Responsum Letter from R. Meshulam Zalman Neumark Rabbi of Starodub - To Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch - Unknown ...

Responsum Letter from R. Meshulam Zalman Neumark Rabbi of Starodub - To Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch - Unknown Testimony of Rebbe Maharash’s Conduct when Rebuilding the Synagogue in Lubavitch which had Burnt Down - 1880s
Letter of halachic responsum pertaining to the laws of constructing a synagogue and changing the status of a synagogue to profane, handwritten by R. Meshulam Zalman Neumark. Addressed to Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn of Lubavitch (the Rashab). [Presumably written between 1884 and 1889].
Responsum letter in two copies. One is entirely handwritten by R. Meshulam Zalman, and the second is partially written by a scribe and partially by R. Meshulam Zalman. Variations in the text of the two copies. These may be drafts of the letter which was actually sent, or copies which R. Meshulam Zalman penned for his own record.
The letter was written in response to a complex question which Rebbe Rashab sent regarding the laws of the holiness of a synagogue (the question from Rebbe Rashab was published in Igrot Kodesh of Rebbe Rashab, V, p. 199 onwards, and in Responsa Torat Shalom, p. 25 onwards).
In his letter, R. Meshulam Zalman testifies on the stringent approach of Rebbe Maharash in these matters, when the latter rebuilt his home and the synagogue following the fire which ravaged Lubavitch: "I can testify what I explicitly and directly heard from his father R. Shmuel, when I visited him for the first time after he built his present home. He showed me the small room which was open to the long room after the Sukkah… and he explained to me his reason for setting aside this small room - this place used to hold a small part of the burnt down study hall which was in the courtyard of the Tzemach Tzedek, and, not wishing to include it in his home, he set it aside for holy use, for writing Chassidic essays and the like…" (the ground on which Rebbe Maharash built his home in Lubavitch, partially overlapped with the area which used to hold the synagogue of the Tzemach Tzedek, which burnt down. When the Maharash built his private home, he designated one room, which was built on the grounds of the synagogue, for Torah study and recording Torah thoughts, rather than for personal use, so that it should remain a study hall of sorts).
R. Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neumark (d. 1893), a leading Chabad rabbi, cherished disciple of the Tzemach Tzedek and his son Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch. One of the most renowned and prominent rabbis of Chabad Chassidism in his times. He served as rabbi of the following prominent Chabad cities and towns: Horki (1857-1867), Starodub (1867-1886), Vitebsk (1886-1888) and Nevel (1888-1893). Rebbe Yehuda Leib of Kopust wrote regarding his brilliance both in hidden and revealed parts of the Torah: "He is a renowned posek, both in Halachic ruling and in his Chassidic erudition". See item 379.
[2] double leaves (6 written pages). 21 cm and 15 cm. Good condition. Stains and folding marks.
This letter was presumably never published.