Sefer Maharam Barabi, Volume II. First Edition. Prague, 1793.
A unique copy that belonged to and contains handwritten glosses of several great and Holy Rabbis of Hungary, as follows:
1. Three long marginal notations in the hand of the famous Holy Gaon Rabbi David Deutch, Rabbi in several Hungarian cities.
2. At the top of the title page, an ownership inscription of the Holy Rabbi Zusman Sofer of Pressburg, in the handwriting of his son, the Holy Rabbi Mordechai Ephraim Fishel Sofer of Pressburg: "Belongs to the honorable Rabbi Zusman, may he be protected." (Compare to his handwriting in Kedem Auction 70, Lot 269).
There are important handwritten glosses by Rabbi Zusman Sofer on page 75 and in Masechet Shevuot.
3. Many ownership signatures & inscriptions from the holy Gaon Rabbi Moshe Berger – Kattendorf, Rosh Beit Din Pressburg, from 1821. He was the nephew of the above Rabbi David Deutsch. Who attests that the sefer belongs to his father the Katzin Reb Ber of Kattendorf.
On the title page, there is a dedication to a Chosson in his handwriting.
4. On the flyleaf, several signatures of his grandson, the Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zusman Sofer, Av Beit Din of Paks and author of Yalkut Eliezer, from his youth: "Zusman Eliezer, Hakatan Zusman".
5. On the title page, a signature of Rabbi Hersh Greenfeld, son of Rabbi Zalman Leib Greenfeld, Av Beit Din of Serdahel, who succeeded Rabbi David Deutsch as rabbi of Serdahel in 1810 upon the recommendation of the Chatam Sofer, serving until his passing in 1816.
Rabbi David Deutsch (1756–1831), Av Beit Din of Neu Mesitz. Author of Ohel David, one of the greatest rabbis of Hungary, renowned for his holiness. He served as a Rosh Yeshiva and rabbi in various cities, including Jemnitz, Frauenkirchen, Serdahel, and finally, from 1810 in Neu Mesitz -Nowe Miasto – known as Ir Chadash, by which he is known.
He was a close friend and correspondent of the Chatam Sofer, who praised him greatly. The Chatam Sofer once saw him sleeping on the floor and, out of distress for such a righteous man suffering, declared a fast. Rabbi David Deutsch was a disciple of the Noda B’Yehuda, who wrote him many responsa. His works were published under the title Ohel David and in other books. He corresponded with the leading sages of his time, including his teacher, the Noda B’Yehuda, the Chatam Sofer, and Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, author of Yismach Moshe.
The Chata"m Sofer’s great admiration of him is evident from one of the letters he wrote to Rabbi David Deutch: "I am sure that with [your] strong love, you will keep me in mind and mention me in [your] prayers." In his sefer Ohel David, which was printed posthumously, the Chata"m Sofer wrote in the foreword, "This sacred tzaddik was a true genius … It was a joy for those who had the merit to speak with him and bask in his light. His merit stands for us to protect us from all evil, and to bring blessing from Hashem to the Jewish people.
The Holy Rabbi Zusman Sofer I of Pressburg. Born in Wodzisław, Poland, to Rabbi Ephraim Ashkenazi, Rabbi Zusman was known for his extraordinary piety. According to tradition, even as an infant, he would recite blessings while nursing. He married into a family in Tysmenitz, where he became close to Rabbi Meshulam Igra.
During the Cantonist decrees of Tsar Nicholas I, he immigrated to Hungary between 1780 and 1790, settling in the village of Katendorf near Pressburg.
And so it is written in the sefer Likkutei Beit Ephraim (Drush 18): "When the esteemed Rabbi Mordechai Ephraim Fishel Sofer arrived with his ancestors from a distant land to this country, and they found no place of rest, the distinguished Rabbi Baer Berger in the village of Katendorf opened his home to them." Rabbi Baer even took great efforts to obtain residence permits for them.
