Responsa Divrei Chaim - Copy of the Author's Disciple, Rabbi Avraham Abish Reinhold of Tarnów - With a Leaf in His ...

Responsa Divrei Chaim - Copy of the Author's Disciple, Rabbi Avraham Abish Reinhold of Tarnów - With a Leaf in His Handwriting

Responsa Divrei Chaim, Parts I and II, by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. Bardiov (Bardejov), 1901. Second edition.
Copy belonging to the author's disciple - R. Avraham Abish Reinhold. The title page bears stamps with his name, and stamps with his title: "Yeshiva dean of the Etz Chaim society, here in Tarnów". The book contains several glosses (apparently handwritten by R. Avraham Abish). A handwritten leaf is enclosed, presumably also in his handwriting, containing references to all parts of the Talmud.
R. Avraham Abish Reinhold (1853-1935) was born in Tarnów, Galicia, and later served there as yeshiva dean. An outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist. He was a disciple of R. Pinchas of Dembitz and Briegel (a disciple of R. Naftali of Ropshitz) and of R. Ze'ev Dov Schenckel of Tarnów (disciple of the Chatam Sofer). He later frequented the court of the Divrei Chaim, absorbing from him the methods of studying Kabbalah and Chassidism, as he writes in the title pages of his books Arba Kenafayim UFetach HaGan and Shaar Petach HaGan: "I began with studying the books Sur Mera, Zera Kodesh and Avodat Yisrael, and based on their teachings I studied the writings of the Arizal, and in my youth I studied under the holy Divrei Chaim, and from his approach in the worship of G-d and pleasant ways, I understood a little on how to study holy writings with absolute self-nullification, and to partake from the tree of life, a taste of the World to Come". He relocated to Antwerp in Summer 1911. During WWI, he fled to Holland (see below), returning to Antwerp after the war. He authored many works: Chiddushei Avrach (Kraków 1921-1924), Rashei Besamim (Kraków 1921), Arba Kenafayim UFetach HaGan (Poland, 1925), Otiyot Machkimot (Biłgoraj, 1926?), Mikra'ei Kodesh (Biłgoraj, 1926?), Shaar Petach HaGan (Antwerp, 1926), Zichron Mashiach (Biłgoraj, 1927).
[2], 138, [1]; [2], 130 leaves. 38 cm. + [1] handwritten leaf. 27.5 cm. Fair condition. Leaves of book dry and brittle. Stains. Dark marginal dampstain. Open tears to several leaves. Tape repairs to title page and several subsequent leaves. Tears to final leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. Binding worn and damaged.

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Joint Completion of the Talmud by WWI Refugees in Holland

During WWI, R. Avraham Abish Reinhold escaped Antwerp to Holland. He reached the village of Scheveningen (presently a district of The Hague), where dozens of Jewish refugees gathered, primarily young boys escaping conscription to various European armies. The refugees, who wished to take advantage of their free time for Torah study, decided to initiate a remarkable project. Headed by R. Avraham Abish, one of the leaders of the group, they undertook to jointly study and complete the entire Shas. They divided the tractates between themselves, and on Rosh Chodesh Elul 1917, celebrated the completion of the Shas. On this occasion, they all undertook to once again complete the Shas by Rosh Chodesh Tammuz of the coming year. (The 100th anniversary of this event was marked by a moving initiative arranged by descendants of these refugees, who once again divided between themselves the Talmudic tractates and completed the Shas. The completion was celebrated in Lakewood, and broadcasted throughout the world; see enclosed material). A memorial plaque from this event in Scheveningen, recorded on the day of the first siyum, lists the names of the men and the tractates they each undertook to study once again (R. Avraham Abish is listed as having taken on the tractates: Eduyot, Horayot, Temurah, Me'ilah and Tammid).