A letter from the holy Gain Rabbi Shaul Ehrenfeld, AB''D of Szikszó, author of Givat Shaul, to the Gaon Rabbi ...

A letter from the holy Gain Rabbi Shaul Ehrenfeld, AB''D of Szikszó, author of Givat Shaul, to the Gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich Zt''l – 1894.

A letter from the renowned Gaon Rabbi Shaul Harif Ehrenfeld, Av Beit Din of Siksa, to his close friend, the Gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich, during his tenure as Av Beit Din of Békéscsaba, concerning the dismissal of a shochet  from his position, and to seek advice in the Avodat Hashem.

Excerpt from the letter:

"... 1894... I received your letter at this hour, and indeed such matters are heartbreaking and distressing, and it is all the counsel of Hashem that guides me in the path of truth... to consult together on what should be done... and everything will be resolved peacefully."

Rabbi Shaul Harif Ehrenfeld, author of *Givat Shaul* (1839 – 1905), was the grandson of the Chasam Sofer and the son of his son-in-law, Rabbi David Zvi Ehrenfeld. Rabbi Shaul was circumcised by his grandfather, the Chasam Sofer Zt''l. In his youth, he studied under his uncle, the Ksav Sofer, who held him in great esteem, as evident in his responses to him. Once, the Ksav Sofer remarked about Rabbi Shaul, "I am envious of him for his profound sharpness and clear learning."

In 1877, Rabbi Shaul was appointed Av Beit Din of Szikszó, succeeding his elder brother, Rabbi Shmuel, author of Chatan Sofer, who went on to serve as the rabbi of Mattersdorf. There, Rabbi Shaul established his yeshiva and taught numerous students, so much so that it was said he had tens of thousands of students.

Rabbi Shaul was famous for his sharp intellect and was nicknamed by the greats of his generation as "Shaul Harif of Siksa." Although he was a halachic authority, he was also a divine Kabbalist and deeply knowledgeable in the esoteric teachings.

Rabbi Shaul was greatly revered and sanctified by the great geniuses and righteous figures of his generation.

Once, after discussing Torah matters with the holy Rebbi of Sanz, the Rebbi of Sanz exclaimed in amazement, "These are the holy descendants of the Chasam Sofer."

The holy Rebbi Yechezkel of Shinova remarked about him (in response to the claim of the Szikszó Hasidim that Rabbi Shaul did not immerse in a mikveh every day), "The Szikszó Rav does not need a mikveh; he himself is a mikveh."

His writings were published in his sefer Givat Shaul on the Talmud. For more about him, see the introduction to Givat Shaul.

 Moderate condition, with a reinforcement page attached with glue.