"Gedoilei Hador Neged Motzi Laaz Ba’al Ha’chalomos – The Controversy of the ‘Noda B’Yehuda’ and Rabbi Naftali Haaretz Me’Idlitz – Tashkent, 1799"
A letter of inquiry regarding a serious issue from Rabbi Chaim b"r Sender Raktschen, sent to Rabbi Naftali Haaretz Heilprin, the Av Beit Din of Idlitz, with the response from the Rav on the second page.
Background of the Letter: In the year 1799, a serious event occurred following the passing of a righteous Jew named Rabbi Shmuel. One of the town’s children, a teacher and ritual slaughterer, claimed to have seen in a dream that both this deceased person and another named Rabbi Yishai had died prematurely due to sinning with the prohibition of niddah, because their teacher had not given the proper halachic instruction.
This teacher publicly shared his dream and even claimed that the children of the deceased were "bnei niddah" and thus flawed. These grave statements angered the local teacher, and he sought the help of the gedolim of the generation to silence this false claim against the living and the deceased.
Before us is a letter from Rabbi Chaim b"r Sender Raktschen, who supported the local teacher and sent letters to the gedolim. The first letter went to the renowned Rabbi Noda B’Yehuda (printed in the ‘Tzafonot’ collection, part 18, p. 38), where he strongly rebuked the teacher and commanded that he be punished and fined.
This document reveals a historical discovery regarding this serious controversy, written by Rabbi Naftali Haaretz Me’Idlitz, son-in-law of the ‘Pnei Yehoshua’ and Av Beit Din of Idlitz. He supports the words of Rabbi Noda B’Yehuda, stating, "It is a mitzvah and obligation to expel him and pursue him for this… as decreed by the famous gaon, Av Beit Din of Prague, the Noda B’Yehuda."
The entire letter, question, and answer are most likely written in the hand of Rabbi Chaim Raktschen.
Rabbi Naftali Haaretz Me’Idlitz Heilprin: Rabbi Naftali Haaretz Me’Idlitz (passed away 14th of Sivan, 1794), son of the esteemed kabbalist Rabbi Elchanan Heilprin, Av Beit Din of Zlotchov, was famous for his wisdom. He married the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk, author of the ‘Pnei Yehoshua.’ Rabbi Naftali Haaretz interacted with great leaders of his generation, including the Noda B’Yehuda and Rabbi Shmuel Landa, Av Beit Din of Prague, who respected him greatly.
In 1768, he was appointed Av Beit Din of Idlitz, and in 1783 he became the Av Beit Din of Teplice. He was one of the greatest leaders of his time, and many would seek guidance from both the Noda B’Yehuda and him simultaneously. His contributions are found in works like ‘Birurim HaMidot’ (Prague, 1807, Siman 28), which includes his serious questions to the Noda B’Yehuda and his replies.
The renowned ‘Chatam Sofer’ mourned his passing, stating, "For this, we certainly weep and our eyes pour with tears… we were orphans without a father, and our mothers are widows…" (Drashot Chatam Sofer, Parshat Va’etchanan, 1800). His many manuscript writings were published in ‘Nachalat Naftali’ (in the memorial book ‘Od Yosef Chai, ‘ Jerusalem 1989).
