Autographed Halachic Responsa by Harav Akiva Sofer, Av Beis Din of Pressburg, Regarding Pidyon Haben.
“I followed the footsteps of my holy grandfathers the Chasam Sofer and Ksav Sofer.”
Handwritten halachic responsa by Hagaon Harav Akiva Sofer, Av Beis Din of Pressburg, regarding the proper time of pidyon haben and the monetary value of the 5 silver coins used to redeem the infant.
Riveting responsa regarding a firstborn son born at the hour of sunset, and if the pidyon haben may be held on the 31st day after the child’s birth.
In his responsa, the Daas Sofer Harav Akiva Sofer cites his grandfather the Ksav Sofer who attested that even his own father, the Chasam Sofer, did not reach a clear conclusion regarding this issue. The Ksav Sofer thus ruled that the father should wait until the 32nd day to perform the pidyon haben. Although the prevalent ruling of the Maharam Schick was that, in such a case, a pidyon haben should still be held on the 31st day, the Daas Sofer attests that when his wife gave birth to a firstborn son (the Chashav Sofer), he performed the pidyon haben on the 32nd day. “I followed the footsteps of my holy grandfathers the Chasam Sofer and Ksav Sofer, and thus I did the same.”
In the margins of this responsa, the Daas Sofer also sets the value of the 5 silver coins relayed by the father to the Kohein at the pidyon haben.
The Daas Sofer Harav Akiva Sofer (1878-1959) served as Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshivah of Pressburg. He was the son of the Shevet Sofer, grandson of the Ksav Sofer, and great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer. The Daas Sofer began relaying lectures in his father’s Yeshivah at a remarkably young age, and succeeded him as Rosh Yeshivah following the Shevet Sofer’s passing in 1907. In 1940, he settled in Eretz Yisrael where he reestablished his Yeshivah. Among his noted works are Responsa Daas Sofer on Shulchan Aruch and Daas Sofer on Torah and Festivals.
Pressburg, 1908. Handwritten, autographed double-sided letter on personal stationery. Good condition.
To the best of our knowledge, this responsa is unpublished.
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