Responsum Letter Handwritten and Signed by the Maharsham of Berezhany

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Shalom Mordechai Schwadron (the Maharsham). Berzhan (Berezhany, Galicia), 1908. Halachic responsum regarding laws of Mikvah (ritual bath), the status of dentures and dental fillings as Chatzitza, and laws of Hashaka. Addressed to "the rabbi outstanding in Torah, R. Mordechai Schreib[t]afel". The Maharsham - R. Shalom Mordechai HaKohen Schwadron (1835-1911), was the supreme Halachic authority in his generation, foremost posek in Galicia and beyond. From all over Russia-Poland and Hungary, difficult questions were addressed to him for his ruling. He composed dozens of compositions in Halacha as well as in homily. He served as rabbi of Zolotyi Potik, Yazlovets and Berezhany. A chassid, he was close to the Rebbes of Belz, Zidichov, Stretin and Chortkov. As a young boy, he received personal guidance from Rebbe Meir of Premishlan. Since his childhood, he toiled in Torah with outstanding diligence, and attached himself with utter devotion to the ways of Torah and Chassidism. In the period following his wedding, he opened a store, yet just whilst sitting there he managed to review the four parts of Shulchan Aruch four hundred times (!). After a while, he began serving in the rabbinate, and R. Shlomo Kluger accorded him an effusive ordination, writing: "… although I am not accustomed to accord rabbinic ordinations for undisclosed considerations, this rabbi does not need my sanction, and he may issue Torah rulings just like renowned, leading Torah scholars, and be relied upon in any matter…". The Minchat Chinuch also wrote him an interesting approbation: "The young author exhibits exceptional prowess and proficiency in Torah learning, and we have already aged…". Although he was primarily renowned for his eminence in Torah and Halacha, the foreword to his book Techelet Mordechai on the Torah relates many wondrous accounts of Heavenly revelations he was privy to, and of salvations and recoveries he engendered. [1] leaf. 14.5 cm. Good condition. A few stains. Folding marks. Several tears.