir', a Leading Disciple of ...

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Auction took place on Aug 28, 2017 at Jerusalem of gold auctions
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Religious Letter Handwritten by Rabbi Meir, Av Beit Din of Brody Author of 'Yad Ha'Meir', a Leading Disciple of Rabbi Shmelka of Nikolsburg and One of the Approbators of the Book 'Likutei Moharan', to Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot
A response handwritten by Rabbi Meir Av Beit Din of Brody Author of 'Yad Ha'Meir about the trustworthiness of an adulteress Agunah who says her husband died. More than 50 handwritten lines. The response has never been printed!
Rabbi Meir had written a booklet on the matter a short time earlier and had sent it to Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot (attached is a photocopy of the manuscript of the booklet).
The reason the leaf before us was not included in the booklet is that it contains new information, that is, that the Agunah was an adulteress. The author chose not to include it in his booklet (to cite the author at the end of the leaf before us): "So as not to shame Jewish women".
The leaf is marked by the number "52" (in Hebrew letters) – this is the number of the leaf in a volume of responsa that the addressee, Rabbi Zalman Efrayim Margaliyot, was then compiling (it is possible that the numbering was handwritten by Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot himself).
Size of leaf: 24.5x20 cm.
There are additions in his handwriting between the lines.
Attached is signed confirmation by Rabbi Yitzchak Yesha'aya Weiss.

The history of Rabbi Meir Av Beit Din of Brody
Rabbi Meir Av Beit Din of Brody (1740-1815), one of the most prominent rabbis of his generation. His surname was Krystynpoler since before he moved to Brody, he served as a rabbi in Krystynopil. However, in order not to mention a name of Avodah Zara, his named was changed to "Krysenpoler".
In his youth, he studied with two friends who became the most prominent rabbis: Rabbi Elazar landau of Brody and Rabbi Jesepha Av Beit Din of Zholkva. The three of them titled their compositions "Yad", commemorating a miraculous event they had experienced in their youth.
Rabbi Meir studied at the yeshiva of Rabbi Shmelka of Nikolsburg. He served as rabbi in two towns and then was appointed the rabbi of Krystynopil in south-east Galicia. After the death of his wife, he moved to Brody. In 1785, he moved to Glogow and became the first rabbi of the town and its surroundings. In 1802, after receiving the blessing of Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasow, a son was born to him and his third wife, their only son Rabbi Yechiel Michel Ben Zion. Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasow was the Sandak.
Rabbi Meir served as the Rabbi of Brody for thirty years until his death on Passover 1815. His friend, Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot, printed the composition 'Mispad Mar' – his eulogy for the Mara De'Atra, Rabbi Meir (reprinted in 2006), whom he considered a brother.
Rabbi Meir corresponded with his friend Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot and Rabbi Margaliyot refers to him in his 'Beit Efrayim' Responsa.
Rabbi Meir left many manuscripts; yet only one of his compositions was printed: "Yad Ha'Meir" on the Talmud (Warsaw, 1874).
The Belz Hassidim admire the personality of Rabbi Meir. It is common knowledge that the Rebbe of Belz considered himself his disciple because when he was five years old he was examined by Rabbi Meir and heard Divrei Torah from him.
(See attached material about Rabbi Meir, his piety and holiness)

The approbation of 'Likutei Moharan'
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov wanted to receive approbations to his book 'Likutei Mohran' from the most prominent rabbis of the generation, one of them being Rabbi Meir. Although Rabbi Meir did not usually approbate books, when he received the manuscript of 'Likutei Moharan' he wrote: "although since long ago I have taken upon myself not to approbate new books … for several reasons … However, now that I have received the book of the exceptional rabbi who is great in Torah and Hassidism, our teacher Rabbi Nachman … and have only studied a tiny portion of it … I have seen it sweet as honey … and I have been preceded by the most prominent rabbis of our generation to bring the composition of Rabbi Nachman to the printing house – and I too will be one of them …"
It is common knowledge that the first edition of 'Likutei Moharan" (from 1808) did not include any approbations. Due to his modesty, Rabbi Nachman refused to print them in his book. Therefore, only the second edition which was published sixteen years after Rabbi Nachman's death, by his disciple Rabbi Natan, contained the approbations, including that of Rabbi Meir Av Beit Din of Brody and that of Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Margaliyot.
Condition: Good. Wear. Slight tears.

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