Certificate of Rabbinic Ordination from Rabbi Akiva Eiger's Beit Din, Right Before his Passing

Certificate of Rabbinic Ordination from Rabbi Akiva Eiger's Beit Din, Right Before his Passing

Rare certificate of rabbinic ordination by the two dayanim of Poznań, the renowned geonim Rabbi Shmuel Lazi and Rabbi Shimon Segal. The rabbinic ordination was given to the gaon Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld, Av Beit Din of Golub and beloved disciple and attendant of the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger. With Rabbi Akiva Eiger's assent, about a month before the latter's passing. Poznań, 17 Elul, 1837.

We will point out that Rabbi Akiva Eiger took upon himself not to write rabbinic ordinations, and there is only one other known to have been given by him. Yet the dayanim write explicitly: "We know that our rabbi the gaon would not withhold the good from him, if it was within his capacity. Should he regain his initial strength, these words would certainly be fulfilled." The rabbinic ordination was granted when Rabbi Akiva Eiger was paralyzed on his final sickbed. The two dayanim write about Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld's devotion to their rabbi at the time, and his pain and sorrow and bittul Torah when it looked like Rabbi Akiva was on the verge of death. They write about his Torah accomplishments and that he deserved to be called by the title "HeChaver" R' Baruch, and they award him with smichat chachamim. Less than a month later, Rabbi Akiva Eiger passed away. It is told that Rabbi Akiva Eiger's son, the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Eiger, gave R' Baruch smichat chachamim, saying that with this he was fulfilling the will of his father, who did not manage to grant this rabbinic ordination.

The gaon Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld [1815-1879] was the Av Beit Din of Golub, one of the primary and most beloved disciples of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. He was in Rabbi Akiva Eiger's yeshivah for seven years and was constantly in his home. He was called "the Rav's bachur" and he was beloved by the rabbi as one of his sons. He served as rabbi of Kriainke and in 1847 he was appointed rabbi of Golub, until his passing. The newspaper  The Maggid wrote regarding him: "His name is known in the entire Jewish Diaspora ... because his holy words were very precious in their eyes ... and also in the Holy Land his name was renowned ..." Material included about the connection between Rabbi Baruch Rosenfeld and his teacher, Rabbi Akiva Eiger.

[1] leaf, 19x32 cm. High-quality poster board. The rabbinic ordination is signed by the two dayanim of Poznań, Rabbi Shmuel Lazi and Rabbi Shimon Segal, and with a wax stamp.

Fine-very fine condition: Aging stains. Fold marks, Tiny perforation in the fold.