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Two works bound together. The first is the responsa of R. Asher ben Jehiel (Rosh), together with the responsa of R. Moses Ze’ev (Wolf) of Grodno. The responsa of the Rosh are divided into 108 kellalim (general subjects) organized by subject matter, as stated in the introductory paragraph, “all the responsa found in [tr.] Kiddushin are assembled in one kellal entitled kiddushin,” so that material can be found with ease. Each kellal includes subheadings.
R. Asher ben Jehiel (Rabbenu Asher, Rosh, c. 1250-1327) is a significant personality in the development of Jewish law. The outstanding student of and successor to R. Meir of Rothenberg (Maharam) as the leader of German Jewry, Rosh left Germany in 1303 for Spain due to the persecution of the Jews in the former land. He initially stayed at the home of R. Solomon Adret (Rashba) in Barcelona, moving, in 1305, to Toledo, where he became the head of the rabbinic court. Rosh is unusual, if not unique, in that he was the leading decisor of his generation for Sephardim as well as for Ashkenazim. Even in Spain, Rabbenu Asher received inquiries from as far away as Russia.
The second work, in three parts, is the responsa of R. Moses Ze’ev (Wolf) ben Eliezer Margolies of Grodno. The first part is on Orah Hayyim (1885) and consists of eleven detailed responsa, each a major work on the subject, and novellae on tractates. The second part, on Yoreh De’ah (1886) has sixteen entries, responsa and novellae. The final part is on Even ha-Ezer, with thirty six comprehensive responsa.
R. Moses Ze'ev (Wolf) ben Eliezer of Grodno (d. 1830) was born and grew up in Grodno. He was appointed rosh yeshivah there but left in 1813 to become the av bet din in Tiktin, where he stayed until 1824. He was then appointed av bet din in Bialystok, remaining there until his death. When Moses was first given this appointment, the people in Bialystok were concerned that he was so young, but he wittily replied that this was a fault which would improve with age. His best-known work, Marot ha-Zove’ot (Grodno, 1810) on the laws concerning agunah, is based upon the relevant chapter (17) of Shulhan Arukh Even ha-Ezer. He also wrote Hiddushei Moharmaz (1858), on the commentary of R. Jonathan b. David Ha-Cohen of Lunel to Alfasi on tractate Eruvin, and three works all with the same title, Aguddat Ezov. They are, in addition to these responsa, a collection of sermons (Bialystok, 1824) concluding with Alon Bakhut, nine funeral orations on great rabbis; and novellae on the Shulhan Arukh (1904). On the title page of the Marot ha-Zove'ot he gives his family tree in detail back to Judah Loew b. Bezalel of Prague, stating where each of his forebears served as rabbi. |
