Shev Ya'akov Responsa – Copy of Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot and Rabbi Shlomo Kluger

Shev Ya'akov responsa. By Rabbi Ya'akov Katz Av Beit Din and Rosh Metivta in Frankfurt am Main. Frankfurt am Main, [1742]. First edition. On the title page: Various ownership inscriptions from various times, and many signatures in the handwriting of "Efraim Zalman Margaliot of Brody". On the title page of Part 2 and on last leaf: Signature of Rabbi "Avraham Binyamin Kluger…". On the sheets are various inscriptions that the book belongs to Rabbi Shlomo Kluger, and on Leaf 41/a is a dedication by Rabbi Efraim Zalman to Rabbi Shlomo Kluger: "Gift to the great Torah scholar…Rabbi Shlomo Kluger, by Efraim Zalman Margaliot of Brody, Erev Shabbat Kodesh P' Korach 1725" [apparently, this dedication was not written in the handwriting of Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot]. Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot of Brody (1761-1828), author of Beit Efraim and Mateh Efraim. A famous Torah scholar, renowned throughout the Diaspora and a leading Torah authority, he exchanged halachic responsa with many of the sages of his times. He lived in the generation of the Netivot Mishpat and Ketzot Shulchan. In his younger years, he served in the rabbinate of the city of Uhniv and after a short while moved to Brody. There he did not serve in the rabbinate since he was blessed with extreme wealth. He was close to Chassidism and to the leading disciples of the Magid of Mezritch and gave his approbation to the printing of many Chassidic books although he himself was not considered a Chassid. He was even accused of "censoring" the words of the Magid of Mezritch in his book Panim Yafot on the Torah at the time he sent it to his mechutan, the author of Hafla'ah. (See Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia Vol. 3, pp. 913-915, and Dor De'ah pp. 150-154). His books of responsa and Halacha are basic books of halachic rulings and were celebrated already in his lifetime. The Chatam Sofer eulogized him: “Every day his teachings from the books he wrote resound in our Beit Midrash” (Ishim B’Teshuvot Chatam Sofer, pp. 79-81). Rabbi Shlomo Kluger (1786-1869), a leading Torah authority, served as Ra’avad and Magid in Brody, and had great impact on all Jewish communities, both in the realm of halachic rulings as well as in public leadership. The book Toldot Shlomo, a biography of Rabbi Shlomo Kluger, recounts the efforts Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot expended in 1820 to appoint Rabbi Shlomo as Ra’avad in the city of Brody which was at that time the largest Torah center in Galicia. Rabbi Efraim Zalman who was one of the eldest Torah scholars of his times made the acquaintance of the younger anonymous rabbi and after conversing with him in Torah thoughts, became very fond of him and for several weeks Rabbi Efraim Zalman tried with all his might to appoint him for this position. This mutual love continued for the eight years they lived together in the city. Rabbi Shlomo Kluger wrote more than 100 books on halacha and Talmudic treatises, many of which were reprinted. His son, Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Kluger (1841-1916), his father’s assistant in public leadership, exchanged much halachic correspondence with many rabbis of his times from all over the world who hoped to acquire his great father’s rulings on various matters. [1], 109 leaves; [1], 139 leaves. 30.5 cm. High-quality paper, good condition, few worming marks and stains. Fabric binding.