Complete Sermon in the Hand of Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, Av Beir Din of Konstantin, Son of the Yaavetz

Complete Sermon in the Hand of Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, Av Beir Din of Konstantin, Son of the Yaavetz

Complete sermon (missing the introduction) handwritten by Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, Av Beit Din of Konstantin - son of Rabbi Yaakov Emden. Signed autograph.

Specifications: [4] pages. 17x20 cm. All in his hand and with his signature.

Unique Features: Crowded hand, signed with his usual signature: המאיר הקטן.
Includes a lot of documentation and information regarding Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, his relationship with the Baal Shem Tov and a copy of his handwriting.

Background: Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi was born in 1717, the oldest son of Rabbi Yaakov Emden, the "Yaavetz." He began disseminating Torah throughout Poland at a young age. In 1750, he was appointed Av Beit Din in Konstantin, Wolyn. He served as rabbi in Konstantin for more than forty years, until he passed away at an old age in 1795. He was in contact with the Baal Shem Tov. Though at first he was opposed to chassidut, an episode occurred that drew him close to the Besh"t and he even hosted the Besh"t in his home in Konstantin. There is a story in the Shu"t Mayim Rabim by Rabbi Chaim HaKohen Rapaport, grandson of Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi,  (Yoreh Deah, siman 27) about a rabbi who ruled that something was kosher in opposition to the words of the Rema. It includes a printed letter sent by the leaders of Mezibuzh, headed by the Besh"t, to Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi. They address him with many honorifics - and Rabbi Meir answered them in kind.

Condition: Moderate-fine. Light tears in the exterior margins, affecting solitary letters.
This sermon was printed in Meor HaGadol [2009], section two.