Rabbi Efroyim Fishel פישל Feldman

Author of

• Yedos Efraim
• Degel Efraim

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http://hershfeld.com/family/individual.php?pid=I2288&ged=Hershfeld.ged

Information from JewishGen http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/maramures/mar278.html

For more than forty years R. Ephraim Fishel the son of R. Moses Israel Feldman lived in Bicskof. He was the son-in-law of R. Yehudah Ivir Rosenberg of Bicskof, one of the most prominent Vizhnitz Hasidim who lived to a ripe old age.

Although R. Ephraim Fishel was involved in business all his years, the main focus of his life was Torah study upon which he concentrated with great intensity. His business was secondary. When he was a young student of thirty-one, the great scholar [gaon] R. Solomon Dreimer of Skala referred to him as “the great rabbi and Hasid, Torah scholar, fearer of the Lord, most pleasant of people and a total scholar.” So it was; R. Fishel was noted as a Hasid and Torah scholar, a devout person as well as an expert in every day affairs. A short time after he settled in Bicskof, R. Fishel Feldman became the chief spokesman of the community and many came to him with their question and concerns about both personal matters and communal affairs. As well as he was able to respond on his own, he never tired of consulting with and seeking the advice of others. He corresponded with many of the leading scholars of Hungary and Galicia, bringing before them both personal and communal matters. This can be seen from the lengthy list of responsa that follow. R. Ephraim Fishel Feldman died at the age of sixty-six on 23 Kislev 5665 [December 1, 1904], during the lifetime of his father-in-law R. Ivir Rosenberg and he was buried in Kretsnif in the rabbi's burial place [ohel]. About his death we hear an incredible account, which testifies to his greatness, from his grandson R. Fishel Feldman (may he be granted long life) of Bnei Brak. On the twenty-third of Kislev 5665, R. Fishel awoke quickly and hurried to immerse in the mikveh. He told his wife and children, “the day of my death has arrived; today I will depart from this world.” He told his sons to immerse in the mikveh and to dress in white garments. “We are going to the city of Sighet as it is my desire to be buried there.” His wife and children broke out in bitter tears and asked, “Father, what are you talking about?” But he instructed that horses be hitched to his carriage and that they set out for Sighet. Many people joined with them as they were leaving the town and his sons accompanied him on their journey. On their way to Sighet when they arrived in Kretsnif they discovered that the entire road leading out of town was blocked by logs being transported and that there was no chance of them reaching Sighet that day. R. Fishel then asked that they check to see if a burial plot was available next to the grave of Rabbi Reinman, the head of the rabbinical court of Kretsnif. They checked and found out that there was an available grave next to the building built over his grave. R. Fishel told them to dig the grave there and with great difficulty they found enough room for it. He asked the Hevre Kadisha to come and he took leave of his family and of the Hevre Kadisha, he recited the final confession and the Sh'ma and his soul departed in purity on that very day. For some reason hidden from us he did not want to be buried in his town of Bicskof.

After his death, his son R. Moses Israel Feldman published two of his works, Yedot Ephraim on the Torah, Psalms, Ethics of the Fathers Using the Four Manners of Interpretation, Sighet, 5668 (1908) [5], 95 pages. Degel Ephraim – Responsa and Clarifications of Various Laws and some Precious Innovations using Pilpul and Direct Opinion, Sighet, 5668 (1908)[5], 95 pages. The book includes a lengthy composition titled Olalot Moshe, emendations, interpretations and innovations by his son R. Moses Israel Feldman, who was at that time a judge in Bridzan. A photocopy of the two works, with additional biographical material on the author appeared in New York in 5739 (1979).

Following is a list of Responsa addressed to him:

Responsa Beit Shlomo, Yoreh Deah,Part I, #186 - (5632/1872): ... concerning the question about the incident that happened to you where by accident two barrels of kosher cheese were switched with two barrels of cheese produced by non-Jews and this cheese [produced by the non-Jews and hence not kosher] was sold to a number of places under the assumption that it was kosher. Ibid. #187 – Concerning the second question on the matter of the shipment to you from Moldava by railroad of many barrels of kosher cheese but without any signature [attesting that the cheese is kosher] and if unable to sell it to Jews, there will be tremendous financial loss.

