The Schism in the Sighet Community

In 1883-1890, a controversy broke out in Sighet between the members of the community who joined the Central Bureau of the Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Communities, and a group of community members who refused to be subordinate to the bureau, established the Independent Sephardic Community and were registered as a status quo community. The Orthodox community was headed by the Yitav Lev and the Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet, while the seceding camp was led by the local aristocracy, headed by the Kahana family, and some Vizhnitz Chassidim.

As time went on, the schism in the Sighet community became a controversy that divided many other Hungarian communities. Most Hungarian rabbis, as well as many rabbis from Galicia and Poland, took part in it. Both parties published various polemical writings, approbations and rulings, booklets and pamphlets, fliers and posters, supporting their respective arguments.

The history of the controversy, the claims and arguments, and approbations and responsa of various rabbis were incorporated primarily into two books – the seceding “Sephardic” community published its stance in the present book Ohev Mishpat, and in response, the Orthodox community published its stance in Milchemet Mitzvah – see next item.

The present book quotes approbations, responsa and letters of support for the seceding Sephardic community, including from R. Yitzchak Aharon Ittinga, Av Beit Din of Lviv; R. Yitzchak Schmelkes, author of Beit Yitzchak; the Netziv of Volozhin; R. Aryeh Leibush Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Stryi, author of Harei Besamim; the Maharsham of Berezhany; Rebbe Baruch Hager of Vizhnitz, author of Imrei Baruch; and other rabbis.

As the years went on the controversy subsided, and the Sephardic community rejoined the main community headed by the Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet.

[4], 16 pages; [24], 25-104 leaves. Approx. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and light wear. Stamps. New binding.