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Polemical letter addressed to R. Shneur Zalman Schneerson by R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim Bloch responding to a letter of alleged apostasy. Included in the lot are [2] typewritten (unsigned) responses by R. Schneerson and a further letter by R. Bloch. R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim b. Abraham Abba Bloch was a member of a family of scholars and rabbis from Delatyn and neighboring Nadworna. He was a descendant of the early Hasidic author, R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov, a grandson of the Ba'al Shem Tov. R. Bloch studied in Yeshiva, and until World War I was a wealthy businessman in Delatyn. When the Russians invaded he moved to Vienna with his wife and children. In 1915, he was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army, and served in the trenches for 9 months, until he succumbed to illness. On release from the hospital, he served as chaplain to the Jewish prisoners in a prisoner of war camp. R' Bloch continued to observe kashrut during his military service, despite the extreme difficulty. It was during this period that he wrote Der Golem and also a diary, published as Kriegstagebuch Eines Juden (War Diary of a Jew). In 1939 he moved to New York where he remained until his death.
A prolific writer, R. Bloch wrote: Aus Mirjams Brunnen, chassidische Erzälungen und Legenden, J. Melzer Verlag, Darmstadt, 1966, Hasidic narratives and parables; Blut und eros im jüdischen schrifftum und leben von Eisenmenger über Rohling zu Bischoff. Sensen-verlag, Vienna, 1935, blood in Jewish religion and folklore. (see Ve-da' mah she-tashiv below); Dovev sifte yeshenim. Tif''eret. New York, 1959; Even mi kir tizak, New York, 1953/4; Das geliebte Land: Sagen aus Palastina. R Löwit Verlag, Vienna, 1937, Jewish folk literature; Gemeinde der chassidim ihr werden und ihre lehre, ihr leben und ihr treiben, B. Harz, Berlin, 1920, on the Hasidic community its genesis and teachings, its manners and customs; Hekhal le-divre Hazal u-pitgamehem. Bet mishar sefarim Pardes u-bet defus Sha'ulzon, New York, 1948; Hersch Ostropoler, ein jüdischer Till-Eulenspiegel des 18. Jahrhunderts; Seine Geschichten und Streiche, B. Harz, Berlin, 1921, Jewish wit and humor; Israel der Gotteskämpfer, der Baalscham von Chelm und sein Golem. ein ostjüdisches Legendenbuch, B. Harz, Berlin, 1920, by the 16th century, golem-making was associated with 2 rabbis, R. Eliahu Baal Shem of Chelm (d. 1583) and R. Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague (d. 1609); Das jüdischer Amerika; wahrnehmungen und betrachtungen, Verlag "Das Leben" Wien-Brigittenau, 1926, Jewish America; perceptions and views; Das jüdischer Volk in seiner Anekdote; Ernstes und Heiteres von Gottsuchern, Gelehrten, Künstlern, Narren, Schelman, Aufschneidern, Schnorrern, Reichen, Frommen, Freidenkern, Täuflingen, Antisemiten, Verlag für Kulturpolitik, Berlin, 1931; El Pueblo Judio a Traves de la Anecdota : Historias serias y jocosas des devotos, ... y antisemites. Translated by Luis Blanco de Vincente. 1945. (Spanish), The Jewish People in Their Anecdotes : earnest and cheerful G-d-seekers, scholars, artists, fools, scolders, boasters. beggars, rich men, pious men, free thinkers, the baptized, antisemites, Subject: Jewish wit and humor; Kabbalistiche sagen. Im Verlag der Asia major, Leipzig, 1925, Stories about R' Isaac Luria; Kovets mikhtavim mekoriyim meha-Besht zal ve-talmidav, Hotsa'ah 'Ivrit Menorah, Vienna, 1923; Kum nv et he harim teshuvah al pesak din me agudat ha rabanim, New York, 1948/9; Masa Federbush; tokhehat megulah leha-Rav Federbush, Bronx, NY, 1959; Me'ashrim to'im u-matim, Hadar, New York, 1952/3, halacha (Jewish law), responsa; Meharsham : ha-posek ha-aharon, ve-zeh shemo be-kirvo Moh. R. Shalom Mordekhai Hakohen Shvadron, "Berzaner Rav", J. Majeski, Brooklyn, NY; Mi natan li-meshisah Yaakov ve-Yisrael le-vozezim? Bronx, NY, 1957; Ostjüdische Humor, B. Harz, Berlin, 1920, East European Jewish humor; Der Prager golem, von seiner "geburt" bis zu seinem "tod", B. Harz, Berlin, 1920, Jewish folk legend. Stories of the Maharal of Prague. By the 16th century, golem-making was associated with 2 rabbis, Eliahu Baal Shem of Chelm (d. 1583) and Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague (d. 1609; Priester der Liebe, die Welt der Chassidim, Amalthea-Verlag, Zürich, 1930 Priests who love, the world of the Hasidim; ha-Sefer ha-shahor, New York, [1954], polemic; Talmudische weisheit : altjüdische Wechselgesprache, Vienna, 1921, Talmudic wisdom: ancient Jewish discussion of commerce; Ve-da' mah she-tashiv; Reznik-Salis, New York, 1943, Appropriate replies to inquiries from the Vatican. Refutation of Erich Bischoff's charges contained in Das Blut in juedischen Schrifttum und Brauch (1929), a book which appeared to be influential in Vatican circles. (see Blut und eros im jüdischen schrifftum und leben von Eisenmenger über Rohling zu Bischoff above); Ve-hayah mahanekha kadosh, New York, 1964/5. |