Ibid. #188 – Discussion, sources and rationale [Pilpul] on the previous two responsa.

Responsa of Maharam Schick, Yoreh Deah, #246 - Concerning one who was circumcised and the foreskin has grown back to a certain extent. Responsa Avnei Zedek (Sighet), Yoreh Deah, #68 – Concerning an ill person whose life was not in danger and was told [by the doctors] to drink sheep's whey called malkin. Is he permitted to drink it, as it is only available from sheep of non-Jews? It has been made known to me since I have been living in Poland that many devout people do drink this item under those circumstances; those who are ill with rist fehler. Ibid. #86 – Concerning a woman who while pure stopped counting seven clean days.

Ibid. #105 – Concerning a female non-Jewish servant who desires to convert to Judaism, whether or not she is also required to shave the hair on her head ... especially since she is young and shaving her hair would cause her a great deal of shame and another fine reason is stated by the author.

Responsa of Maharsham, Part I, #20 – Concerning the matter of a number of people of the region who joined together to form a mutual credit union and until now they are all Jews except for one Gentile who has also invested his share to join in the partnership; the leader of the group is a Jew... and he responded to permit this group to function. Ibid. #105 – A person cleaning wine barrels in Italy and the craftsman had not yet sealed them; the cooper kneaded a mixture of flour and water in a bowl and spread this mixture on the ends [to seal the barrel] and because of this the question was raised in his mind concerning the status of the wine contained in the barrels and further, with regards to Pesah ...

Ibid. #186 – Concerning matters of Nidah.

Ibid. Part III, #61 – Concerning the matters of holders of [the Hebrew abbreviation הפר”פ HPR”P – is not decipherable] who agreed before the rabbis to pay the community ninety silver rubles every month and that if the community needed all the money due for the year at once for building purposes, it would be made in one payment. Now the community has purchased land to build on and they want all the money at once. The holders of [%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%A8%E2%80%9D%D7%A4] HPR”P [?] want them to promise in a most advantageous manner for their benefit according to their custom. The rabbi of one of the interpreters agrees with the contention of the holders of HPR” P[?]

Ibid. #82 – Concerning the lottery [for a butcher shop for the year] that the butchers won and one of them, who was wealthy, determined that he would rent and run the business.

Ibid. #178 – On the matter of one who sent a whole goose by an agent to his daughter. The messenger rode on the train and after he got off the train he forgot the package. He then realized his mistake and sent a telegram to the next station and after twelve hours it was returned wrapped and tied up.

Ibid. #225 – Whether or not it is permissible on the holy Sabbath to go to a judge [in a secular court] to protest a forced debt as the judge is about to enter this matter into print called a protocol and he will have printed what the individual [Jew] states.

Ibid. #233 – In the matter of wine preparation in Italy, the wine is transferred through pipes and he does not want to have to make new pipes nor is it possible to boil the used pipes in water as they would spoil [concerning utensils that had been used with the production of non-kosher wine].

Ibid. #327 – On the matter that came before him in combination with the Rabbi and Head of the Court of Kretsnif, may his light continue to shine, and the distinguished and outstanding shohet of the settlement of Leh concerning the dispute between a man and his wife, which continued for three years. When they tried to make contact with her, they heard that she was in poor health because of tuberculosis ... others told them that that was not true and that she was healthy ... they made contact with her after a few weeks and they discovered that she was ill and there is no cure for her illness...and now he wants to divorce her without paying her his obligation according to the marriage contract...

Ibid. #328 – Concerning one who was required to promise through a handshake and since he had never sworn [by an oath on the matter] or provided surety by clasping his hand to indicate the justness of his claim, he did not want to do so and the court ruled that the claimant must swear by oath...

Ibid. #364 – One who had a precocious cow grazing in a pasture fifteen hours walking distance and on last Sunday he suddenly remembered that he had to sell it. He sold it with a down payment, with ten more to follow and with a handshake and in addition he required a guarantor.

