Cherut Olam – Agunot Controversy – Shapotshnick – London, 1928 – Unique Edition

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Cherut Olam – Agunot Controversy – Shapotshnick – London, 1928 – Unique Edition

Cherut Olam, “To proclaim freedom for the Agunot and to release them from their iron chains that have long rusted. Behold the forty thousand agunot, the unfortunate widows with their suffering children, enduring hunger, sorrow, distress, and grief. Written by one who mourns the plight of the daughters of my people in particular, and the entire world in general, Yosef Shapotshnick, Chief Rabbi of London and Chairman of the World Rabbinical Council for the Dissemination of Torah, the interpreter and publisher of the great Talmud, HaMevaser, HaKolel, and HaMashpia.” London, 1928 (5688).

On the title page, the date is inscribed as "For the widow and orphan."

This book and its proposed solution for the release of agunot ignited a widespread controversy.

Rabbi Yosef Shapotshnick was born in Kishinev in 1882 (5642). After the passing of his father, who was a Rebbe in Baltsitz and a disciple of the Rebbe of Amshinov, he moved with his mother to Odessa. He was recognized as a great prodigy, and even before his marriage, he was offered the rabbinate in Kishinev, though he declined.

In 1913 (5673), he moved to London, where he also gained renown as a doctor, after a remedy he recommended to King George V’s physician proved effective for the king.

Shapotshnick became infamous for his controversial approach to releasing agunot, which provoked the ire of the rabbis of Poland, leading them to excommunicate him (Cherem).

Shapotshnick also had an ambitious plan to publish a monumental edition of the Babylonian Talmud, incorporating all the well-known commentaries in the world. To this end, he sent letters to leading rabbis, offering to print their commentaries free of charge if they would send them to him. Many indeed did so. However, he only managed to print the first page of Tractate Berakhot, with hundreds of commentaries.

96 pages. Size: 36.5 cm. Printed on exceptionally thick paper.

Condition: Very good.