Letter of Halachic Responsum from Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh HaLevi Horowitz, Author of Machaneh Levi – Frankfurt am Main, 1813

Letter of Halachic Responsum from Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh HaLevi Horowitz, Author of Machaneh Levi – Frankfurt am Main, 1813

Lengthy letter handwritten and signed by R. "Tzvi Hirsh HaLevi Ish Horowitz" – author of Machaneh Levi (son of the Haflaa). Frankfurt am Main, 16 Kislev 1813.
Addressed to R. Yitzchak Seckel Wormser, rabbi of Fulda. Halachic responsum regarding the wife of a Kohen who reported having been violated by soldiers. The responsum was published (with variations) in his book Chomer BaKodesh (Zhovkva, 1876, responsum 24).

R. Tzvi Hirsh HaLevi Horowitz, author of Machaneh Levi (ca. 1746 – Elul 1817), rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, successor of his father R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, the Haflaa. Renowned in his times and for posterity for his genius and exceptional sharpness (several generations later, when a Torah scholar would say a profound and sharp pilpul, he would be told that his words are enlightening like the Machaneh Levi – see: Ohalim, Chiddushei Maharil Diskin UVeno R. Yitzchak Yerucham, Jerusalem, 2001, note on p. 215). He corresponded with the great Torah leaders of his times, such as R. Akiva Eger and his brother-in-law R. Tzvi Yehoshua HaLevi Horowitz, rabbi of Tarnów. His descendants include prominent Torah leaders such as: R. Yoel Horowitz of Brody and R. Yaakov Yehoshua Horowitz son-in-law of R. Efraim Zalman Margolies of Brody (see: D. HaLachmi, Chachmei Yisrael, I, R. Tzvi Hirsh Segal Horowitz, p. 221a). His books include Machaneh Levi on the Talmud (Offenbach, 1801); Lachmei Todah – novellae on Halachah and Aggadah (Offenbach, 1816); and Responsa Chomer BaKodesh (Zhovkva, 1876).
The recipient of the letter, R. Yitzchak Seckel Wormser, rabbi of Fulda (d. 1839), son and successor of R. Shlomo Zalman Wormser, rabbi of Fulda. He assisted his father in the rabbinate for 14 years, and replaced him upon his passing in 1807. His wife Rebbetzin Zerle was the daughter of R. Nathan son of R. Mordechai HaKohen Adler of Frankfurt am Main (cousin of the kabbalist R. Nathan Adler of Frankfurt, son of R. Shimon HaKohen Adler). His descendants included the family of his illustrious son-in-law R. Yitzchak Dov HaLevi Bamberger, rabbi of Würzburg.

[1] double leaf (one-and-a-half written pages + page with recipient's address). 24 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and folding marks. Address and postmark dated 10 December [1813].