14 Letters of Halachic Responsa and Torah Novellae Handwritten by the Rogatchover - Sent to Rabbi Yaakov Landau

14 Letters of Halachic Responsa and Torah Novellae Handwritten by the Rogatchover - Sent to Rabbi Yaakov Landau

14 letters, most particularly lengthy, with halachic responsa and Torah novellae, handwritten and signed by the Rogatchover, R. Yosef Rosen of Dvinsk, addressed to R. Yaakov Landau:
1. Responsum regarding a Torah scroll containing an extra letter. Dvinsk (Daugavpils), 18th Sivan 1928. Postcard, written on both sides.
2. Lengthy responsum on the above topic. Dvinsk, 6th Av 1929.
3. Another lengthy responsum on the same topic. Dvinsk, 12th Av 1929.
4. A small leaf on the same topic. Undated and unsigned (may have been enclosed with one of the previous letters).
5. Responsum on the laws of terefot. Dvinsk, 22nd Adar [I] 1929.
6. Responsum on the above topic. Dvinsk, Rosh Chodesh Adar II 1929.
7. Responsum regarding the status of a bride and groom before the Erusin. Dvinsk, 3rd Marcheshvan 1929. With congratulations on the occasion of R. Yaakov Landau's betrothal.
8. Responsum on the above topic. Dvinsk, 19th Marcheshvan 1929.
9. Responsum on the laws of tevilah (ritual immersion). Dvinsk, 6th Shevat 1930.
10. Responsum on the laws of Eruvin. Dvinsk, 1st day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1932.
11. Responsum regarding an institution of Rabbenu Gershom. Dvinsk, 6th Tevet 1933.
12. Responsum regarding laws of agents, marriages and more. Dvinsk, 27th Nissan 1934.
13. Responsum on the topic of causation in regard to the private and the public. Dvinsk, 9th Iyar 1934.
14. Responsum on the laws of Erchin. Dvinsk, 26th Av 1934.
At the foot of this letter, the Rogatchover relates to R. Yaakov Landau's request for rabbinical ordination, replying that since he has already been ordained by the rabbi of Riga, his ordination is unnecessary (see next item - another letter relating to R. Landau's ordination).
The present letters were sent to R. Yaakov Landau during his tenure as rabbi of Libau.
Enclosed: 10 envelopes in which the Rogatchover sent these letters.
Most of the letters were published in Yagdil Torah, apart from letters 8 and 14.
14 letters (+ 10 envelopes). Size varies. Overall good-fair condition.

The Rogatchover - R. Yosef Rosen Rabbi of Dvinsk, Author of Tzofnat Pane'ach
R. Yosef Rosen (1858-1936) - known as the Rogatchover (after his birth town Rogatchov-Rahachow), was a Chabad-Kopust follower. His father took him as a child to the Tzemach Tzedek, who blessed him with exceptional scholarliness and instructed him to study Tractate Nazir (some say this was the reason the Rogatchover did not cut his hair). In his youth, he was a disciple of R. Yosef Dov Ber Soloveitchik, author of Beit HaLevi, alongside the latter's son R. Chaim of Brisk. From 1889, he served as rabbi of the Chabad Chassidic community in Dvinsk (Daugavpils), Latvia, alongside the Or Same'ach, a position he held for 40 years. A remarkable figure renowned for his tremendous sharpness and genius, he was well-versed in all areas of the Torah, down to its finest details, producing profound definitions, hypotheses and original methods of Torah study. Tales of his genius and indescribable diligence abound. His legendary brilliance was also highly regarded by the secular world in his days and Bialik reputedly said that "two Einsteins could be carved out from the mind of the Rogatchover". The Rogatchover dealt extensively in explaining the teachings of the Rambam and wrote numerous halachic responsa. His responsa and novellae were published in his Tzofnat Pane'ach series. His printed books are a small part of the incessant flow of the inexhaustible fountain of his Torah. Due to the profundity of his teachings and his concise, cryptic style of writing, several projects have risen in recent generations to decipher and explain his teachings, resulting in the publishing of annotated editions of his works.