A sefer as well known as this one -- it was first
published in 5722 (1962) -- hardly needs any introduction.
The reappearance of the highly acclaimed Chidushei HoRitvo
Hachadoshim to Bovo Metzia is bound to be very
welcome news in botei medrash and yeshivos the world
over, where many have been eagerly awaiting a further
opportunity to obtain it.
Over forty years have passed since the first edition of the
work was prepared and published by HaRav Alter Halpern
zt'l, rosh yeshivas Toras Emes in London. The
work greatly enriched the Torah library by providing an
accurate rendition of the writings of one of the most basic
Rishonim, on this masechta. The manuscripts containing
these chiddushim had been stored for centuries in
libraries in different parts of the world. After much hard
work and painstaking toil, HaRav Halpern succeeded in
presenting the Torah world with a complete and accurate
version of the work.
It was previously known that the Ritvo's chiddushim on
Bovo Metzia that were published together with his
chiddushim on other masechtos, were not
attributable to him. They were not reconcilable with the
excerpts from the Ritvo quoted in the Shitoh
Mekubetzes. On the other hand, passages in the
manuscripts used for this edition match them word for word.
In his introductory paragraphs, HaRav Halpern demonstrates
the authenticity of these chiddushim, which
subsequently gained wide acceptance, benefiting several
generations with the genuine chiddushei HoRitvo on
this masechta. Many attest to the work's fundamental
importance in studying it.
Among the gedolim of yesteryear whose letters adorn
the work are HaRav Zalman Sorotzkin zt'l, HaRav Moshe
Feinstein zt'l and the Steipler Gaon zt'l. In
their haskomos to the Tosafos Yeshonim on
Nedorim, which HaRav Halpern published several years
after the Ritvo, they mention the earlier work, which had
already gained wide circulation. Referring to HaRav Halpern's
work the Steipler wrote, "[We benefit even from] the [lesser
aspects] of the Rishonim -- who are akin to mal'ochim -
- whose words we imbibe and whose teachings sustain us,
through whom we glimpse the light of Torah . . . From his
[i.e. the compiler's] introduction and notes, the power of
his sharp and straight intellect and the tremendous breadth
of his knowledge are evident . . . " HaRav Moshe Feinstein
wrote, "Every ben Torah ought to obtain this
sefer of our teachers, the compilers of Tosafos, who
illuminate all of Shas for us, upon whom we rely in
every respect."
It should be noted that forty years ago, working on the
copying and verification of old manuscripts was not as
popular and widespread as it is today, when many are involved
in it. HaRav Halpern was one of the pioneers in this field.
At the beginning of his introduction, he explains what moved
him to undertake this tremendous task: "With darkness
covering the world, during the fearsome churban that
befell our nation, which also removed our mantle of glory
with the loss of many sages and their written works, who
could have foreseen that there would yet remain Torah centers
in the Holy Land and throughout the Diaspora, in and around
which thousands of pure-hearted individuals occupy themselves
with Hashem's Torah and with the fear of Heaven? They are our
sole hope, that in Hashem's mercy, they will produce mighty,
wholehearted servants of Hashem, who will retrieve our former
glory. For their sake, I felt this work was a labor of
love."
HaRav Halpern, who invested much toil and labor and great
self-sacrifice into his edition, indeed had the fortune to
merit the Torah public with a new understanding of this
masechta.
The work has now been out of print for a number of years.
Despite the appearance in recent years of other editions that
were based on the same manuscripts, it has long been
unavailable in its original form and clear layout. Many have
wondered when it would once again be possible to obtain the
sefer in its original format, into which the first
publisher invested so much. This new, beautifully arranged
edition is intended to meet this demand.
It is fitting that the work should continue to be known by
the title which HaRav Halpern gave it, Chiddushei HoRitvo
Hachadoshim al Maseches Bovo Metzia. May this new edition
indeed bring further elevation to his neshomoh and may
his lips move as the Ritvo's chiddushim are studied
from it in botei medrash everywhere.
