Responsa Mayim Chaim - Zhitomir, 1857 - With Letter of Responsum by the Baal Shem Tov - Copy of the Author of Kli Chemda

Responsa Mayim Chaim - Zhitomir, 1857 - With Letter of Responsum by the Baal Shem Tov - Copy of the Author of Kli Chemda
Responsa Mayim Chaim, two parts, by R. Chaim HaKohen Rappaport Rabbi of Ostroh. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1857. First edition. With approbations by Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl and the Sar Shalom of Belz.
Section 27 of Part I includes a query which was sent from Medzhybizh to R. Meir Rabbi of Konstantin (son of R. Yaakov Emden), regarding a case in the laws of kashrut on which the rabbi of Medzhybizh had ruled, however some prominent members of the community did not approve of his ruling. Among the signatures which appear on the letter is: "Yisrael B.S. (Baal Shem) of Tłuste (Towste)" – R. Yisrael, the Baal Shem Tov. This query elicited a long response by R. Meir, who endorsed their concern and opposed the ruling of the rabbi of Medzhybizh. The responsum opens with several lines of honorary titles and praise of the Baal Shem Tov (the deciphering of these long and flowery titles and their significance are discussed at length in research literature).
Two parts bound in one volume. Part I on topics related to Orach Chaim and Yoreh Deah, and Part II relating to Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat. Otzrot Chaim, containing aggadic novellae and pilpul on the weekly Torah portions by the author and his son (the publisher), was printed at the end of Part II. Responsa by the author's grandfathers and uncles, who were leading Torah scholars, were also included. A letter sent to the author by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, with endorsement of the author's ruling, appears at the beginning of the book. This letter was printed among the approbations to the book.
Stamp on the second title page of Part I: "Meir Dan son of R. C.Y. [Chaim Yitzchak] Plotzky Rabbi of Ostrov in the province of Lomza" – the renowned R. Meir Dan Plotzky (1866-1928), a prominent Polish rabbi in the early 20th century. He was one of the founders of Agudat Yisrael in Poland and a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. In 1891, he was appointed rabbi of Dvart (Warta) and in 1918, rabbi of Ostrov (Ostrów Mazowiecka). He was one of the most brilliant Torah scholars in Poland, and R. Chaim Soloveitchik wrote in his approbations: "He is extremely great in Torah, with astuteness, erudition and reasoning"; "He is great both in Torah and fear of G-d". R. Plotzky's popular book Kli Chemda on the Torah was highly cherished by Polish Torah scholars. He was a Gerrer Chassid and his entire life clung to the Sfat Emet and the Imrei Emet. He participated in the famous delegation of leading rabbis who travelled to the United States in 1924, together with the Dvar Avraham, Rabbi of Kovne, with R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein and with R. Avraham Yitzchak Kook.
84; 151 pages. 34 cm. Two title pages for each part, and another title page for Otzrot Chaim, bound at the end of the book (total of five title pages). First title page printed in red and black. Leaf 3 is bound out of place. Good-fair condition. Large stains. Wear. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 341.