Knesset HaGedola, Izmir, 1660 – Signatures of Rabbi Moshe Rottenberg and Rabbi Moshe Eiger, Nephew of Rabbi Akiva Eiger

Knesset HaGedola, Choshen Mishpat, Part 1 (Simanim 1-157). By Rabbi Chaim Benveniste. Izmir, [1660]. Printed by Avraham Gabai. First edition. Ancient signature on the title page [in early Ashkenazi handwriting]: "Moshe Rottenburk", as well as another unidentified signature and an ownership inscription: "…Moshe son of R' Bunim Eiger. I have purchased from R' Mohartz"a". Few scholarly glosses [apparently in the handwriting of Rabbi Moshe Eiger]. Rabbi Moshe Ginz-Schlesinger, was the son of Rabbi Simcha Bunim Eiger, Av Beit Din of Mattersdorf. Disciple of his uncle, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, he studied Torah in Wielen and from 1830 was accepted to the kloiz of Rabbi Leib son of Rabbi Shaul in Hamburg. (In Igrot Sofrim, Letters of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, 22, Rabbi Akiva Eiger writes his brother: "…To send you the good tidings that your son… R' Moshe was accepted to study regularly in the Beit Midrash in Hamburg and he has no other obligations except to sit and study. He came here last week to delight with him before his journey"). He assisted and prepared for print a large part of the teachings of his uncle Rabbi Akiva Eiger as written in the introduction to Drush V'Chidush. Mentioned dozens of times in the writings of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and of the Chatam Sofer, died on Erev Succot 1857. Possibly, the signature "Moshe Rottenburk" belongs to Rabbi Moshe Rothenburg, Av Beit Din of Brisk and Tykocin (Tiktin), who towards the end of his life served as Av Beit Din together with the Chacham Zvi. His responsa were included in the printed responsa of the Maharam Ziskind, by his father Rabbi Mordechai Ziskind who was descended from the Maharam of Rothenburg. Another possibility is that the book was signed by Rabbi Moshe Rottenburk, Av Beit Din of Włodawa and Kazimierz, ca. 1760s-1820s. His responsa were printed in the book Last Responsa of Maharam Rothenburg (Lvov, 1857). 2, 5-132 leaves. (Missing leaves: 33, 36, 66-67, 85-88 - replaced with ancient manuscript from c. 18th/19th century). 28.5 cm. Good-fair condition, wear and stains, minor worming. Old worn binding.