Meorei Esh - First Work by the Posek HaDor the Gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Beautiful Handwritten Dedication

Meorei Esh - First Work by the Posek HaDor the Gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Beautiful Handwritten Dedication

Sefer Meorei Esh - Innovative work (in those days) about using electric lights on Shabbat - "Electric lights on Shabbat and Yom Tov" by the Posek HaDorot Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Jerusalem, 1935. First edition. Including the rare approbation from Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky! that appears in only some copies.

The title page is filled with a lengthy and beautiful [5-line] dedication written entirely by the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach to his chavruta, the gaon Rabbi Gavriel Lehrer (Rabbi Shlomo Zalman mentions him often in his writings): "Memento for my beloved friend Rabbi Gavriel Lehrer shlit"a, on the occasion of his wedding, from his dear friend - Sh. Z. Auerbach.

This is, as mentioned, the first work by the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach - the young prodigy of Jerusalem, who was only 25 years old at the time, yet whose name was already known across the Jewish world. His fame was entirely due to this work which demonstrates untold expertise in all realms of Torah alongside comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of electricity and electronics, considered the height of technology in those years. The gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach reveals familiarity with the sciences as if he had been occupied with them for many years - though he never studied at any academic institution.

The gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, in his genius, delves to the depths of the matter from both halachic and electronic perspectives, and his conclusion is that it is totally prohibited to turn on electric light bulbs on Shabbat and Yom Tov, and that it is a Torah-level prohibition. This may sound obvious and trivial today (due to this work), but at the time, there were those (such as the gaon Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank in Kovetz Kol Torah) who wanted to say that it is only a grama, so it can be permitted a priori on Yom Tov.

This special copy bears the rare approbation from the leader of the entire Diaspora Jewry, the gaon Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky. The approbation arrived in Jerusalem from Vilna only after the sefer was printed, and was added to only some of the copies (the ones that were not yet sold). 

In his approbation, Rabbi Chaim Ozer sides with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and also adds that he already wrote an entire treatise on the topic, but did not publish it in order to avoid instigating a controversy, as lenient opinions would naturally be published as well.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.

[9], 212 pp. Two title pages. 24 cm.

Fine condition. Minimal worming perforations (primarily in the bottom margins). Some of the first leaves are partially or fully detached. Original binding, slightly blemished and partially detached.