Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
Letter from Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg, Author of HaKetav VehaKabbalah – Directive During Epidemic: Women Should Avoid Attending Synagogue on Yom Kippur – Königsberg, 1857
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg, rabbi of Königsberg, author of HaKetav VehaKabbalah, instructing women not to attend the prayers in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, due to an outbreak of an epidemic in Driesen (Prussia; presently Drezdenko, Poland). Königsberg, 6th Tishrei (Ten days of repentance) 1857. German in Hebrew characters.
In this letter, apparently sent to the Driesen community, the HaKetav VehaKabbalah instructs that women should refrain from attending the Kol Nidrei prayers on Yom Kippur night, "due to the epidemic which has again broken out" (free translation from Yiddish). He instructs the women to pray at home, "due to the worrisome circumstances" and concludes that this is not in conflict with the accepted practice.
The letter of the HaKetav VehaKabbalah is followed by a transcription of the letter in German, with several words in Hebrew. In the transcription, the recipient is indicated: "To the synagogue… in Driesen".
R. Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg (1785-1865), rabbi of Königsberg, a foremost rabbi of his times. He was a close disciple of R. Akiva Eger. Through his writings, he was one of the first to defend faithful Judaism from the attacks of Reform. In his book HaKetav VehaKabbalah, he follows the Gaon of Vilna's approach of connecting the Written and Oral Torah, basing himself considerably on the books and writings of the Gaon which he had access to in manuscript. He assisted in publishing the writings of the Gaon of Vilna, especially on Kabbalah, and even participated in composing the biography on the Gaon named Aliyot Eliyahu. The unique style of the HaKetav VehaKabbalah commentary influenced the celebrated commentary to the Bible of his colleague, the Malbim (his successor as rabbi of Königsberg).
[1] leaf. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Tears, not affecting text.
In this letter, apparently sent to the Driesen community, the HaKetav VehaKabbalah instructs that women should refrain from attending the Kol Nidrei prayers on Yom Kippur night, "due to the epidemic which has again broken out" (free translation from Yiddish). He instructs the women to pray at home, "due to the worrisome circumstances" and concludes that this is not in conflict with the accepted practice.
The letter of the HaKetav VehaKabbalah is followed by a transcription of the letter in German, with several words in Hebrew. In the transcription, the recipient is indicated: "To the synagogue… in Driesen".
R. Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg (1785-1865), rabbi of Königsberg, a foremost rabbi of his times. He was a close disciple of R. Akiva Eger. Through his writings, he was one of the first to defend faithful Judaism from the attacks of Reform. In his book HaKetav VehaKabbalah, he follows the Gaon of Vilna's approach of connecting the Written and Oral Torah, basing himself considerably on the books and writings of the Gaon which he had access to in manuscript. He assisted in publishing the writings of the Gaon of Vilna, especially on Kabbalah, and even participated in composing the biography on the Gaon named Aliyot Eliyahu. The unique style of the HaKetav VehaKabbalah commentary influenced the celebrated commentary to the Bible of his colleague, the Malbim (his successor as rabbi of Königsberg).
[1] leaf. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Tears, not affecting text.
Rabbinic Manuscripts and Letters
Rabbinic Manuscripts and Letters