Auction 66 Rare and Important Items
May 15, 2019 (Your local time)
Israel
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LOT 107:

Leaf from the Chatam Sofer's Responsa Notebook – In His Handwriting and With His Signature – Mattersdorf, 1804

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Large leaf, handwritten (on both sides) and signed by R. Moshe Sofer author of Chatam Sofer. Mattersdorf (Mattersburg), Av 1804.
Leaf from the responsa notebook of the Chatam Sofer. Autograph, with interlinear and marginal deletions, corrections and additions. On one side of the leaf is the conclusion of a responsum pertaining to the laws of Shemira BeBaalim. The Chatam Sofer mentions that he corresponded on this topic with R. Mordechai Banet Rabbi of Nikolsburg and chief rabbi of Moravia. The Chatam Sofer then relates his opinion and practice on this matter. The responsum concludes with the date and place of writing: "So are my words, here Mattersdorf, Wednesday 24th Menachem 1804" (this responsum was published in Responsa Chatam Sofer, section 93, see enclosed material. In the book, the responsum was erroneously dated 1802, yet that year the 24th Av did not fall on a Wednesday).
The rest of the leaf contains a responsum addressed to "The senior student", with the Chatam Sofer's guidance in correct conduct and honor due to Torah scholars. In this responsum, the Chatam Sofer reproves him for his disrespect for rabbis (it appears to be a response to a sharp letter which this disciple wrote to him, disparaging a prominent rabbi in his city). The Chatam Sofer originally concluded and signed earlier in the letter: "So are the words of one who awaits to hear of your wellbeing, Moshe Sofer of Frankfurt am Main", and he then reconsidered, added several paragraphs, and crossed out the conclusion and signature from the middle of the letter (this letter was published in Responsa Chatam Sofer, part VI, section 59. See enclosed material).
Careful study of this leaf (with the deleted signature in the middle of the responsum) reveals the Chatam Sofer's method in writing his responsa notebook, simultaneous to the writing of the letters which he sent off to the recipients. Researchers may be able to learn from this manuscript the order in which the Chatam Sofer wrote his responsa - whether the responsa notebook served as a draft for the final responsum sent to the questioner, or conversely, the Chatam Sofer copied the letter into the notebook after he finished writing it. One fact is certain - the printed responsa were based on the responsa notebook, and the text of this manuscript is absolutely identical to that of the printed responsa.
These responsa were written during the Chatam Sofer's tenure as rabbi of Mattersdorf, prior to his move to serve as rabbi of Pressburg, in 1807.
[1] leaf (two written pages. Approx. 70 autograph lines). Approx. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and minor marginal tears. Folding marks.
Out of love and reverence for his teachings, descendants and disciples of the Chatam Sofer customarily preserve his manuscripts, as a segulah for fear of G-d and salvation (Kedem Auction 64, item 18).

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