Innovative Teachings of Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Vienna, One of the Greatest Disciples of the ...

Innovative Teachings of Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Vienna, One of the Greatest Disciples of the Chatam Sofer

A lengthy Talmudic analysis, both in Halacha and Aggadah, penned in the original handwriting of the esteemed Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Vienna, author of the *Shu"t Yad Elazar* (Vienna, 1870), grandson of the *Hafla’ah*, and one of the foremost disciples of the Chatam Sofer. [Vienna, circa 1860, 19th century]. This manuscript has not been published, and Rabbi Horowitz’s handwritten texts are exceedingly rare. A facsimile of another letter from him appears in the book *Chatam Sofer and His Disciples* under his entry.

The manuscript spans two large pages [over 1,000 words] and delves into the laws of Pesach, expounding on the Talmudic statement: "Rabban Gamliel says: Anyone who has not discussed these three things on Pesach—Pesach (the Passover offering), matzah, and maror—has not fulfilled his obligation."

The reverence of the Chatam Sofer for his disciple can be seen in the lofty titles with which he addresses him, such as: “My dear friend, the great luminary, the illustrious one, of noble lineage, ” among many others. The Chatam Sofer sent Rabbi Horowitz no fewer than twelve responsa, which are spread across his volumes of responsa. Additional correspondence is found in the *Ktav Sofer* and Rabbi Horowitz’s own work *Yad Elazar*.

The Chatam Sofer’s responsa to Rabbi Horowitz appear in:

- *Shu"t Chatam Sofer*: Orach Chaim: 135, 207; Yoreh De'ah: 128, 334; Even HaEzer I: 68, 69; Even HaEzer II: 20, 23, 37, 83; Choshen Mishpat: 207, and more.

- *Shu"t Ktav Sofer*: Even HaEzer [in the supplements], section 104.

- *Lev Elazar*: Contains additional correspondence between the Chatam Sofer and Rabbi Horowitz.

The article before us was intended for publication around 1863 in the journal *Pleitot Sofrim* [second volume], edited by Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Levin, but the journal was never printed. See: *Areshet* Vol. 1, pp. 378–380.

**Details:**

- [1] sheet of paper [2 large written pages], 28 cm. Official letterhead embossed with relief design. Entirely handwritten by Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz.

- Condition: Good. Fold marks. Tears along the folds and edges, most of which do not affect the text.

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**Biography of Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz:**

Rabbi Elazar HaLevi Horowitz [1804–1868; *Chatam Sofer and His Disciples*, p. 72], was a rabbi, Rosh Yeshiva, and Halachic authority, one of the greatest disciples of the Chatam Sofer, and served as the rabbi of Vienna from 1828 until his passing. Author of the responsa *Yad Elazar*.

**A Noble Lineage:** Born in Floss, Bavaria, to Rabbi David Yehoshua Heschel HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of the city, and a grandson of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch HaLevi, Av Beit Din of Frankfurt am Main, and Rabbi Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, author of the *Hafla’ah*. He was also the son-in-law of Rabbi Elazar Kalir, Av Beit Din of Rechnitz and Kalin.

**In the Shadow of the Chatam Sofer:** In 1821, at the age of 18, he was sent by his father to study in the yeshiva of the Chatam Sofer in Pressburg. By 1828, at just 26 years old, he was appointed—based on the Chatam Sofer’s personal recommendation—as the rabbi of Vienna, a position he held until his death.

In the book *Zikaron LeMoshe* by Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (p. 13), it is related that when Rabbi Elazar HaLevi arrived to study in Pressburg, no bed could initially be found for him. The Chatam Sofer instructed the students that a bed must be found, stating that if they failed, he would personally give his own bed to this new student, as he was the grandson of his teacher, the *Hafla’ah*, and this was a way to honor his teacher.