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| Title page of the Sefer Divrei Zikaron Written by R' Yosef Stathagen (1640-1715) R' Yosef is an Ancestor of the Strohs This copy of the sefer belonged to Michoel Ahron Spitz, R' Yosef's great great grandson Michoel Aron's brother Shmuel Spitz (1778-1844) was the grandfather of Chana Stroh (1837-1933) |
Rabbi Yosef Stadthagen was born in Metz, France
to his father R’ Shimshon around the year 1640; he was named after his great-grandfather
R’ Yosef Halevy ben R’ Yitzchok Ashkenazi, who served as the Rav of Metz and
various other communities for over sixty years.
Rav Yosef resided in Stadthagen, one of only two towns in the small German State of Schaumberg – Lippe. He served as the Landsrabbiner (Chief Rabbi) of the entire state for over forty years. Though many Yidden would pass through the town of Stadthagen on their business travels, R’ Yosef mentions in the introduction to his Sefer Divrei Zikaron, that he did not merit to have other Talmidei Chachomim in his town with whom to discuss and clarify his learning.
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| R' Naftali Katz the Smichas Chachomim One of the Maskimim on the Divrei Zikaron He mentions that he was related to the author As of now we do not know how they were related |
In 1705 R’ Yosef printed his sefer Divrei Zikaron in Amsterdam, with the Haskomos of the Rabbanim there, and with the Haskomo of his relative the famous Gaon HaRav Naftali Katz the author of the Smichas Chachomim, the Rav of Frankfurt am Mein.
The sefer is based on the halachos of Shechitah and Treifos, and uses these halochos to teach lessons in Mussar and Yiras Shamayim. The author quotes from Midrash, Gemora and other seforim including Akeidas Yitzchok, Shelo Hakodesh and others. The sefer contains excerpts from many of his droshos which were delivered in various villages. These droshos are very interesting and convey a fascinating portrait of Jewish life in the German villages of over 300 years ago.
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| The famous Shtadlan R' Lipman Cohen of Hanover known as Leffman Behrens He was the father in law of R' David Oppenheim Rav in Nikolsberg and Prague and the brother in law of Gluckel of Hameln R' Yosef thanks R' Lipman and his son Hertz for their assistance in printing his Sefer Divrei Zikaron On Sunday the 18th of Tamuz in the year 404 (1704) the well known Katzin the Honoroble Lipman of Hanover sent a special messenger with a small carriage carrying a note requesting me to travel immediately by that same coach. He wanted me to be in Hanover by midday the following day Monday since the Duke, the Prince of Hanover commanded that the Rabbis hold a disputation with an apostate who had appeared there (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron) |
In the summer of 1704 the famous Court Jew the Shtadlan Leffmann Behrens of Hanover, a brother in law of the well known Gluckel of Hameln, requested Rabbi Yosef to attend a disputation with a Meshumad.
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| The Prince of Hanover Who became King George I of England The debate was held in his presence I was placed directly opposite the מומר there was only a table between us. The Duke stood to my left; he was so close that my left arm brushed against the right arm of his Royal Highness the Prince (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron) |
The Meshumad who had failed in his attempt to extort large sums of money from the Jewish community of Hanover, convinced the Prince of Hanover, the future King George I of England, to force the Jews to debate him.
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| Princess Sophie a cousin of Queen Anne of England and Heiress to the throne The mother of King George I of England She also attended the debate As soon as I entered the chamber, the Duchess the heir to the Crown extended her hand greeting me warmly. I had not noticed her hand, and R' Lipman called me and said, "R' Yosef the Duchess is extending her hand". I immediately approached her and placed the tips of my fingers on the palm of her hand; I bowed and greeted her. The Duchess inquired after my place of residence. I responded, "I am from Stadthagen". She asked if Stadthagen was my native city. I replied, "no, I was born and raised in Metz". She said "if so you most definitely are able to converse in French". I responded, "at your service. However it is over 40 years since I left Metz and I have not had with whom to converse in French, therefore I have forgotten quite a bit; nevertheless the French books in my possession have helped me retain some knowledge of the language." At the end of the debate, I rose from my chair and approached the Duchess to take leave from her with great thanks, speaking in the manner one speaks to royalty. She responded with these words, "I thank you, after all we all have One G-d" (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron) |
The debate was attended by the mother of the Prince, Princess Sophie a cousin of Queen Anne of England and heiress to the English throne, the Prince of Celle, the priest of Hanover and other dignitaries.
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| The Abbot Gerard He was also in attendance at the debate Then the priest, the Abott inquired of R' Lipman as to my name, R' Lipman answered "his name is Rabbi Joseph Samson". The Abbot remembered that some 40 years earlier when he was still in the city of Rintel there had been a large debate in the presence of priests and an apostate, there was also a great scholar in attendance. [Apparently R' Yosef was the that scholar] He then bowed his head slightly towards me. When I saw the kindness of Hashem Blessed be His name, I felt strengthened and my heart urged me to be strong and resolute. (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron) |
R’ Yosef brilliantly refuted all of the Meshumad’s attacks, and made a very favorable impression upon the noble family.
R’ Yosef wrote about the entire episode in great detail. He titled that work Minchas Zikaron. It was printed many years later in Berlin.
R’ Yosef passed away about 1715.
R' Yosef's son in law, R' Yeshua Hamburger Chalfon was the father of R' Yehuda Leib the Rav of Tzehlem and the father of Rivka, the wife of R' Yitzchok Spitz of Eisenstadt. Dally's grandmother Chana was a great great granddaughter of Rivka.
