First Edition Responsa Divrei Chaim; Lvov, 1875
Divrei Chaim Responsa authored by Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, containing a collection of responses sent by Rabbi Chaim to the Torah leaders of his generation.
This first edition was published in Lvov, 1875.
Rabbi Chaim of Sanz (1793 – 1876) was a tremendous Torah scholar and Halachic authority. Even before he was born, Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassow predicted a lofty future for him. Rabbi Chaim married the daughter of his rabbi and mentor, the Baruch Tam. He served as Rabbi of Rudnik, during which time he became a close Chassid of Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz. In 1828, he was appointed Rabbi of Sanz and in 1830, he began leading as an Admor. His Halachic authority was widely accepted even among misnagdim. In their introduction to sefer Divrei Chaim, his sons write:
"He dedicated his entire life to Torah and avodah… with real mesirus nefesh… he afflicted himself all his life in fire and water and in mikvaos… and the money he distributed from his pure hands sustained hundreds and thousands of poor… it almost felt as though the Divine Presence was speaking from his throat."
Stefansky, Chassidus No. 118 .
Stefansky: Sifrei Yesod – Classics, No 312
