Letter by the Maharsham of Berezhany

Letter by the Maharsham of Berezhany
Autograph letter signed by R. Shalom Mordechai HaCohen Schwadron [the Maharsham]. Berezhany (Galicia), 1899.
The letter was sent to the Kopaigorod (Kopaihorod, Podolia) community, which wished to appoint a new shochet to replace the previous shochet and bodek who died, but the son of the latter claimed he had a chazaka (rights) for the position. The Maharsham warns the city residents to take the family of the previous shochet to a din Torah, and in the meantime he invalidates the shechita of the new shochet and writes: "…until the Beit Din gives its ruling after hearing the claims of all parties, you are prohibited from bringing a shochet and bodek…". He mentions a letter on this issue by "R. A.B. Kluger".
The Maharsham - R. Shalom Mordechai HaCohen Schwadron (1835-1911), a leading posek of his times, Rabbi of Potok Złoty, Jazłowiec and Berezhany, was the top Torah authority in Galicia and his renown spread to other places as well. He received weighty questions from all over Russia-Poland and Hungary. He authored dozens of halachic compositions and homilies. He was a Chassid close to the rebbes of Belz, Zhydachiv, Stratin and Chortkiv. In his youth he received personal guidance from Rebbe Meir of Premishlan who directed him to the path of Torah study.
From his childhood and formative years, he studied Torah with the utmost diligence dedicated to the ways of Torah and Chassidism. After his marriage, his obligations forced him into trade, but during the time he sat in his shop, he was able to review the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch 400 times. After a while, he began serving in the rabbinate after he received an enthusiastic semicha from Rabbi Shlomo Kluger who wrote: "…I am not accustomed to giving semicha due to my private considerations, however this person does not need my sanction and can decide Torah rulings like one of the famous Torah leaders and you can rely on him in all cases…". The author of the Minchat Chinuch also wrote him a interesting letter of approbation: "The young man the author shows wonderful prowess in his Torah learning and in his proficiency and we have already grown old…".
Although primarily celebrated for his Torah and halachic proficiency, in the introduction to the book Techelet Mordechai on the Torah many amazing tales are recounted of revelations shown to him from Heaven and of salvation and cures which he performed with the power of his holiness.
Leaf, 21 cm. Approximately 17 handwritten lines. Good condition. Wear to margins and paper folds.