Letter to Rabbi Akiva Eiger – From his Disciple Rabbi Moshe Cohen Av Beit Din of Golub-Dobrzyń – 1824

Letter to Rabbi Akiva Eiger – From his Disciple Rabbi Moshe Cohen Av Beit Din of Golub-Dobrzyń – 1824
A long letter handwritten and signed by Rabbi Moshe Cohen. Golub-Dobrzyń, Cheshvan, 1824. Sent to Rabbi Akiva Eiger Av Beit Din of Posen, concerning various issues. At the beginning of the letter, he writes of his response to the head of the judges of the city of Strasbourg, concerning administering an oath to witnesses according to Hebrew law. "If after me they continue to investigate inquiring from you or from the Berlin rabbi, please have compassion on my life and answer the same as I did…". Further in the letter, he writes about a shochet who sinned and accepted upon himself repentance and fasts, and about his involvement in the Lubawa community. He writes that "It was a great praise for me that "my master" recommended me for Hanover" [apparently, Rabbi Akiva Eiger recommended him for the Hanover rabbinate]. Rabbi Moshe Cohen, Av Beit Din of Golub-Dobrzyń (1793-1830), known by the name of Rabbi Moshe Charif (Otzar HaRabbanim 14718), son of Rabbi Matityahu Katz of the Rawicz community and brother of Rabbi Michel Leib (Yechiel Aryeh) HaCohen Munk Ra'avad of Danzig. Cited in the book Me'oran shel Yisrael" (Part 2, p. 360) that the two brothers were disciples of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. He exchanged halachic correspondence with Rabbi Akiva Eiger and his teacher's responses were printed in the Rabbi Akiva Eiger responsa (Siman 134 and Siman 196). Served in the rabbinate of Golub-Dobrzyń (Posen region, a city on the Prussia-Poland border, on the banks of the Dreventz River). He died at the age of 36 forfeiting his life in prayer to end a plague. According to the story, he beseeched at the graves of tsaddikim on Erev Yom Kippur and pleaded that he should be the atonement of the Jews. At his return, he left his testament with his household and explained that he is about to die for his Jewish brethren. He immediately died and the plague ended. His gravesite became a site for prayer and hundreds of kvitlach (notes) were placed there (Toldot Anshei Shem, p. 113). Rabbi Arthur Cohen and Rabbi Asher Michel (Marcus) Cohen who served in the Basel, Switzerland rabbinate are among his descendants. [3] pages, 20 cm. Fair condition, major wear, ink erosion damages to paper.