Manuscript of Chiddushei Torah Handwritten by Rabbi Avraham Bing, Av Beis Din of Würzburg, with Wonderful Eulogy for Rabbi Nosson Adler.
179 pages of handwritten chiddushim on Shas and Rambam by Rabbi Avraham Bing, Rabbi of Würzburg. This sefer contains many chiddushim on the Torah and Aggadah, along with sermons and eulogies.
Includes a lengthy eulogy on his spiritual master Rabbi Nosson Adler, who passed away in 1800. In this eulogy, Rabbi Avraham portrays the close relationship he was privileged to share with Rabbi Nosson, extols the latter’s virtues and righteousness and cites a Dvar Torah that he heard from him (in his words: "What I heard from the mouth of the righteous one…").
Rabbi Avraham Bing (1752-1841), Rabbi of Würzburg, was one of the leading rabbis in Germany of his generation. Born in Frankfurt, he became the prime disciple of Rabbi Nosson Adler and taught Torah in his yeshivah in Würzburg. As a maggid shiur, Rabbi Avraham attracted brilliant students who eventually matured into the spiritual leaders of the next generation, most notably among them the author of ‘Aruch LaNer’ and Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Dov Halevi Bamberger who succeeded him as Rabbi of Würzburg.
Rabbi Avraham shared an exceptionally close relationship with the Chasam Sofer, a friendship that developed during the years they spent learning together in Rabbi Nosson Adler’s yeshivah. The Chasam Sofer refers to him frequently in his writings and teshuvos with the accolades of "my colleague" and "my friend", and in one place even calls him "my teacher, my friend" (Kuntress Teshuvos Chasam Sofer Ch. 13). He also writes: "I have a clear memory from when I was a young lad of 18 that my beloved friend who is now the genius Rabbi Avraham, Rabbi of Würzburg, told me…" (Chasam Sofer, Choshen Mishpat Ch. 95).
In a letter to Rav Avraham, the Chasam Sofer once inscribed, "My dear friend, the renowned genius, sharp and knowledgeable, righteous…our teacher Rabbi Avraham, may Hashem guard and protect him" (ibid 35).
Rabbi Avraham Bing’s written legacy includes: ‘Zichron Avraham’ (Pressburg, 1892), among others. See more about him in the extensive article by Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Halevi Horowitz, “HaGaon Rabbi Avraham Bing and His Yeshivah in Würzburg" (Yeshurun Vol. 8 pp. 760-785).
Würzburg.
Page Count: [93] leaves; 179 handwritten sides.
Page Size: 21 x 36 cm.
Entirely handwritten by Rabbi Avraham Bing, with the exception of several pages handwritten by his talmid. The manuscript is undated save for p.124 which mentions the date 1808, and the eulogy for Rabbi Nosson Adler which was delivered in 1800.
Condition: First leaf and two final leaves with minor tears. New leather binding.
Rabbi Avraham Bing’s Eulogy for Rabbi Nosson Adler
A few excerpts from the eulogy:
Behold, the great eagle with mighty wings (HaNesher HaGadol), the Kohen Gadol among his brethren, the renowned and illustrious scholar, the delight of the eyes, his crown of glory resting upon him, his head adorned like the finest gold, the brilliant morning star – oh, pious one, oh, humble one, a true disciple of Avraham Avinu. Our teacher, our master, and our rabbi, the distinguished Rav Nosson, son of the late, righteous man, Rav Shimon Adler Katz, Z”l.
He has departed to his eternal rest, leaving none like him throughout all the communities of Israel, whether in sharpness of intellect, breadth of knowledge, or piety. He bore the iniquities of others, enduring years of suffering with love, never ceasing from the study of Torah. Woe, woe to such beauty now consumed by the earth!
I am left to lament… For it was in his embrace that I was raised, and under his guidance that I thrived. I was a cherished student by his side, drawing sweetness from his strength. His words remain ever on my tongue. He listened, analyzed, and refined me, correcting my ways. I was to him as a son is to his father.
…… Ever since he reached the age of understanding, he refrained even from looking out of a window, and from the age of nine he did not walk in the streets, or needless to say, indulge in any luxuries, and it is well-known that he did not derive any pleasure from this world…"
The eulogy also mentions the passing of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh, Av Beis Din of Berlin and grandson of the Chacham Tzvi, who passed away in the same month as Rabbi Nosson Adler.
