Three Items – Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch and the Rothschild Family: Eulogy Handwritten by Rav Hirsch for Baroness ...

Three Items – Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch and the Rothschild Family: Eulogy Handwritten by Rav Hirsch for Baroness Adelheid von Rothschild / Epitaph of Anselm Alexander Rothschild, Handwritten by Rav Hirsch / Eulogy by Rav Hirsch for Baron Amschel Mayer Rothschild – Rare Printed Booklet
Three items related to R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main and the Rothschild family:
1. Manuscript (11 pages), Worte gesprochen am Grabe [words said at the grave], handwritten by Rav Hirsch – eulogy for Baroness Adelheid von Rothschild, wife of Baron Carl Mayer von Rothschild. German, with a few words in Hebrew.
The eulogy was composed and written by R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch (presumably for publishing). Rav Hirsch describes the kindheartedness and generosity of the Baroness, her loyalty to the Jewish people and her being an exemplary wife and mother.
Baroness Adelheid von Rothschild née Herz was born in 1800 and passed away on 11th April 1853. Her husband was Baron Kalman son of Mayer (Carl Mayer) Rothschild, son of Mayer Amschel Rothschild (Meir son of Asher Anshel) Rothschild, founder of the Rothschild dynasty. Carl (Kalman) was sent to Naples, Italy, where he founded the local branch of the Rothschild bank.
Baroness Adelheid's son, Baron Wilhelm Rothschild, was one of the primary supporters of Rav Hirsch's Orthodox community in Frankfurt.
[6] leaves (11 pages handwritten by Rav Hirsch). 22 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Elegant red leather binding. A portrait print of Rav Hirsch is placed in a pocket on the front board.
2. Two leaves (written on one side) handwritten by R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch, epitaph of Anselm (Asher) Alexander Rothschild. [Frankfurt am Main, 1854].
On one leaf, Rav Hirsch wrote the epitaph – a short inscription and a lamentation poem, in Hebrew. The second leaf contains the German translation of the poem, also handwritten by Rav Hirsch. Rav Hirsch presumably composed the entire epitaph (both the inscription and the poem).
Anselm (Asher) Alexander was the youngest son of Baron Carl Mayer von Rothschild of Naples, Italy. He passed away in 1854 at the age of 18, a year after the passing of his mother Adelheid (see above), and was buried in the old cemetery in Frankfurt am Main.
[2] leaves (2 pages handwritten by Rav Hirsch). 33 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and creases. Small open tears, professionally repaired with paper. Elegant red leather binding.
3. Worte gesprochen am Grabe des verewigten Freiherrn Amschel Mayer von Rothschild [words said at the grave of the late Baron Amschel Mayer von Rothschild], 9. December 1855 – 29th Kislev 5616, by R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch. Frankfurt am Main, [ca. 1855]. Printed booklet. German.
Rare booklet. Unique edition, printed in gold ink on chromo paper. Thin paper guards between leaves.
Baron Amschel Mayer Rothschild was the eldest son of Baron Mayer Amschel (Mayer son of Asher Anshel) Rothschild, and brother of Carl Mayer von Rothschild (mentioned above). In 1810, he was appointed by his father, together with his four brothers, partner and manager of the Rothschild bank. After his father's passing, Amschel Mayer became the head of the family and manager of the main branch of the bank in Frankfurt am Main. He was ennobled in 1817 and became a Baron in 1822. Baron Rothschild was renowned for his charitability and generosity, and campaigned extensively to attain equal rights for German Jewry. He nevertheless remained loyal to Orthodox Judaism and opposed Reform. He passed away on December 6, 1855 and was buried on December 9 in the Jewish cemetery of Frankfurt.
In the present eulogy, Rav Hirsch praises the Baron for his exceptional generosity, his wisdom and perspicacity, and especially for his devotion to authentic Judaism, his diligence in praying in a synagogue and Shabbat observance.
[7] pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tear to lower corner of title page, repaired with tape. The booklet was rebound (with the original wrappers) in a new binding.