Chukot HaZevach, Handwritten by the Author, the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Levin of the Holy Community of Sadigura.

Chukot HaZevach, Handwritten by the Author, the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Levin of the Holy Community of Sadigura.

Unpublished Halachic Manucript. Sadigura 1896. 

A comprehensive composition in the handwriting of the author on Shulchan Aruch, the laws of ritual slaughter [from chapter 1 until the end of chapter 28]. It is modelled on the Shulchan Aruch, though greatly expanded and with two commentaries – Beit Yaakov and Ohel Yaakov – with responsa at the end. Written in the city Sadigura. Includes important approbations.

A small section of this manuscript was published in Czernowitz, 1885, and again in Cracow, 1896.

The author, Rabbi Yaakov Levin, was a Talmudic scholar and ritual slaughterer. In addition, he wrote a few books: Yafeh L'bedikah (Czernowitz, 1883), Ayin Ro'eh (Czernowitz, 1890) and Chosam Kodesh (Cracow, 1892).

On page 47b, he includes an interesting Halachic quote from his teacher, Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, son of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, on the importance of wearing a hat in addition to a yarmulka while slaughtering, as well as the importance of the slaughterer's immersion in the mikvah before slaughtering.

At the end of the manuscript appears a collection of responsa and correspondence from different ritual slaughterers and Rabbis regarding ritual slaughter – including Halachic responsa from the Ba'al HaTanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi! The author writes that the responsa was copied from the original manuscript (and is slightly different from that which was published in Shu”t Ba'al HaTanya, page 289b). It also includes the Halachic responsa from Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson (the Sho'el U'meishiv), which quotes certain customs of ritual slaughter by the directive of Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz, including an interesting incident that transpired with the Apter Rav at the big wedding in Ostilla.

Excellent general condition. 284 leaves. 34 cm. Apparently missing a few pages from the introduction, from the approbations and from the end of the book. A few torn pages affectina the text. Modern, half-leather binding.

Extremely rare, Halachic manuscript that was never published!