The condition of the agunah is a particularly sensitive issue in halakhah. An agunah is defined as a married woman who, for whatsoever reason, is separated from her husband and cannot remarry, either because she cannot obtain a divorce from him or because it is unknown whether he is still alive. The term is also applied to a yevamah (a levirate widow; if she cannot obtain halizah from the levir or if it is unknown whether he is still alive (Git. 26b, 33a; Yev. 94a; and Posekim). The problem of the agunah is one of the most complex in halakhic discussions and is treated in great detail in halakhic literature. These responsa are a contribution to this complex field and the attempts to deal with and resolve the associated problems as described here are both important and noteworthy.

בראשי העמודים: עיגונא דאיתתא. חלק שני, בשם "קונטריס ... עיגונא דאיתתא", נדפס בסוף ספרו מכתב מאליהו.הסכמות: ר' אברהם ב"ר שלמה הקטן, אב"ד אנדירנופלה; ר' שמואל קמחי, [קושטנדינא].