IT IS FORBIDDEN TO CHANGE FROM NUSACH SEPHARD TO NUSACH ASHKENAZ”. Important Halachic Response from the Minchas Elazar,
Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira, Ab”d of Munkacz; 1905
The Minchas Elazar’s response is addressed to a Rabbi who thought to forbid those who daven nusach Sephard to recite “kesser” in a place where it was customary to daven nusach Ashkenaz, even quietly to themselves.
The Minchas Elazar responded quoting the Chasam Sofer who writes that Rabbi Nossan Adler davened nusach Sephard in a nusach Ashkenaz minyan. He added that the Tzaddik of Bergasz [Kol Aryeh] used to recite “kesser” quietly while the congregation recited “na’aritzach, ” so as not to stand out from the rest of the congregants.
At the end of his letter, the Minchas Elazar strengthens his view that one may switch to nusach Sephard in accordance with the opinion of the Divrei Chaim (Sanz) that one may switch to nusach Sephard- differing from the Chasam Sofer’s ruling that one may not change from nusach Sephard to nusach Ashkenaz. He refers to his response in Sefer Minchas Elazar, Part One, where he discusses this matter at length.
Unpublished Response from the Minchas Elazar of Munkacz; 1905
Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira of Munkacz (1872-1937) was the son of the Darchei Teshuva and a leading Hungarian Admor prior to World War II. He fought zealously against assimilation. He was appointed ab”d of Munkacz during his father’s lifetime and became rabbi and Admor in 1918. His work was published in various sefarim such as Responsa Minchas Elazar and many others.
Dated Munkacz, 1905.
Written on personal stationary from his tenure as ab”d of Munkacz.
22 x 14 cm | Double-sided
