Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8441 — Chinuch
Volume 22 · Letter 224 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu
By the grace of Hashem,
19 Sivan* 5722,
Brooklyn,
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,
Rav Yaakov Meshulam Zalman (note 1: Rav Y. M. Z. Kruger, of Lugano),
You inquire about the Tosafos*, commenting on tractate Bava Kamma* 109b, which mention the ritual immersion of a child, for the purpose of a conversion, in the absence of his father, and which recall that a controversy is found on this subject, in tractate Kesubos* 11a. In fact, it is said, at this latter reference: "What is the subject here?" and one understands that the text considers the possibility of refuting what was said beforehand. Thus, the words of Rav Huna are subsequently rejected, as the Tur*, Yoreh De'ah*, chapter 268, explains, according to the opinion of the Baal Halachos Gedolos*.
Indeed, if one does not adopt this interpretation, how is one to explain that the Talmud* introduces such a modification, difficult to accept, according to which the subject here would be a girl who came to convert with her father? Now,
A) Who speaks of the father in this Mishnah*?
B) According to all opinions, for a captive or for a maidservant (note 2: A non-Jewish woman captured in war or a non-Jewish woman who became the servant of a Jew. Both convert, in fact, to Judaism), the presence of the father is unnecessary.
One must conclude from this that a single paragraph was taught for all of these cases.
ח'תמא
ב"ה, י"ט סיון, תשכ"ב
ברוקלין.
הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ וכו' מו"ה יעקב משולם
זלמן שי'
... לההערה בתוד"ה קטן (ב"ק קט, ב) דפי' דהטבלת גר קטן בלא אביו בפלוגתא שנוי' בכתובות (יא, [א]) - מובן שהכוונה להדיחוי שם הכא במאי עסקינן כו'. וס"ל דגם עיקר דברי ר"ה נדחו (וכפי' הטור - יו"ד סרס"ח - בדעת בה"ג בזה).
- דאלת"ה מה מכריחו להש"ס לשינוי דחיקא דעסקינן בבאה להתגייר עם אבי': א) דמאן דכר שמי' דאב - במשנה ב) שבוי' ושפחה - לכ"ע אין צורך לאב, וא"כ עכצ"ל דבבא א' לצדדין קתני!
ח'תמא
מו"ה יעקב משולם זלמן: גרוגר, לוגאנא.