The Abudraham of the Holy Gaon Rebbi Avraham of Chechnov Zt”l, Signed with His Seal.
Sefer Abudraham, authored by Rabbeinu David Abudraham.
Prague, 1784. Printed with the approbation of the Noda BiYehuda.
On the title page appears the well-known seal of the holy Rebbi Avraham of Chechnov Zt”l,
"Avraham ben Raphael Z”l."
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The holy genius Rebbi Avraham of Chechnov, of blessed memory (1784–1875), was the elder of the great rabbis of Poland, renowned in his generation. In 1820, he was appointed as the rabbi of Chechnov, where he served for 55 years until his passing. In the realm of revealed Torah, he was a student of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Tzuntz, and in Chassidut, he was a disciple of the holy Rebbi Fishel of Strikov and the holy Rebbi Simcha Bunim of Pshischa.
The gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger testified about him, saying he was a "lion among lions, " and out of great respect for him, Rabbi Akiva Eiger would stand up whenever he mentioned Rabbi Avraham’s name in conversation.
(As recorded by the gaon Rabbi Moshe of Kutno, Av Beit Din of Lodz, one of the greatest disciples of Rabbi Akiva Eiger.)
The holy Rebbi of Sanz said of him that he knew the Torah as it was given at Sinai.
(Recorded by the Rabbi of Tchebin Zt”l.)
The holy Rebbi of Kotzk said that Rabbi Avraham had the appearance of a "heavenly angel."
His friend, the holy Rebbi, author of Chiddushei HaRim, after ruling on the issue of freeing agunot, wrote:
"I do not want to rely on my own judgment alone, and I greatly request to ask the esteemed and righteous rabbi, Av Beit Din of Chechnov, and although I have heard that he does not wish to write responsa, it is sufficient for me if he agrees with me orally."
The holy Rebbi, author of Avnei Nezer, wrote in his approbation to the sefer of the holy Rebbi of Chechnov, Zechuta d’Avraham:
"The words of this man of God, the holy genius of Chechnov, do not require any approbation from anyone."
Many great righteous figures of Poland were drawn to him, among them the Guter Yid of Gostynin, of blessed memory.
From his son, the holy Rebbi Dov Berish of Biala, stemmed the Strikov and Alexander Chassidic dynasties.