Ibid. #373 – Concerning a Jew who bought from a non-Jew the entire yield of his vineyard, so the Jew could make kosher wine from it. He turned over to the Jew all the items and wine presses but the Jew neglected to tell the non-Jew not to bring grapes on the holy Sabbath. Thus, the non-Jew delivered a very large quantity of grapes and put them in the wine press and since they did not work on the Sabbath, the grapes became crushed from their own weight and a large quantity of wine collected in the grape-pips and grape-skins...and the question is asked that since the non-Jew did not hesitate to bring more grapes and put them in the wine press even after [the wine] bubbled forth, if because of his actions all the wine in the press is forbidden [for Jews to consume]...

Ibid. Part V, #84 – Concerning Reuben who established a Beit Midrash [study hall and synagogue] in one of his houses; however, since the population increased greatly, the community built its own Beit Midrash. After a while, the population increased further and the people asked Reuben to construct an additional Beit Midrash that could accommodate all the people and he did so. Now the community has asked Reuben to close the first Beit Midrash he provided and to pray with them in the large one he constructed. He agreed to their request. Now there are some people who are not pleased with this and do not want the first Beit Midrash to be closed and claim that it is not within Reuben's power to close it after people have been praying there for forty-five years and it is more convenient for these people to pray there for a number of reasons. On his part, Reuben claims that since all the rooms had burned, he also took the initiative [?] and later built another house designating one room for a Beit Midrash with the understanding that this was conditional and that it would be in his power to cancel it since it had not acquired the sanctity of a Beit Midrash. Which side is right?

Ibid. Part VI, #76 (5657/1897) - In an animal pen there were six geese, five ducks and five large chickens...and for eight days they were missing and one night there were six chicks...

Ibid. #106 – Concerning a man who purchased the honor to be called to the Torah as the Hatan Torah [concluding aliya on Simhat Torah] for the price of a loaf of wheat bread for the poor and the price of wheat went up [from the time he made his pledge until he could pay for it].

Responsa Harei Bashamayim, Second edition, #130 (5656/1896) – Concerning the immersion of women.

Ibid. Edition 3-4, #13 (5657/1897) – Concerning the grafting of wild and domestic apple trees...

Responsa Pri Hasadeh, Part II, #49 (5662/1902) Concerning your community that wanted to build a new school that would be called by the name of the community but they did not have sufficient funds. They sent a request to a known place [from where they could get the needed funds] and in the agreement was the clause that they would also have to establish a school for young children 'kinder-schule' in order for them to send them more funds. In this way they sent them 600 gold coins. Afterwards some of the people objected for a number of reasons. First they felt it inappropriate to get charitable funds from non-Jews or apostates. Secondly, those from whom they requested the fund, once they get the chance to open a kinder-schule, where the name of Israel is hardly mentioned at all, they will over time see to it that more schools of this nature are opened. For this reason they [the local people who object to taking these funds because of the conditions established] hope to return the funds so that they [who wish to open the kinder-schule] will have no say in a holy place dedicated to the Torah and to the worship of God. At the end of the Responsum, “In this I agree with the rabbis and scholars of the holy communities of Gravad and Veitchen, may their light continue to shine, as you defend yourselves and also prevent the enemy from entering your camp, God perish the thought...And how will you be able to enter into the holy place and spill forth your feelings to God if the enemy stands outside and seeks to capture the souls of the children...by smooth talk and deceitful language... Responsa Zikhron Yehudah, Part I, #57 {5662/1902) – In the matter above it is very difficult for me to answer you publicly and one does not reveal ones thoughts in this or in similar matters openly but only privately. Therefore, I am reluctant to answer and the merit of the Mitzvah will protect and save you...in your honorable community which wants to build a new Beit Midrash and they have their own schools for themselves...however, there is a hitch if you try to get funds for your new synagogue from the supervisors of the schulefund...for those who fear God fear for their very existence, let, God perish the thought, through this [request for funds] those who control the schulefund will try today or sometime in the future to force you to let them interfere at their will...

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 17 2020, 22:27:59 UTC