Responsum Letter from Rabbi Shlomo Leib Tabak, Author of Erech Shai – Sighet, Cheshvan 1898

Responsum Letter from Rabbi Shlomo Leib Tabak, Author of Erech Shai – Sighet, Cheshvan 1898
Lengthy letter (37 lines) handwritten and signed by R. Shlomo Leib Tabak, dayan and posek in Sighet (Sighetu Marmației). Sighet, [Cheshvan] 1898.
Addressed to R. David Sperber, later Rabbi of Braşov. Halachic responsum regarding circumcising a baby who has an eye infection. This responsum was printed with many textual variations in his book Teshurat Shai Mahadura Kama (Sighet, 1905), section 393.
R. Shlomo Yehuda Leib Tabak (1832-1907), a leading Hungarian and Romanian halachic authority in his times. Born in Sighet, he was a close disciple of the Yitav Lev and the Kol Aryeh. When the Yitav Lev was appointed rabbi of Sighet in 1858, he invited his disciple R. Shlomo Leib to serve as head dayan, a position he held for fifty years. He authored Erech Shai on Shulchan Aruch, Talmud and homiletics. His responsa series was titled Teshurat Shai.
The recipient of the letter, R. David Sperber (1877-1962), leading Galician and Romanian rabbi. Born in Zablotov to a family of Kosov-Vizhnitz Chassidim, he was a close disciple of R. Meir Arik. He also studied under Rebbe Moshe Hager of Kosov, author of Ezor HaEmunah, and arranged the latter's writings for printing. He frequented the courts of the Chakal Yitzchak, rebbe of Spinka, and the Ahavat Yisrael of Vizhnitz. From 1908, he served as dayan and posek in Polien Riskeve (Poienile de sub Munte), and from 1922, as rabbi of Braşov (Kronstadt). He was renowned for the marriage permits he issued for agunot in the aftermath of the Holocaust. In the winter of 1950, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he became known as "the rabbi of Braşov", and served as a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and Chinuch HaAtzma'i. He authored Afarkasta D'Anya, Michtam LeDavid, Tehillah LeDavid, and other books.
In his responsa book Afarkasta D'Anya, Part I no. 20, R. David Sperber testifies to the prominence of R. Shlomo Leib Tabak: "It is already well known that the author of Teshurat Shai is the pillar of halachah in our times, and the author of Minchat Pitim [R. Meir Arik] once stated that he was the first Torah luminary in his times…".
[1] leaf, 37 autograph lines and signature. 34 cm. Fair condition. Tears to folds and wear, slightly affecting text.