However, Rabbi Zussman did not wish to remain in the small village. Therefore, he taught himself the craft of STaM. At the same time, the nearby city of Pressburg was in need of a skilled scribe, and he was appointed to this prestigious position in that esteemed community. Upon his recommendation, the famous Gaon Rabbi Meshulam Igra was later accepted as Av Beit Din in 1789, where they again became a close associates,
In 1807, when Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chatam Sofer) was appointed Av Beit Din of Pressburg, Rabbi Zussman became his trusted scribe. He wrote for him a meticulously crafted Torah scroll imbued with special kavanot and also wrote tefillin for the Chatam Sofer’s family. Many times, the Chatam Sofer urged him to accept a rabbinic position, even offering him the role of rabbi in the nearby city of Stampfen. However, Rabbi Zussman humbly refused these honors and preferred to remain devoted to the sacred craft of STaM.
He passed away in Pressburg in 1823 and was eulogized by the Chatam Sofer. His family became prominent figures in Hungarian Jewry.
Besides lodging in the home of his father, Rabbi Baer, as mentioned above, Rabbi Zussman was also a mechutan of the esteemed Rabbi Moshe Katendorf. His son, Rabbi David Hirsch, married the daughter of the renowned Rabbi Daniel Prosticz, the Av Beit Din of Pressburg, who was also the father-in-law of Rabbi Moshe.
For an extensive account of the history of the remarkable father, son, and grandson, see the sefer Sofer HaMelech (New York, 2010).
His son the Holy Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Ephraim Fishel Sofer of Pressburg (c. 1786–1843). Born in Poland, he immigrated to Hungary as a child. Around 1798, at the age of 12, he was sent to Mattersdorf to study under the Chatam Sofer, remaining his close disciple for 42 years. He played a key role in training students in the Pressburg Yeshiva and was one of the Chatam Sofer’s most trusted scribes.
Despite being offered prestigious rabbinical positions, Rabbi Fishel refused them based on the advice of his revered teacher, choosing instead to remain in Pressburg and dedicate his life to teaching Torah. He was an outstanding pedagogue in Talmud study, training many students of the Pressburg Yeshiva to attain the high level of scholarship for which the institution was renowned.
The Chatam Sofer himself sent his sons, the Ketav Sofer and the Mikhtav Sofer, to study under him. In the introduction to Derashot Chatam Sofer, it is recorded that during the years 1820 and 1821, the Chatam Sofer did not write his novellae on Aggadah, and during that time, his disciple Rabbi Fishel Sofer meticulously transcribed what he heard from his master. The Chatam Sofer relied upon these notes, reviewing and even annotating them in the margins in his sacred handwriting.
For the majority of his life, Rabbi Fishel remained in the shadow of his illustrious teacher, the Chatam Sofer. However, there was one period during which his master instructed him to study in the yeshiva of his close friend, Rabbi David Deutsch, author of Ohel David, who was then serving as the rabbi of Szerdahely. This likely took place in the early 1800s.
Rabbi Mordechai Fishel mentions this episode in his Tzava’ah (ethical will): "It was my privilege to be among the students of the Beit Midrash of my revered master, the light of the exile, the Chatam Sofer, of blessed memory. I never ceased to learn from him throughout my life until his passing—except for one period when, by his instruction and counsel, I went to study in the yeshiva of the great Rabbi David Deutsch, of blessed memory."
He was deeply connected to his teacher, who once remarked that he felt spiritually lacking on any day he did not see Rabbi Fishel Sofer. He refused offers of rabbinic positions, choosing instead to dedicate his life to Torah study and teaching. The Chatam Sofer entrusted him with recording his sermons and insights, which were later included in Drashot Chatam Sofer.
His son/grandson the famous Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zusman Sofer (1828–1903), Av Beit Din of Paks. A leading Hungarian rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva, he was a disciple of the Chatam Sofer and later the Ktav Sofer. He became a renowned posek and Torah leader, corresponding with many Hungarian rabbis. He refused offers for major rabbinic positions, including the rabbinate of Pápa, because their synagogue arrangement did not align with Orthodox customs. In 1886, he became Av Beit Din of Paks, where he served until his passing.
Overall in Good Condition, original binding, lacking pages at end.
Share this lot:
Lot #77