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Autograph Letter Signed by Dr. Michael Higger – Leading Talmudic Scholar – 1942
A rare and historically significant handwritten letter from Dr. Michael Higger (1898–1952) – one of the most important Jewish scholars of the 20th century and a towering figure in the world of Talmudic research.
Written from his New York office in 1942, the letter thanks a supporter for a $110 contribution toward Volume IX of his monumental work, Otzar HaBeraitot (Treasury of the Beraitot) – a ten-volume encyclopedia collecting and analyzing the full corpus of non-Mishnaic tannaitic literature. This encyclopedic work remains a cornerstone of modern rabbinic and academic study, frequently cited by leading yeshivot and universities worldwide.
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✡️ About Dr. Michael Higger:
Talmudic Giant – Editor of Otzar HaBeraitot and Massekhtot Ze’irot, he reconstructed vast tracts of forgotten rabbinic literature with scholarly precision.
Scholar & Visionary – Author of The Jewish Utopia (1932), a bold, deeply-sourced theological vision of redemption, justice, and global peace grounded in classical texts.
Bridging Worlds – Trained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, active in both traditional Torah circles and modern academic institutions.
Lasting Legacy – His work laid the foundation for many areas of contemporary Jewish scholarship. JTS still awards the annual Higger Prize in Talmud in his honor.
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🖋️ The Letter:
Written in elegant English and signed in full, this letter captures a moment in the life of a scholar passionately building one of the most ambitious Torah projects of his time. Dated to the publication period of Volume IX (1942), it reflects the vital support system of donors and fellow scholars who made this historic achievement possible.
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📦 Item Details:
Handwritten letter on personal stationery (3080 Broadway, NYC)
Signed: Michael Higger
Dated: Circa 1942
Condition: Excellent; two sides of one folded leaf
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A meaningful artifact from one of the greatest Torah scholars and editors of modern times — perfect for collectors of Judaica, rabbinic history, or autographs of Jewish intellectual giants
