Responsum by Rabeinu Shlomo Ben Aderet ( theRashba). Vienna, 1812.

Signed on the title page in his Holy hand ”Purchased from Ras”h Vilner for 1 silver ruble, 2 Vayechi 1895 Ha”k Shalom Mordechai HaKohen Rabbi of Berezhany”.


Another signature on the approbation page ” Ha”k Shalom Mordechai HaKohen Rabbi of Berezhany”.


Several marginal notations in his Holy hand. There’s also a longer important marginal notation in a older hand.

The famous Gaon Rabbi Shalom Mordechai HaKohen Schwardron (1835-1911), was the av”d Berezhany and author of Shu”t Maharsham,   He was a renowned halachic responder and the most difficult questions were sent to him. Thousands of halachic responsa that he sent to questioners around the world were printed in his works. His answers were clear and organized. When he was still young, the author of the Sho’el U’Meisיiv already recognized him as his spiritual successor.

A chassid, he was close to the Rebbes of Belz, Zidichov, Stretin and Chortkov. As a young boy, he received personal guidance from Rebbe Meir of Premishlan. Since his childhood, he toiled in Torah with outstanding diligence, and attached himself with utter devotion to the ways of Torah and Chassidism.

It was related by the elder Chassidim, because his Rebbi, the Sar Shalom of Belz, instructed him that due to his being considered the greatest expert of his generation, he was to utilize ‘the power of permission, ‘ that is, to rule according to the lenient opinion, in order to ease matters for the Jewish people, & blessed him that he would be able to use his Torah learning at all times. His ruling to rely on machine-made matzah on Passover, despite his being a member of the Chassidic community, stood out.

In the period following his marriage, he opened a store, yet just whilst sitting there he managed to review the four parts of Shulchan Aruch four hundred times (!). After a while, he began serving in the rabbinate, and Rabbi Shlomo Kluger accorded him an effusive ordination, writing: "… although I am not accustomed to accord rabbinic ordinations for undisclosed considerations, this rabbi does not need my sanction, and he may issue Torah rulings just like renowned, leading Torah scholars, and be relied upon in any matter…". The Minchat Chinuch also wrote him an interesting approbation: "The young author exhibits exceptional prowess and proficiency in Torah learning, and we have already aged…". Although he was primarily renowned for his eminence in Torah and Halacha, the foreword to his Sefer Techelet Mordechai on the Torah relates many wondrous accounts of Heavenly revelations he was privy to, and of salvations and recoveries he engendered.

In 1882, he began serving as rabbi in Berezhany, where he remained for thirty years until his death in 1911.

He composed dozens of works, including: Shu"t Maharsha"m (six volumes with over 2300 responsa), Da’at Torah, Shu"t Darkei Shalom, Mishpat Shalom, Techelet Mordechai and others.

Overall Good condition, some stains, marginal tears on first few and last few pages, marginal tears on pages 72-81, some pages have marginal corners missing, minor marginal worming on pages 137- end of book, new later binding.

38 Cm

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Lot #54

Signatures & Marginalia by the famous Gaon Rabbi Shalom Mordechai HaKohen Schwardron of Berezhany- The Maharsham. Shut Rashba, Vienna 1812

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