Rare: Eileh Divrei HaBris - Polemic Against the Reform Movement, Altona 1819. First Edition.

Rare: Eileh Divrei HaBris - Polemic Against the Reform Movement, Altona 1819. First Edition.

Presented here is the rare edition of Sefer ‘Eileh Divrei HaBris’, published at the behest of the Hamburg Beis Din, Altona 1819. This work aims to raise awareness to the various issues with the newfound “Reform Movement”, which was then in its early stages and limited to a small network of individuals.   

A central point of this work is the critical issue of Prayer. The Reform had their own ideas when and how to pray, and the Rabbis were vehemently opposed to any slight change to our sacred tradition. It is apparent from this work that the Reform’s ideals progressed in a slow, gradual process, starting with small, seemingly insignificant changes to our Prayer services and tradition. As such, every leading Torah scholar voiced their opposition to this idea or anything of the sort (pp. 27). 

Among the many different issues dealt with in this work, most fascinating is the correspondence of leading Torah scholars, well documented throughout. Among the various letters of correspondence we find the opinions of R. Akiva Eiger of Pozna, R. Yaakov Loberbaum of Lissa, R. Mordechai Banet of Nikolsburg, R. Moshe Sofer of Pressburg - Chasam Sofer, and others. 

Very rare. In very good condition, bound in old cloth binding. Some loose leaves. Ex-library copy.

132 pp. 

Vinograd, Altona 213.