Letter of Recommendation by Rabbi Mordechai Banet - Nikolsburg, 1809

Letter of recommendation signed by R. Mordechai Banet, Rabbi of Nikolsburg, on behalf of a Jewish resident of Pohořelice. Nikolsburg, Nisan 1809.
The letter by the Maharam Banet was written on a letter sent to him from Pohořelice (Moravia) notables, requesting his assistance for a beadle and trustee in their community in wedding his daughter. The letter, which contains unrestrained praise of the Maharam Banet, is signed by the community leaders. On the margins and on the verso is the letter of recommendation by the Maharam Banet, in his scribe's handwriting. The concluding line and signature are handwritten by the Maharam Banet: "Spoken by he who speaks in righteousness Mordechai Banet".
R. Mordechai (the Maharam) Banet (1753-1829; Ishim B'Teshuvot HeChatam Sofer, p. 267) Rabbi of Nikolsburg and Chief Rabbi of Moravia was a prominent rabbi in his days. He initially studied at the Furth Yeshiva under the tutelage of R. Yosef Steinhart, author of the Zichron Yosef responsa and later moved to Prague and became a disciple of the Nodah B'Yehuda. After that, he studied in the yeshiva of the Maharam Barby in Pressburg. After his marriage, he moved to Nikolsburg (near his father-in-law) and became close to the city rabbi, R. Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz [R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg, brother of the author of the Hafla'ah and renowned Chassidic figure], who taught R. Mordechai Kabbalistic wisdom. Reputedly, at this period of his life, he met the Chassidic master R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, author of No'am Elimelech (some say he met his brother, R. Zusia of Annopol), who rebuked him for his extended fasting and abstinence lest he harm his health. After the death of R. Gershon Hayut, Rabbi of Nikolsburg, the Maharam Banet was appointed his successor and also assumed the position of Chief Rabbi of Moravia which he held for 40 years. He also headed the Nikolsburg Yeshiva. The Chatam Sofer eulogized him calling him "a tsaddik, leader of his times, Rabbi of all the Jewish People…master of the entire Talmud…". In the approbation to his book of responsa Har HaMor (Gedulat Mordechai), the Chatam Sofer praises him extensively as "Rabbi of the entire Diaspora, who lights up the world with his Torah". Banet was an outspoken critic of the nascent Reform movement. He taught many disciples including some of the leading rabbi of his times: R. Simcha Bunam of Peshischa (Przysucha) - a leading Chassidic rebbe, R. Yehuda Asad, R. Yirmiyah Lev, author of Divrei Yirmiyah and other prominent rabbis. Among his printed works are Techelet Mordechai - Homilies, Har HaMor (Gedulat Mordechai) - Responsa, Parshat Mordechai - Responsa, Machshevet Mordechai on the Torah, Maharam Banet (Divrei Mordechai) - Novellae on the Tur Shulchan Aruch, and other works.
23 cm. Fair condition. Stains, folding creases and several tears, worn margins.